i would say there were more quality mixtapes this year than albums...
off the top of my head, bun b - trill OG or Big Boi was the best album. I would also throw Fat Joe's in there too. Eminem's Recovery was good, but i havent listened to it since it leaked pretty well...I've been hearin way too much Em on the radio and pretty much everywhere i go...
Pilot Talk was pretty good, and the first half of the new TI is dope...
As far as bay area, I would say those 2 Mess and Berner albums take the cake
oh fuck i forgot the Roots....top 3 for sure