• Wiz Khalifa: Taylor Allderdice

This mixtape was truly what the Pittsburgh artist needed after his criticized debut album Rolling Papers. Wiz’s raps were on point, and the production was diverse. The concept of the album was the perfect breakdown for fans about who he is and what his empire, Taylor Gang, is about. Taylor Allderdice is the album that fans wanted all along from Wiz Khalifa. The mixtape met its high expectations from both listeners and critics, and almost beats Wiz’s last big project Kush & OJ for the best mixtape in his catalog; which means a lot. Taylor Allderdice is definitely the best mixtape of this year.

• Big KRIT: 4 Eva N a Day

2012 was another big year for the Mississippi rapper, Big KRIT. Not only did his debut album Live From the Underground album sell over 40,000 copies the first week and receive positive reviews from critics, but his mixtape 4 Eva N A Day was a mixtape that people held on to even after Live Fron the Underground was released. Some argue that this mixtape was better than his debut album. The mixtape had a creative concept of going through daily life. KRIT raps about the trials and tribulations of an individual. Along with making bangers, he takes listeners (and the main character in the mixtape) away from the problems of life. 4 Eva N A Day showed that with his freedom, Big KRIT can put together a fluid, consistent album under the name of a mixtape.

• Joey Bada$$: 1999

This 17 year old New York rapper truly brought the golden age of early 90’s hip-hop back in his debut project 1999. Bada$$ and his music group, Pro Era, prove to be a dominant force in Hip Hop, and even now they continue to develop more. Bada$$ received brilliant production from northeastern producing icons like Statik Selectah and MF Doom. Bada$$ was even brave enough to use beats produced by late legendary producer, J Dilla. The lyrics in 1999 are almost perfect. It brings in a feel of hip-hop in the 90’s, yet adds a new twist by using metaphors, similes and comparisons that young listeners can relate to. 1999 has truly jumpstarted Joey Bada$$’ career in the industry.

• Dom Kennedy: Yellow Album

California rapper, Dom Kennedy, is always the artist to rely on when the summer’s arriving, and once again with the Yellow Album, he did not disappoint. Yellow Album was a musical masterpiece that set the summer off. The project’s single, My Type of Party, took over listeners’ playlists. Dom brought big names in on the project, from rising stars like Kendrick Lamar, to more well known artists like Rick Ross. Whether you wanted music for the cookouts and parties, or you wanted something to listen to on slow days, Yellow Album was the unofficial mixtape of the 2012 summer.