I asked some of my favorite musicians from Beirut and beyond, to tell me what their favorite records of 2011 were…

In the case of hip-hop artist Wael Kodeih aka Rayess Bek, he preferred to send me a list of the albums he listened to the most in 2011, regardless of date of release, and even took the time to include YouTube links! Here goes:

1- Luther Allison – Album: Bad news is coming – Bad News is Coming

2- Ratatat – Album: Classic – Loud Pipes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iexoDhvwGbo

3- Wax Tailor – Album: Hope and Sorrow – The Games You Play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6-pQSWjwqc

4- Alton Ellis – Album: Rude Boy compilation – Cry Tough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3F1iWkHhLI

5- Roce – Album: Identité en crescendo  – Besoin D’oxygène
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qbjnwknKms

6- Kamilya Jubran – Ghareebah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idp6_QSH9q8&feature=related

7- Al Hadra Al Toonisya

8- Brassens – Mourir Pour Des Idées
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-ZI28nbSDQ

9- Abdel Wahab – Min Gheir Leh (le maître de tout les temps!!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHl6Z0zXkaU

10- Imagination – Just An Illusion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnfHdZrmMAw