Alright, although the year isn’t quite over, I think we’re just about close enough to wrapping up ‘09 that I can make this post without having to worry about anyone dropping a hotter mixtape in December (possibly exception, Lupe Fiasco’s “Friend Of The People” which is slated to drop Christmas Day). (Lupe has cancelled this mixtape to prepare for his climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro) That said, without further ado, here is PVP’s Top Ten Mixtapes of 2009. Enjoy!

10. Jared Evan – Radio In My Head

Click to download via Usershare

The debut project from the multi-talented, Interscope signee (via Polow Da Don’s ‘Zone 4′ imprint) Jared Evan is definitely among my favorites from this past year. “Radio In My Head” showcases Jared’s abilities as a singer, songwriter, rapper and producer…so if you were just looking at the cover, wondering why this kid has a major deal, download the album, it definitely presents a compelling case! In addition to the tracks Jared Evan self-produced (checkout “Frozen” which also appears on the soundtrack for Lebron James’ documentary “More Than a Game”), the 21 year old gets production help from heavy hitters including Illmind, The Kickdrums and Ratatat. With that lineup and Evan’s consistently (and surprisingly) excellent delivery, “Radio In My Head” definitely earns the ten spot for best mixtapes of ‘09.

Standout tracks - Frozen, Feeling Like a Song, Window

9. Chester French – Jacques Jams Vol. 1: Endurance

Click cover to download via Mediafire

Perhaps another surprising inclusion on this list to some of you, coming in at no. 9 is indie/pop duo Chester French with their first and only mixtape release to date: “Jacques Jams Vol. 1 : Enduarance” (hosted by Mr. Get Familiar! Clinton Sparks). Why will this mixtape have you hooked after just a few listens you ask? How about CF’s ability to blend their unique and eclectic vocals & production style (think the Neptunes meets the Beatles) with original guest verses from some of hip-hop’s finest acts including Common, Talib Kweli, Bun B, Pharrell, Jadakiss, Wale, Mickey Factz & more (damn)! Unfortunately for fans of this mixtape such as myself, Chester French’s actual album “Love the Future” sounded nothing like this project, so “Jacques James” was slightly misleading in that sense.. but I think that a major release of a more hip hop oriented album from the two could truly catapult them into a higher level of success (they’re currently signed to Star Trak, so Pharrell, holla at me, I got ideas!)

Standout tracks – I’m So Tall, What A World, I’m Sorry, Life in LA

8. Jozeemo, Joe Scudda, Chaundon & Rapper Big Pooh – Reservoir Dogs

Click cover to download via LimeLinx

With a lineup like this one, you know you’re in store for some hold-no-punches hip-hop in all its glory, and every one of these guys came through and delivered just that. A well conceptualized project with lyricism that manages to be potent and catchy (not an easy task!), “Reservoir Dogs” is more “street” than what might be initially expected from these artists, but of course they put their intelligent and articulate spin on things, which separates the “Dogs” from the pack (pretty clever, huh?).

Standout tracks – D.R.E.A.M., ‘Til Infinity, Not Your Regular Club Song

7. S-Preme – The Sicktape Vol. 2

Click cover to download via DJBooth.net

Another extremely well conceptualized album, “The Sicktape Vol. 2″ is the sophomore effort from rising star and Chi-town representative, S-Preme. Through a first person lyrical narrative, S-Preme chronicles his visions of hard work, success, and the price of fame. From start to finish, when you’re listening to “The Sicktape” it will play out in your head like a full-length feature film, and that’s what I love most about it. 20+ tracks deep and replete with slick wordplay and some extremely versatile delivery from S-Preme (no recycled flows here!), this project is an instant must listen for ‘09.

Standout tracks – Go Hard, V.I.P., The Weird One, Still Fly

6. XV – Everybody’s Nobody

Click cover to download via zSHARE

Hailing from the hip-hop mecca of…Wichita, Kansas?! (further proof that it ain’t where ya from…) XV is a formidable rapper whose style I would best classify as backpacker/nerd rap. But XV does what he does well and could easily out-spit 90% of the mainstream “street” rappers who seemingly get all the shine. PVP personal rants aside however, “Everybody’s Nobody” is Vizzy’s follow up to previous projects including “Planet Squaria” and “The Complex Experiment” Series. Consisting almost entirely of original production (largely from Seven but also featuring tracks from Colin Munroe and Boi-1da), this project has a very open feel, and after you’re through listening I guarantee you’ll feel like you know XV personally even if you’ve never heard any of his work before.

Standout tracks  – Come Back Down, Mirror’s Edge, Life Vs. Livin’

Bonus: XV – Fall Out the Sky (Video)

5. Emilio Rojas – Recession Proof & The Natural

Click each cover to download via Mediafire

Alright, couldn’t decide on just one of these mixtapes from artist Emilio Rojas, they were both so solid  I just had to include them both in the five spot. A lot of people probably still aren’t up on Emilio, but he truly is the embodiment of “A Breath of Fresh Air” (also the title of his first solo mixtape) in the hip-hop world. What’s most appealing about both of these projects is that Rojas successfully delivers conscious lyrics without beating you over the head with his message. A smooth and confident delivery flows effortlessly from the half-Venezuelan rapper on both of these mixtapes, and original production from the likes of Illmind, M-Phazes, Boi-1da, 6th Sense and others provides Emilio with the perfect canvases for painting his lyrical pictures.

Standout tracks (Recession Proof) – Just One Night, Here I Am, Way She Moves (The Natural) - Untouched, Tic Toc, Live for the Moment

4. Lupe Fiasco – Enemy of the State: A Love Story

Click cover to download via Mediafire

OK, so this mixtape has only been out for about a week at the time of this post, but it was Lupe’s first official mixtape release since part three of the classic Fahrenheit 1/15 series, so you know it was going to be something special, and it had to get a spot in PVP’s top ten list. Lupe goes in over some beats that are seemingly outside his usual repertoire (Travis Porter’s – All the Way Turnt Up & Lil’ Wayne’s – Fireman for instance), but what he did with them makes the originals look like cheap, sweatshop knock offs. Everyone knew Lupe was gifted lyrically but he really went out of his way to show people how effortlessly he can out rap just about everyone in the game. My main problem with this mixtape was that it was far too short, (clocking in at just over 20 minutes of music), but with the announcement of another project dropping on Christmas, I can’t be too mad. FNF up!

Standout tracks – Turnt Up, Fireman, Say Something, Popular Demand

3. Lil’ Wayne – No Ceilings

Click cover to download the Official Version
of "No Ceilings" via Usershare

To say there was a lot of hype surrounding the latest release from “the mixtape Weezy” is a huge understatement. Kind of disappointed that I have to rank this mixtape so highly, but there are a number of reasons that this definitely ranks among the best mixtapes of the year (no I do not believe that he is the best rapper alive, or that he makes more money than Jay-Z, sorry Birdman). Regardless, Wayne knew what he was doing when he dropped this mixtape.  All freestyles and mostly over jacked beats, Wayne does what he does best, spitting bar after bar of cleverly formatted similes and metaphors. Content wise, Wayne isn’t actually saying much of anything, but dammit, he sure knows how to make whatever the hell he is saying sound good. If you’re looking for some music to turn up in your car or get you pumped before a basketball game, then yes, check out No Ceilings. If you’re looking for something life changing…well keep looking.

Standout tracks – Swag Surf, Wasted, Run This Town, No Ceilings (Cool N Dre)

2. Big Sean – UKnowBigSean Vol. 2

Click cover to download via zSHARE

G.O.O.D. music signee Big Sean shows you how deserving he is of the accolades that he’s received with this project. “UKnowBigSean Vol. 2″ earns a close second for PVP’s best mixtape of ‘09, and it’s definitely one that’s worth a listen or two or twenty. Everything about this mixtape hits hard; in my humble opinion even the damn intro track is better than some rappers SINGLES! But I digress. “UKnowBigSean Vol. 2″ contains over 20 tracks, which adds up to just over 70 minutes of play time, and you’re hard pressed to find a weak spot in the whole thing. One part hipster rap, one part conscious hip hop, one part feel good music, and a whole lot of unpretentious braggadocio makes this project an excellent listen and a surefire way to ensure that you really do “KnowBigSean” when he blows up big in the coming years.

1. Drake – So Far Gone

Click cover to download via Megaupload

What makes Drake’s “So Far Gone” the best mixtape of the year? Where to begin!? First off this is the only mixtape on the entire list that I could thrown on in the car at any time and it’ll always be appropriate. It feels like an official album the way each track flows into the next, the sonic quality is impeccable (4o is …well a genius), and a huge co-sign from Lil’ Wayne sure didn’t hurt. This project has mainstream appeal, a Billboard hit single, deeper relevant content, witty punchlines…Drake can sing and rap (à la Trey Songz), has the female market cornered (hem..again…à la Trey Songz), and even had the gumption to release a SHORTER version of this FREE mixtape as an officially released EP in stores (cutting down from 18 tracks to 6 and adding one bonus joint at the end). And how many people actually paid for 7 tracks that they could have gotten for free online? Oh, only 72 thousand in the first week alone, more than most artists sell when they release their full albums. Drizzy isn’t spectacularly talented at any one thing, but everything he does, he does it to death, and he’s put himself in a great spot to sell a lot of copies of his official album “Thank Me Later” due to the great critical reception of “So Far Gone”.

Honorable ‘09 Mixtape Mentions:

The Clipse – Road To ‘Til The Casket Drops
Idle Warship – Party Robot
J. Cole – The Warmup
The Knux – Remind Me In 3 Days
Language Artz – Emperor Penguin Muzik
Mars – Life of Mars
Mike Posner – A Matter of Time & One Foot Out the Door
Novel – Suspended Animation
Pac Div – Church League Champions
Whuzi – The Kitchen Sink EP
Wiz Khalifa – Flight School

A very debatable list, but damnit I am going to try and give everyone a fair shot.

#1.

Enter The Dragon : Bruce Lee

Of course, we all knew this guy was going to pick a Bruce Lee movie right?  I know what your all thinking… He must feel obligated to pick a Bruce Lee movie because of the huge impact that Lee has had on Kung Fu movies in the U.S. and around the world… and you are absolutely correct!  I am not the biggest Bruce Lee fan in the world, but what nobody can deny is how hard Lee tried to convey messages of peace and wisdom in his movies.  I had trouble deciding between Enter the Dragon and The Game of Death but then i realized that the Game of Death was a little too wordy and preachy so i went with the Dragon.  Big whoop, wanna fight about it?

#2.

Tony Jaa : Ong Bak & The Protector

The number 2 spot goes to the baddest man I have ever seen in a Kung Fu movie (or any action movie for that matter) Tony Jaa.  I know, I know, its cheating to put two movies next to the guy’s name but the plot’s were very similar.  I respect Jaa so much because he does not use wires or special effects to attempt stunts that would make Johnny Knoxville squeamish.  The plot and dialog in his movies can be suspect at time, but you will always be there with your DVD remote in hand to rewind and replay those fight scenes and I will personally guarantee you will laugh out loud when u see how ridiculous this man is.  I can’t wait to see more from him in the future.

#3.

Jackie Chan : Legend of The Drunken Master

People tend to forget that Jackie Chan did some real stuff back when he was young before he started making the Rush Hours.  One of my favorite Kung Fu plots of all time is in The Legend of The Drunken Master.  The action scenes are great, like Jaa, Jackie does all of his own stunts without the aid of wires or computers.  The movie has many funny moments that can help overcome the corniness of a dubbed movie.  This movie also has a perfect cast, from Chan’s hilarious stepmother, to his stern traditional father.  Overall, if you haven’t seen it you should, and if you have it has been too long, go watch it again. (watch the bloopers too)

#4.

Jet Li : Hero & Fearless

I know, I did it again, putting two movies in one movie slot.  I didn’t want to but I had to!  Jet Li’s Hero was an amazing movie!  It was beautifully shot and well conceptualized.  I loved how each scene had a color theme that represented the mood of the situations.  I am a sucker for self realization movies so I guess thats why I enjoyed Fearless just as much.  The oldest story in the book about revenge leading to pain and suffering, you just can’t help but to watch this movie every time you see it on Spike TV!  Its just one of those movies that you let yourself get caught up in a Hero’s journey and end up watching til the credits roll up!

#5.

Stephen Chow : Kung Fu Hustle

What the… You thought this was a joke?  Nope I am 100% serious about this movie being my number 5, and I have good reasons to back it up.  Though the movie was more plot-driven than action-driven, it was the first of it’s kind.  At first I did not like this movie, but the more i watched it, the more i began to appreciate the special effects, the comedy, the storyline, and once again… the Hero’s journey on the path of self-realization.  Most of all, I liked the “bad guys” in this movie.  The “axe gang”, the two blind guys with the asian guitar looking thing, and the frog man killer guy (see I’ve done my research that’s their names).  I surprised myself on this last selection, but I stand by the reasons why it has made my top 5 for Kung Fu Movies!

Honorable mentions: Iron Monkey, Fists of Fury, Jackie Chan’s First Strike, Kung Fu Panda, Kung Pow: Enter The Fist (yeah i still think its funny)

In the 2009 NFL season, we have seen our fair share of impressive running back play from many talented players.  Who among them is the best?  I guess it comes down to what type of running back you have more respect for.

Chris Johnson - Tennessee Titans

The most surprising rb success in my opinion is this man, Chris Johnson.  He is the quickest running back on my list and has an amazing ability to cut horizontally in traffic and accelerate in one step.  I hate him because he has huge games against me in my fantasy league, but I cant help but to respect his amazing talent at running back.

Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings

If I could make a mold and genetically breed the perfect running back, It would be Adrian Peterson. There is no better combination of power, speed, and agility in the NFL.  This year, defenses have made sure to keep him under control allowing for the vikings pass game to open up.  In my opinion Adrian Peterson is the best running back in football today just because of his impact on defenses and defensive strategies.

Cedric Benson - Cincinnati Bengals

Boooooooooo!  moving on… (bears fans, feel me)

Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars

I love this guy.  He plays for a crappy team so he doesn’t get all the respect he deserves, but he is a beast.  You can’t help but to root for this guy.  At 5′7″ 210 lbs, he is a tiny tank that just plows through the open hole (cough) and is a great example of how power and a low center of gravity can be a recipe for success in the NFL.

Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams

So the Rams are bad, but Ram fans can take solace in the fact that they have one of the best running backs in football.  Steven Jackson is just a tough man.  He is built similar to Adrian Peterson but is a very scrappy runner.  He has a great ability to break arm tackles and keep his legs moving.  If St. Louis ever gets a better passing game, Steven Jackson will have more room to run and will dominate.

Overall, there are many great running backs in the NFL.  A few honorable mentions who did not make my list; Frank Gore, Michael Turner, Steve Slaton, and Darren Sproles.  Its going to be a great era for running backs in the NFL.

If you haven’t heard, there is this game that came out recently… it made around oh $310 million worldwide on its release on 11-10-09? Still not ringing any bells?  It kinda has 400k players online each night on the playstation network and even more on the x-box live? Well, its name is Call of Duty : Modern Warfare 2… and its kind of a big deal.

Modern Warfare 2 is no question the biggest video game release to date.  Due to the ridiculous success of the Call Of Duty 4 Modern Warfare, the sequel scared away every game developer from releasing their games around the same time.

With it’s short but intense single player campaign, it’s addictive online achievement based play, and the all new Spec Ops mode, Modern Warfare 2 deserves all of the hype it had received.  So happy Camping! and Let the Throwing Knives FLY! (check the video of some nasty Knife kills)

PVP’s Rating :  10/10

Be’s PSN – GoDs_Speed

What’s Good world!?  It’s everybody’s favorite producing Duo, the often imitated NEVER duplicated ProVerb Productions.  I am Be, aka Da Truth aka Brandon Carrion one half of the music WORLD-saving-crew more commonly known as PVP.  This website will be your new home for all the News that is important to you.  And if it is not important to you yet, i will make it important to you… by force. just kidding, but seriously… i will force you.

As you may be able to tell, we are very excited to get this blog moving forward to be able to entertain, inform, and possibly arouse you?  Who knows, possibilities are endless.

Music, Sports, News, Technology, Creativity, Art, anything and everything will be showcased on the ALL NEW PVPave.com and will be updated frequently for your enjoyment so stay tuned for upcoming posts and make sure to bookmark www.PVPave.com.  On second thought, go on and set it as your homepage… As of today… this is going to be the only blog you will need in your life.

GodBless yall and Lets have a good run,

Be of PVP