Before we get started let’s clear a few things up first. This is no way a BEST of 2009 list.

I tried to limit the amount of time an artist appeared but it was impossible to do with Raekwon. While he might not have been the best rapper this year, he gave us the best material. He had tons of guest spots, a stellar album and was hands down the most intricate part of Hip-Hop in 2009.

I also had to give Big Boi a nod on my favorite rapper list because you can’t two drop of the best singles of the year and not make it. 2010 is looking pretty promising with the return of OutKast, The Roots, Blu and the Wu-Massacre. New albums from Pill, Curren$y, Yela Wolf, Jay Electronica, and Freddie Gibbs to name a few. When you look back at ’09 you won’t find that many amazing moments, but if you look closely you’ll find a ton of dope tracks you can’t deny. Not the best year in the decade but certainly not the worst either. Check back tomorrow for a list of my 200 favorite tracks of 2009. –Philaflava

Philaflava’s 10 Favorite Rappers of 2009

1. Raekwon
2. DOOM
3. Curren$y
4. Freddie Gibbs
5. Lil Wayne
6. The Jacka
7. Joell Ortiz
8. Cormega
9. Saigon
10. Big Boi

Philaflava’s 10 Favorite LP’s 2009

1. Raekwon – OB4CL II
2. The Jacka – Tear Gas
3. DOOM – Born To This
4. Curren$y – This Ain’t No Mixtape
5. Cormega – Born And Raised
6. Felt (Murs & Slug) – Felt 3: A Tribue To Rosie Perez
7. Souls of Mischief – Montezuma’s Revenge
8. Brother Ali – Us
9. Clipse – Til The Casket Drops
10. Fashawn – Boy Meets World

Philaflava’s 25 Favorite Tracks of 2009

1. Jay Electronica – Exhibit C
2. Raekwon – New Wu feat. Ghostface Killah & Method Man
3. DOOM – Gazzillion Ear
4. Big Boi – Fo Yo Sorrows feat. Too $hort & George Clinton
5. Clipse – By Popular Demand (Popeye’s) feat. Cam’Ron
6. Big Boi – Shine Blockas feat. Gucci Mane
7. UGK – Used To Be feat. E-40, B-Legit, 8 Ball And MJG
8. The Roots – How I Got Over
9. Cam’Ron – I Hate My Job (Original Mix)
10. Brother Ali – Best@It feat. Freeway & Joell Ortiz
11. Clipse – Kind of Like A Big Deal feat. Kanye West
12. Raekwon – Surgical Gloves
13. Wu-Tang Clan – Radiant Jewels feat. Cormega & Sean Price
14. Kurious – Benneton feat. MC Search & DOOM
15. CunninLynguists – George (Remix) ft. Khujo Goodi & Killer Mike
16. Cormega – Rapture
17. Raekwon – Kiss The Ring feat. Inspectah Deck & Masta Killa
18. Open Mike Eagle – iRock
19. Joell Ortiz – Move On (Slaughterhouse Mix) feat. Joe Budden, Royce Da 5’9″ & Crooked I
20. Felt (Murs & Slug) – Permanent Standby
21. Saigon – The Rules
22. Fabolous – Lullaby
23. Musab – Get Life
24. Q-Tip – Renaissance
25. Freddie Gibbs – I’m That Nigga

More mobb shit from Jack and Berner. The first Drought Season set the bar impossibly high, but these guys seem to have the ability to spin countless coke tales and find incredibly smooth beats. Jacka continues to impress and a solid line up of Bay brethren guest verses keep Berner’s presence appropriate. Success.