Alright so back with my analysis:
5 Years ago (2006) - I don't see a very huge difference as I think by this time the internet had taken full hold and the game had changed by then. If I am not mistaken sites like Datpiff had started to take hold and even bootleggers started realizing no one was paying for mixtapes. The majors still had a bit more of a foothold, but the decline had began. Quality wise, I personally feel there have been advances in 2011 as more and more good shit gets released, but I also feel the filter is gone and so much shit is released it is hard to sift through what is good.
10 Years ago (2001) - I guess on second thought 2001 was way different than 2011. I think there had been a slow movement towards underground music by 2001 as albums that weren't mainstream were starting to get as much love as mainstream albums. The internet had hit then in the form of Napster, but the mainstream industry was still strong and even weaker albums were selling 100s of 1000s of copies back then. Quality of music wise I think there was a huge difference. There was some dope material released in 2001, but I think as the decade progressed the quality of music increased with each year.