...major label hip-hop. Most of the good major label releases were Wu-affiliated, or by guys like The Roots, Jay-Z, Nas, Scarface, Kanye, and Clipse (with the occasional Cam'Ron or Beastie Boys or Killer Mike or, yes, Jeezy in the mix).

2010 was a "bounce back year" for major label hip-hop, particularly Def Jam (HIGO, Apollo Kids, Distant Relatives, Sir Lucious Left Foot, MBTDF, and even Teflon Don). And like bomb said, 2011 through has been damn near a return to greatness for hip-hop of almost all stripes.