The Nairaview: The Top 10 Albums Of 2012

2012 was good year in music, however its that time of the year when we check how the albums that were released during the year stack up against each other. Personally, 2 Chainz is my man of the year in music but that's another topic for another day.Here are my favorite albums of 2012, comment if I missed anyone or if I overrated/underrated any album.

First, Honorable Mentions go to Based On A TRU Story by 2 Chainz, GOD Forgives I Don't by Rick Ross, Perfectly Imperfect by Elle Varner, RAP Music by Killer Mike, cruel summer by the good music crew,
and food & liqour II by Lupe Fiasco

10 Our Version Of Events -- Emeli Sande

released february 10, 2012
label virgin
the official debut album by Emeli Sande
the critics choice award winner at the brit awards has arguably the best sellling album in 2012. tho o.v.o.e was panned by critics, its an album I really like and enjoyed.

9 Radio Music Society -- Esperanza Spalding

2011's grammy awards best new artiste, is out with her 4th album, which is jazz with a touch of pop and some hip hop.

8 Unorthodox Jukebox -- Bruno Mars
released december 6, 2012
label atlantic
this album is short and
like the title suggests, this album is more of a mix n match of various styles or genres of music.

7 Some Nights -- Fun

released feb 14, 2012
label fueled by ramen

the album spurned the smash hit "we are young" the first rock song to top the bill board charts in 4 years
2nd album from the new york based group
some nights earned fun! 6 grammy nominations.

6 Red -- Taylor Swift
released october 22, 2012
label big machine
fourth album by the country/pop star
Taylor swift's understated versatility makes her such a cross over success.

5 Kaleidoscope Dream -- Miguel
released September 25, 2012
label rca
the sex album of the year,an unerringly consistent, very good pop album, play this album when its about to go down in the bedroom.

4 Life Is Good -- Nas
Released july 13, 2012
Label def jam
10th album by nas
featured production by kanye west mentor no ID and nas' long term collaborator, salaam remi
this album was deeply personal and maybe suggests nas is at his best when things are really going well for him. this is surely the best nas' album in more than 10 years, and probably in his top2 or 3 albums. let's just enjoy this album, he's not back however.



3 Babel -- Mumford & Sons
sophomore album by Mr. Mumford & co.
released sept 21, 2012
genre folk rock
label, island, glassnote
babel offers no real change from what the band delivered on their debut album "sigh no more". but you know what they say, if it aint broke, don't fix it. a solid album nonetheless.

2 Good Kid Maad City -- Kendrick Lamar
studio debut by Kendrick Lamar on
tde/aftermath/interscope
released october 22, 2012
GKMC is a concept album about a young k.dot (as kendrick is sometimes called) growing up in compton, carlifornia. with several skits adding to the movie-like feel of the album was described as a short film on the album cover.
a classic hip hip album no doubt, reminds me a bit of nas' illmatic.
this album is not your average album, he even attacks the binge drinking, get high culture that pervades hip hop these days on the track "swimming pools", I admit I had to google some of the lyrics to get the message of some of the songs. hip hop songwriting at its best!

1 Chanel Orange -- Frank Ocean
studio debut
released july 10, 2012
genre r n b, neo soul
label def jam
unconventional album by an unconventional guy, the odd future singer came out of the closest on the eve of the album's release when it was apparent that some reviewers were going to query why some pronouns appeared at some odd moments in the album.
a very creative and original effort
that got mostly positive reviews from critics.

The Art Of Peer Pressure... As Told By Kendrick Lamar

[Intro]
" everybody, everybody, everybody
Everybody sit your b---h ass down and listen to this true motha----in' story told by Kendrick Lamar "

-- lets talk about peer pressure, how peer pressure works and how strong the urge to fit in can be.. with the lyrics from " the art of peer pressure " a song by the American rapper Kendrick Lamar from his album " good kid, m.A.A.d city "

Smoking on the finest dope (aye aye aye aye)
Drank until I can't no more (aye aye aye aye)
Really I'm a sober soul but I'm with the homies right now

-- the good city, m.A.A.d city album is a concept album in which Kendrick tells the story of how Kendrick grew up and eventually made it against all odds in the dangerous city of Compton in California.
here, our protagonist, Kendrick talks about smoking (weed) and drinking when usually he doesn't do either, except when he's with his "friends". this is significant because a lot of people and especially teenagers nowadays can relate to this since most of them started engaging in vices such as drinking and smoking due to the fact that "everyone else was doing it".

Rush a n---a quick then laugh about it later (aye aye aye aye)
Really I'm a peacemaker but I'm with the homies right now

-- here, Kendrick talks about beating up someone along with his friends and laughing about it just because his friends are doing it.

And momma used to say
One day, it's gon' burn you out
One day, it's gon' burn you out, out
One day, it's gon' burn you out
One day, it's gon' burn you
I'm with the homies right now

-- just like most of us, our parents and older ones advise us against such practices but we forget all that "talk" when we're among our friends and in social settings.

I got the blunt in my mouth
Usually I’m drug-free, but shit I’m with the homies

-- here again, he mentions smoking weed but doesn't mind cos he's hanging out with his friends

I never was a gang banger, I mean I was never stranger to the funk neither
I really doubt it.
Rush a nigga quick and then we laugh about it
That’s ironic ‘cause I’ve never been violent, until I’m with the homies

-- gang violence (mostly from the blood gang and the crips gang) is almost synonymous with los angeles, but Kendrick says although he never belonged to any gang, he had family members and friends who were. so although he was usually non violent, he could be seen "riding" with such people.

[Verse 3]
Bragging ‘bout the episode we just had
A shot of Hennessy didn’t make me feel that bad
I’m usually a true firm believer of bad karma
Consequences from evil will make your past haunt you

-- Kendrick and his (gangster) friends attacked some members of the rival gangs and they drink and brag about the "episode" but he doesn't feel remorse cos he's just chilling with his friends.

The sun is going down as we take whatever we want

-- in the song, Kendrick went to along with his friends to a house they had been doing surveillance on for about 2 months and robbed it, unfortunately they had to leave hurriedly when the police came..

We made a right, then made a left, then made a right
Then made a left, we was just circling life

-- here, Kendrick makes a metaphorical expression and how following friends and doing what's "cool" leads one nowhere, "circling" life, how unprogressive it is. he's also talking about the turns they take while trying to beat the cops.

My mama called – "Hello? What you doin'? “Kicking it”
I should’ve told her I’m probably ‘bout to catch my first offense with the homies

-- while they were running from the police cars, his mother called and he lied to her that he was just "kicking it", when he was so close to being arrested as a result of his activities with his friends.

But they made a right, they made a left then made a right
Then another right
One lucky night with the homies

-- Kendrick describes the turns the police cars take and eventually missing him and his friends, describing it as "one lucky night".

[Outro]
K. Dot, you faded, hood?
Yea we finally got that nigga faded. I think he hit the wrong blunt though
Ooh, which one?
Well which one he talking 'bout? I was finna hit the one with the shenanigans in it
I pray he ain't hit that
Nah, that nigga straight. He ain't hit that one
Got the shenanigans? Give that nigga the shenanigans
Nigga I think we should push back to the city, fo real doe

-- the rest of the song or story ends in a conversation among Kendrick's friends while Kendrick has passed out. apparently, his friends gave him weed that was laced with some cocaine, they decided to drop him at his mother's home and go back in the city and look for more trouble cos they wanted to be "the man in the streets" just like a young jeezy song said.

peer pressure is a serious issue among young people anywhere in the world. young men and women from even the best moral upbringing and background cannot resist the allure. no one wants to be a cast out, the reject, the odd one out and do all sorts of mindless, stupid things all in the name of fitting in.
However, it is always good to think before ones actions and evaluate why you should do what your friends want you to do, if they say you MUST do it, you probably don't belong among them. it always good to have a mind of your own, know what works for one cos people are different. Like Kendrick, he was fortunate, many other people are not. a lot of people have had promising futures ruined due to peer pressure, some have even lost their lives. but then again, what can we do without friends?