Another year has passed us by again. For the thrird time we’re gonna end the year with our very own ‘Best of 2011′. Together with Nevill and Deluge, I’ve picked out some of the finest music that was released this year. Many thanks to all our visitors and of course the artists out there making music that matters. We wish you a blessed 2012 with loads of great music and make sure you go out with a blast!!

Now on to the Best of 2011..

Best Album 2011
1. Thundercat – The Golden Age of Apocalypse
2. Amalia – Art Slave
3. Brandon Coleman – Self-Taught
4. Elzhi – Elmatic
5. Osunlade – Pyrography
6. Evil Needle – Cirrostratus
7. Mark de Clive-Lowe – Renegades
8. Teeko – Light Up The Darkness
9.  Phonte – Charity Starts At Home
10. Kan Sano – Fantastic Farewell

Best EP 2011
1. KING – The Story EP
2. Dirg Gerner – Preface EP
3. Terrace Martin – The Sex EP
4. fLako – Carving Away The Clay EP
5. Hazel – Playground EP

Best Compilation 2011
1. Soulection
2. The Heart Vol. 2
3. Starship 27 Vol. 2: Take Off
4. LA♥JPN♥LA Vol. 2
5. Label Love Pt.3

Best Videos 2011
1. Erykah Badu – Gone Baby, Don’t Be Long
2. J*DaVeY – Raincheck
3. Jay Electronica Dimethyltryptamine
4. Overdoz – Pasadena
5. Amalia – Freeze That!

Best Remixes 2011
1. Daedelus – Tailor Made with Milosh (Floating Points Remix)
2. Salva – Wake Ups (B. Bravo Remix)
3. Meemee Nelzy – Comme Un Lotus (Buscrates 16​-​bit Remix)
4. Leon King – More Than A Crush (Opolopo Remix)
5. Architeq – Into The Cosmos (Mr Beatnick Dub)

Best Documentaries
1. Real Scenes: Detroit
2. Still Shining
3. Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation

Best New Musical Talents Spotted 2011
1. ERIMAJ – Conflict Of A Man
2. Brandon Coleman – Self Taught
3. Ayanna – Truthfully
4. Greg Spero – Acoustic
5. Manuals – MPG

Best Collaboration 2011
1. Martyn Slott – Pointing Fingers
2. Zebrahim – In My Heart I Am
3. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Thuggin EP
4. Onrazel – Two for the P (Bonus)
5. Bun B & 14KT – The Life

Best Record Labels 2011
1. Tokyo Dawn
2. Tru Thoughts
3. Plug Research

Most Slept On Artist 2011
Christoph El Truento

Ones to watch in 2012
1. Dirg Gerner
2. Union
3. Derrick Hodge
4. KING
5. East Liberty Quarters

It Was Your Time To Go 2011 (R.I.P.)
1. J-1
2. Fonce Mizell
3. Sylvia Robinson

written by nilez \\ tags: 14kt, amalia, ayanna, b. bravo, best of 2011, brandon coleman, buscrates 16-bit ensemble, christoph el truento, daedelus, derrick hodge, dirg gerner, east liberty quarters, elzhi, erimaj, erykah badu, evil needle, flako, floating points, fonce mizell, greg spero, hazel, j'davey, j-1, jay electronica, kan sano, king, label love, leon king, madlb, manuals, mark de clive-lowe, martyn slott, moovmnt, mr beatnick, onrazel, opolopo, osunlade, overdoz, phonte, plug research, salva, soulection, staff pick 2011, sylvia robinson, teeko, terrace martin, the heart vol. 2, thundercat, tokyo dawn records, tru thoughts, union, zebrahim

Still one of our favorite Hip Hop producers in the game…yep you guessed it right, it’s 14KT. The Michigan beat smith is back with his “A Friendly Game of KT” album out on A-Side Worldwide. Some crazy fresh instrumentals on here, but if you ask me it’s all about the first and the last joint! Really diggin’ those two, so enjoy a low bitrate stream of “Width” featuring Tony Ozier. Make sure you show some love if you dig and buy via .

14KT – Width Ft. Tony Ozier [112kbps]

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written by nilez \\ tags: 14kt, a friendly game of kt, a-side worldwide, beats, hip hop, michigan, tony ozier, width

14 Karat Life:

After winning last year’s Red Bull Big Tune, Detroit’s 14KT was awarded with the chance to record a track with his favorite artist. As it turns out he picked none other than UGK’s Bun B. The result is a solid track called “The Life”. XXL has some footage of the recording process, and if you haven’t already check out 14KT’s “14Killatape” to hear some of the beats he won that prestigious Big Tune with.

Bun B & 14KT – The Life

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written by Deluge \\ tags: 14killatape, 14kt, beat battle, beats, bun b, free download, hip hop, red bull big tune, the life, ugk, xxl

Ann Arbor’s Gameboi is only 15 years old and already the kid has an EP out produced by Astronote and 14KT. His debut release “Freshman of the Year” EP features Rapper Big Pooh and L05 and is fresh if you ask me. Especially when you think about where this cat might be going in the next few years. Peep it…it’s a free download!

Gameboi – Promise (Prod. Astronote) [left click]

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Gameboi – Act Right Ft. Rapper Big Pooh (Prod. 14KT) [left click]

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written by nilez \\ tags: 14kt, a-side worldwide, ann harbor, astronote, free download, freshman of the year, gameboi, l05, michigan, rapper big pooh

Between 2008 and 2011 14KT made a bunch of beats. His “14KillaTape” is full of beat battle minded beats as well as other types of beats. He sets off the Killer Tape with the first joint he ever made in a beat battle mind state and the rest is history. Free download is available over at A-side Worldwide.

14KT – F What They Say [left click]

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14KT - 3 Blind Mice [left click]

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written by nilez \\ tags: 14killatape, 14kt, a-side worldwide, big tune, free download, michigan, red bull beat battle

Second time Tony Ozier updated his Soundcloud page with some newness. We already posted “Back To The Mitten” a few weeks back, but Tony is consistently bringing the funk back now. Here is “Zane’s Slap” from the upcoming instrumental album“BeatsGalore”.. Can’t wait for this to drop! Thanks to DJ Rahdu for the heads up..

Tony Ozier – Zane’s Slap

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Tony Ozier – Back To The Mitten

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written by nevill \\ tags: 14kt, aural penetration, back to the mitten, beatsgalore, doodoo, instrumental, soundcloud, tony ozier, zanes slap

14KT put some new freebies on his Soundcloud the other day. “Fourteen” featuring a rapping Aloe Blacc definitely stands out most. The track was originally slated for a re-release on 14KT’s  Nowalataz project but unfortunately never got released. Thanks to 14KT for making it available for FREE now. Headnodz

14KT – Fourteen Feat Aloe Blacc

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written by nevill \\ tags: 14kt, aloe blacc, download, fourteen, nowalataz, re-release, soundcloud, ypsilanti

Detroit’s Magestik Legend is about to drop “To Be Continued…Chapter 2″ hosted by Rapper Big Pooh early next week as a free download. Today’s leak “Crazy” was produced by Astronote and bangs like a motherf*cker. Chapter 2 is the prequel to Magestik Legend’s upcoming full length album “The Great Escape” which drops on November 30th featuring a majority of the production from Astronote, but also includes tracks produced by 14KT. Guest features on this album include Guilty Simpson, Kam Moye aka Supastition, DJ Rhettmatic, Buff 1 and more.

Magestik Legend – Crazy (prod by Astronote)

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written by nilez \\ tags: 14kt, astronote, buff1, crazy, detroit, dj rhettmatic, free download, guilty simpson, kam moye, little brother, magestik legend, rapper big pooh, the great escape, to be continued...chapter 2

Meet the New Jack Kings. T. Calmese (aka Illite of the Subterraneous Crew) and Vaughan T. (of the Athletic Mic League) are two unsung heroes coming out of Michigan. Their “New Jack Kings” project was inspired by the infamous era of high top fades, eye brow parts, and house parties. The album revolves around life, love, women and fashion as a solute to artists such as Teddy Riley, Bobby Brown, Michael Jackson, New Edition and Kid n Play who made songs that everyone could relate to.

Lots of classic New Jack Swing flips by producers like Vaughan T, 14KT, Nick Speed, ZO! and vocal contributions from Buff 1, Mayer Hawthorne, Big Tone, Ro Spit, Aloe Blacc, Ella, and Sole Deacon. Grab the free download HERE and enjoy.

New Jack Kings – Ask of U Ft. Mayer Hawthorne (prod. by 14kt & instrumentation by Zo!)

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written by nilez \\ tags: 14kt, aloe blacc, ask of u, athletic mic league, big tone, buff1, ella, illite, mayer hawthorne, michigan, new jack kings, nick speed, ro spit, vaughan t, zo!

I’m sure we all haven’t forgotten about what happened in Haiti in January. With the “Notes For Haiti” compilation album, Detroit and L.A. join unite and come together on one album to show love and support. Most songs you might already know, but still well worth the support! Check the official press release…

Moved by the catastrophic earthquake and aftershocks that ravaged the island nation of Haiti, a group of artists is asking the public to remember the difference each of us can make. The project, “Notes for Haiti”, is a way for the collective to thank the public for their support of the island nation to date – and hopefully inspire folks to give more of the help that’s that still needed.
Estimates are that beyond the more than 230,000 Haitians who lost their lives as a result of the earthquakes, another 300,000 were injured and over one million were left homeless.
The album is available digitally in a “pay-what-you-want” format as of Tuesday, June 1, 2010 through the website notesforhaiti.bandcamp.com. All proceeds from album sales and donations are funneled directly to Oxfam America’s ongoing Haiti relief efforts.
The compilation features exclusive content and album material from Karriem Riggins, eLZhi (Slum Village), Blu, Fashawn, Exile, Aloe Blacc, Crown Royale (Buff 1 and DJ Rhettmatic), Invincible, Now On (Mayer Hawthorne, IX Lives, Jackson Perry), 14KT, Houseshoes, Co$$, Sene, AB, Marv Won, Jordan Rockswell, and SlopFunkDust.
The concept behind the “pay-what-you-want” format (used previously by bands such as Radiohead) is that the user can dictate the price paid for the album as a whole, or for each song purchased individually (for as little as $1). The donations are processed directly to Oxfam America through the secure BandCamp-PayPal portal, removing unnecessary overhead or infrastructure costs at the point of sale.
Oxfam is working in multiple locations to provide clean water, sanitation, shelter, seeds and running cash for work programs. Though their public appeal to Haiti has closed (for the time), this project will continue to affect their ongoing efforts on the island.
Detroit natives Niles Heron (Los Angeles) and Sarah Lockridge-Steckel (Boston) executive produced the album with gracious contributions from artists, promoters, managers, and good people nationwide.

Please visit the Notes For Haiti Bandcamp page and give generously! I just donated $5 and I truly hope that you, you and yes you have a heart as well and dig deep into your pockets. We’re only streaming these two bangers at a low bitrate, cuz for only $1 you can BUY the entire album.

Now On (DJ Haircut, Jackson Perry, IX Lives) – Doo It

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Co$$ & Sene – Let’s Begin

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written by nilez \\ tags: 14kt, album, aloe blacc, bancamp, bandcamp, blu, buff 1, buff1, charity, co$$, compilation, crown royale, detroit, dj haircut, dj rhettmatic, earthquake haiti, elzhi, exile, fashawn, house shoes, houseshoes, invincible, ix lives, jackson perry, jordan rockswell, karriem riggins, los angeles, marv won, mayer hawthorne, niles heron, notes for haiti, now on, oxfam, pay-what-you-want, paypal, radiohead, sarah lockridgde-steckel, sene, slum village