After looking back at a year full of great releases, it's time to look ahead to 2012 and the new releases it has to offer us. Here are 10 projects in alphabetical order that I'm looking forward to based on the whispers of them heard in 2011.

This list also concludes my lists for 2011. I hope you enjoyed them. See you next year.

AUTOMatic

After creating a respectable amount of buzz with their sophomore album "Transistor" the few tracks that have been released to the internet from their third album show growth in both songwriting and sound.

Break Bread

Dana Coppa is at the top of his game and after a successful collaboration effort with producer Reason there is no doubt that this project he's doing with producer/emcee Da Ricanstrukta will be dope and worth the listen.

Klassik

Those in the know, know about Klassik and know that when he finally puts out his album that it's going to be a good one and should garner a good amount of attention. If Klassik isn't on your radar, make sure he is from here on out.

Lili K. and Peter Cottontail

After releasing a slick EP in 2011 I am heavily anticipating their next project, which will either be an EP or album – I'm not sure. Lili's pleasant voice and Cottontail's musicality – along with their band – really do deliver the goods so I'm hoping that we get both an EP and album in 2012.

Pacino

"Beyond Compare" has been in the works for a while now and though Pacino hasn't said that he's going to release it in 2012, we saw the preview mixtape in 2011 so I hope that means this project will make a splash in 2012.

Ray Nitti and DJ Pain 1

I don't really know much about this project outside of the fact that the two are working together to put something out. EP, album, mixtape – whatever they end up doing, it's going to be interesting to hear how the two play together for an entire project.

Streetz-n-Young Deuces

After a string of single releases that show growth in focus and maturity in their sound, the EMP duo is clea…

Today I tackle my favorite 10 Milwaukee hip-hop/hip-hop-ish albums of 2011. As always, the list is presented in alphabetical order.

B.Reith – "How The Story Ends"

Rapper/singer/songwriter B. Reith creates his bravest and most honest album with "How The Story Ends." Hailing from Brown Deer, the now-Nashville resident has had some interesting ups and trying lows in the industry and after becoming a 100 percent indie artist again. Reith gives you wit, a smooth style, an angelic
voice and catchy tunes.

KingHellBastard – "The War Room"

After releasing "Remember The Name" in 2010, KHB showed they were growing and gelling better than they ever had in recorded form. It was going to be tough to match the feeling their EP gave me because it was just enough of what they did best and it wasn't laborious in any way. In the middle of December they released "The War Room," which takes what they did on "Remember The Name" and keeps the ball rolling, but with a darker and angrier tone. "The War Room" often comes off as a gigantic middle finger, but in the world of the underground the glorification of the "f*ck you" mentality is just as important as the core fundamentals hip-hop was built upon, and when you get a new KHB record you know the core fundamentals are going to be there.

Logic & Raze – "...STILL untitled"

When depressive meets manic, chaos ensues. "...STILL untitled" is the chaos created out of The Hollowz emcee Logic teaming up with producer and rapper Raze, and it's a chaos that ebbs and flows in and out of standard hip-hop, pop, confessionals and party anthems. It's tough to make diversity work on a larger scale, but the duo's debut does just that.

Pizzle – "Fame In Vain"

Seeking to throw off the title of merely being one of the rappers in the Packers tribute song "Green and Yellow" that roared around the net and radio stations late last year and earlier this year, impeccable rapper Pizzle released his excellent pop/rap debut "Fame In Vain." Pizzle is an a…

Music doesn't need a vocalist for it to be good, and each year there are tons of instrumental projects that are released that are dope. Here are my favorite 10 instrumental projects released by Milwaukee artists in 2011 – in alphabetical order.

adoptahighway & Dolor – "Reshaped Escape"

adoptahighway and Dolor are some of Milwaukee's finest when it comes to dropping funky beats, and their split EP "Reshaped Escape" shows you exactly why. Each artist drops an original and then tosses it over to the other for the purposes of remixing. What you end up getting is some really dope tunes sans vocals.

Andy Petr – "Rapper Turned Singer"

The young man named Andy Petr wasn't a big fan of Milwaukee so he left for New York City, but we can't hold that against him. He's a talented guy and created an extremely worthy project in "Rapper Turned Singer."

Bellse Soneek - "A Tribute to Roy Ayers"

Fresh Cut Collective frontman Kiran Vee decided to get loose using Roy Ayers as his inspiration on a very capable EP that gives tribute to the artist that was very influential on the sound of earlier hip-hop.

Dylan Thomas – "Stevie's Soul Sounds"

Dylan Thomas is one of those guys that takes a lot of time off in between releases it seems, which is the exact opposite of his friend and co-conspirator Haz Solo. However, when Dylan does release something it's extremely dope and worth the listen, as exhibited by his 2011 project "Stevie's Soul Sounds."

Ed Cayce – "Fears Of Sex And Flying"

The Hollowz producer and engineer Ed Cayce shows on "F.O.S.A.F." that he's not just a beat maker, but that he's actually an excellent composer of music that could be featured as the backdrop for any movie with a darker tone. The piano player Cayce airs his haunting thoughts and emotions through this magnificent project.

Flight Mechanics – "Formed Light"

Sean Behling and Paul Duquesnoy deliver an intricate glitch-filled EP that soars with 8-bit sounds, chaotic drum programming and off-kilter …

A good EP is always a nice listen. Here are my 10 favorite Milwaukee EPs from 2011, in alphabetical order.

Antler Antennas – "Autumnal Equinox"

After taking a frenzied approach on their 2010 EP "Sidewalk Tectonics," Antler Antennas slow things down to a more groovy level on "Autumnal Equinox." AA brings to the table a style of music that is a social bastard child of hip-hop and electronica that should be readily embraced by those who enjoy going between the two genres of music.

Bandana – "Return of the Heartless"

Though he hardly ever gets mentioned in many different circles, Bandana is a dude who clearly knows how to rap and is perfect for the fans of Dipset/Diplomats – though with less talk about the material. Bandana is a talented artist that doesn't deserve to be constantly overlooked, and "Return of the Heartless" is the pudding the proof is found in.

Dana Coppafeel & Reason – "Know Flight Zone"

After hearing Reason's work with KingHellBastard it's no surprise that an EP full of his production and the artistically peaking Dana Coppafeel worked. The high pitched nasal tone of Dana's voice is balanced out by the rich lows of Reason's basslines and drums, which creates an interesting listen.

Gerald Walker – "It's Christmas Time Again, Gerald Walker"

It's not that often that a Milwaukee rapper puts out a holiday project, but this year marks Gerald Walker's second foray into the world of holiday music, and it's a good one. Walker takes a modern tone throughout his "Christmas Time" EP, which adds some cussing alongside his praise of Christmas's namesake. Walker is saint and sinner on the EP and that's an approach that anybody can understand and appreciate.

Jon Frost – "Can You Hear The Colors"

Frost is an extremely witty and funny pop crooner that deserves to be considered a next-level style talent and "Can You Hear The Colors" is the perfect example of why. The songs are simple, catchy and paint broad enough …