The year is 2011. The music industry is saturated with an over-abundance of artists. Through the use of powerful laptops & software, combined with the vast networking capabilities of the internet, there were a huge amount of new artists available this year. Although many were bubbling right beneath the "mainstream" surface, a few broke through this year!!

Probably one of the biggest breakthrough groups this year was the Los Angeles based group LMFAO. They tore through the charts with their smash single "Party Rock Anthem" which featured British singer Lauren Bennett & producer Goon Rock. The song went triple platinum in the US & also hit number one in 12 different countries. They also broke through the charts with their 3rd single from the album "Sorry For Party Rockin'" entitled Sexy & I Know It, which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Wiz Khalifa, representing Pittsburgh, PA, also broke through in the 2011 year. Although his smash hit Black & Yellow was actually released in 2010, his album Rolling Papers hit the stores in 2011 and so did his second big hit... Roll Up. Roll Up peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached #2 on the Billboard Rap chart. Roll Up has sold over one million digital copies in the US alone.

Probably the artist that had the biggest impact on the mainstream this year was Big Sean, releasing a barrage of hits from his album "Finally Famous. Songs such as My Last, Dance A$$ and Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay all rode huge mainstream success. His album peaked at #1 on Billboard's US Rap Albums and #3 on the US Billboard 200. There's no doubt that Big Sean became a household name in 2011.

Along with these great mainstream artists came a wave of underground artists that were bubbling right beneath the surface, just one major label deal away from musical immortality. One of these artists was Mac Miller, who made a name for himself through his YouTube videos. Mac's songs are a happy, lightheartedly referencing partying & smoking and, basically, just being a teenager. Mac Miller grew up in Pittsburgh and has a close relationship with fellow Pitt rapper Wiz Khalifa.

Another artist to be on the lookout for is from New Jersey.... Apollo The Great. Apollo takes rap back to it's rawest form... with hard beats and strong lyrics. In tracks such as Struggle No More, Apollo talks about the REAL struggles in the hood, while these other major label artists gloat about money, cars, women & fame. He currently has a free mixtape available online... Apollo 21. He's done work with Brooklyn's own Joell Ortiz of Slaughterhouse & is expected to make that major label jump very soon.

The last in my list of great underground talent is Hopsin, who is from Los Angeles & is well known for his white contact lenses. Hopsin has, actually, been around for quite some time... making an appearance on Disney's "That's So Raven" in 2002 & also having a role in Fame with Kelsey Grammar. He was also signed to Ruthless Records, but departed on bad terms since the record company did very little to promote Hopsin's album. After Ruthless, Hopsin founded his own label.... Funk Volume.... where he now records as an artist as well as directs videos & produces.

So despite the "watered down" record industry, there are still great artists out there... some on the international level, & others just waiting to be heard by the masses. Nonetheless, 2011 brought forth some great music from both sides.