Complex's Best of 2009: The Top 25 Albums

Our week-long look back at the year begins with a countdown of our favorite music, from Animal Collective to Kid Cudi.

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Complex Original

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In 2009, we spent so much time putting together our retrospective of the last decade (click here for our "Best of the 2000s" series) that we almost forgot about all the memorable things that happened this year. Well, 2010 ain't here yet, so we're spending the last week looking back at all our favorite stuff, including albums, movies, girls, video games, sports moments, books, style trends, and websites. Sure, everyone has already dropped their '09 lists, but no one has taste quite like Complex. Who else spent 2009 bumping everything from Nicki Minaj to Animal Collective? Look back on all our favorites with the Top 25 Albums of 2009 countdown...

#25: J. Cole The Warm Up 

The Complex Co-Sign: Jermaine Cole moved from North Carolina to NYC in the early 2000s to pursue his rap dreams, and this year they came true. The 24 year-old signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation label and released his best mixtape to date, garnering comparisons to lyrical heavyweights like Nas. The artist formerly known as Therapist still has a long way to go before he hits the mainstream, but one listen to The Warm Up (and his scene-stealing guest verse on BP3) let us know he has a good chance of getting there.

Listen:
"Grown Simba"

[CLICK HERE TO BUY THE MP3 ALBUM FOR $5.00]
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RELATED:
• Complex's Top 100 Albums of the Decade
• Complex's Top 100 Songs of the Decade

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