The Best of Albums: #1
Jay-Z : The Blueprint 3
What comes to mind when you think of “Empire State of Mind?” The same answer should come to mind when you think of “Venus vs. Mars,” “A Star Is Born,” and “Run This Town.” Greatness! Well not, quite the answer, but close. The word or person we’re looking for is Jay-Z! Jay-Z whose reign in 2009 was more than enough to put most of these “online thug rappers” to shame. With a new blueprint with RocNation, a joint venture with LiveNation, Jay-Z truly went back to the drawing board, and made history. Within five weeks into the new year, Jay-Z hit #1 on The Billlboard 100 with “Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys. Also with the likes of Rihanna, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, and newest signee J. Cole, Jay-Z and The Blueprint 3 were clearly the most significant in 2009. Coming in at #1 (finally) is Jay-Z with “The Blueprint 3.” In honor of the #1 spot, check out the recently controversial video “On To The Next One” featuring Swizz Beatz. Stay tuned for The Urban Feed TOP 10 of #2010.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Not even signed to a major label before it’s release, actor turned rapper Drake’s “So Far Gone” blew everyone away by storm. With hits such as “Best I Ever Had,” and “Succesful,” Drake scored his first ever Grammy nomination with “So Far Gone” without the album every being an official release until the mid-late 2009. We would be “So Far Gone” if we don’t feature Drake’s “So Far Gone” as #2 on The Urban Feed’s The Best Albums of 2009. 
Alicia Keys made her once again triumphant return to the world of R&B with her classic album “The Element of Freedom.” Featuring the hits, “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart,” “Doesn’t Mean Anything,” and “Put It In A Love Song” featuring Beyonce, Keys has truly made from refined to elegant. Alicia Keys comes in at #3 with “The Element of Freedom.” 
There are some albums that just make you quiver, those albums that you just have to have, and Maxwell’s long awaited BlackSummers’ Night is one of them. Emerging from a eight year hiatus, Maxwell came to take his spot with his July release featuring the hit singles “Pretty Wings,” “Cold,” and “Stop This World.” Maxwell enters #thebestof09 list at #4. 
Like Day N Nite, a rapper from Cleveland, OH emerged as number one supreme with a conceptual album that changed the life of Kid Cudi, literally from Day to Night. With hits such as “Make Her Say,” “Sky Might Fall,” and more, Kid Cudi’s Man On The Moon: The End of Day made the days and weeks longer for music lovers. Kid Cudi enters at #5 on #thebestof09 albums for The Urban Feed.
In a Perfect World, you would find the perfect singer who can also write songs on every block. Until then, you have Beyonce, and Keri Hilson. Who would have known the girl that played Usher’s love interest in “Love In This Club” would be someone that has garnered grammy nominations, and a #1 hit in Germany and #1 hit “Knock You Down.” Hits such as “Tell Him The Truth,” “Slow Dance,” and of course, had to say it again “Knock You Down” have made Keri Hilson’s Grammy nominated debut “In A Perfect World” come in at #6 as The Urban Feed’s top ten albums of 2009. Ms. KERI BABY!
You have to have ADHD in order to not know the greatness of DC’s Wale. “Attention Deficit” comes in at #7 as The Urban Feed’s top albums of 2009. Tracks such as “90210,” “Shades,” and of course “Pretty Girls,” have been a non-stop on some of the staff’s iPODs and IMEEM playlists. Congrats to WALE and shout outs to RocNation, Allido, and Interscope for putting out such a greatest and needed artist in hip hop for 2009. 
Melanie Fiona bursted into the scene, doing what no one else probably besides a few (Beyonce, Keyshia Cole) have been doing. MAKE MUSIC FOR SELF! Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Melanie Fiona has taken The Urban Feed by storm with an amazing album detailed with in-depth lyrics, soulful melody, and a charismatic personality. Thanks to RocNation and Universal Motown for bringing along such a talent, and may she blow up #in2010 like she did in 2009. Coming in at #8 with the top ten albums of 2009 from The Urban Feed is Melanie Fiona.
I bet the neighbors know his name! 2009 has been the year of Trey Songz, emerging with a new cut, a more tattoos, and a “READY” album, now nominated for a Grammy is Trey Songz. Hits such as “Neighbors Know My Name,” “Say Aah,” “I Invented Sex,” simply put “Ready” on the ‘09 IN REVIEW: best of list. Also, consider everyone can’t get enough of Trey Songz from Toni Braxton to those crazy groupies. Trey Songz comes in at #9 with The Best Albums of 2009 from The Urban Feed.
It’s just one thing about Amerie, that’s got us trippin’! Kicking off the estranged list of the top ten albums of 2009 into 2010 is the black/korean beauty Amerie with her Def Jam Records debut “In Love & War” late 2009. “In Love & War” signified a comeback among many others in 2009 (soon to be named on this list) with hits such as “Why R U,” “Heard ‘Em All,” and “More Than Love” that brought us back into the reminiscent days of Amerie with beat bangers and a raspy but gentle, and pleasing voice.
