2011 was quite a year for Hip Hop. We met some new jacks who thoroughly impressed us, became believers again in veterans on the verge of retirement, and received the same level of skill from consistent artists who churn out new sounds regularly. All in all, it was a great year musically. Getting to report this music to you is one of our greatest gifts, and while we’re doing that, some artists and tracks slide into our favorites list. As 2012 is just beginning, check out some of the HipHopDX staff’s favorite tracks from “last year.”

Jake Paine, Editor-In-Chief (@Citizen__Paine)

1. Phonte – “The Good Fight”

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2. Kendrick Lamar – “HiiiPower”

3. Kendrick Lamar f. GLC – “Poe Man’s Dreams”

4. Killer Mike – “Burn”

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5. Pharoahe Monch – “Evolve”

6. David Banner – “Swag”

7. Big K.R.I.T. – “Rise & Shine” 

8. G-Side – “Y U Mad?”

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9. Raekwon – “Snake Pond”

10. Yelawolf f. Lil Jon – “Hard White (Up In the Club)”

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Kathy Iandoli, Music Editor (@Kath3000)

1. Nas – “Nasty”

2. Jay-Z & Kanye West  f. Frank Ocean – “No Church In the Wild”

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3. Tyler, The Creator – “Yonkers”

4. Lil Wayne f. Tech N9ne, Andre 3000, etc. – “Carter IV Interlude” 

5. Raekwon f. Ghostface – “Silver Rings”

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6. ASAP Rocky – “Peso”

7. Common – “Sweet”

8. The Roots f. Big K.R.I.T. – “Make My”

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9. Killer Mike f. Big Boi & T.I. – “Ready Set Go Rmx”

10. Action Bronson f. Nina Sky – “Cocoa Butter”

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Omar Burgess, Editor-At-Large (@FourFingerRings)

1. Big K.R.I.T. – “Another Naive Individual Glorifying Greed and Encouraging Racism”

2. Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Gotta Have It”

3. Kendrick Lamar – “Hiii Power” 

4. David Banner – “Swag”

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5. Pusha T – “Open Your Eyes”

6. Pac Div f. TiRon – “She” 

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7. Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y & Big Sean – “O.T.T.R. (Off To The Races)”

8. Nas – “Nasty”

9. Wale f. Rick Ross & Jadakiss – “600 Benz”

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10. Drake f. Rick Ross – “Lord Knows”

Steven Horowitz, News Editor (@SPeriod)

1. Kendrick Lamar – “A.D.H.D.”

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2. Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Otis”

3. Phonte – “The Good Fight”

4. The Roots f. Big K.R.I.T. – “Make My”

5. Action Bronson f. Nina Sky – “Cocoa Butter” 

6. Kendrick Lamar – “Fuck Your Ethnicity”

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7. Common – “Celebrate”

8. Evidence f. Raekwon & Ras Kass – “The Red Carpet”

9. Nas – “Nasty”

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10. Drake f. Rick Ross – “Lord Knows”

Michael Sheehan, Production Assistant

1. Tech N9ne f. B.o.B. & Hopsin – “Am I A Psycho” 

2. Joker f. Freddie Gibbs & Jessie Ware – “The Vision Rmx”

3. Killer Mike f. T.I. & Big Boi – “Ready, Set, Go Rmx” 

4. Raekwon f. Ghostface – “Silver Rings”

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5. Jay-Z & Kanye West f. Frank Ocean – “No Church In The Wild”

6. David Banner – “Swag”

7. B.o.B. f. T.I. & Mos Def – “Boom Bap”

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8. Slim The Mobster f. Prodigy – “Marta”

9. Mexicans With Guns f. Bun B & Freddie Gibbs – “Highway To Hell”

10. Kyo Itachi & Ruste Juxx f. R.A. The Rugged Man – “No Prints”