While 2011 had it’s share of amazing rap releases from the new breed, it seems that 2012 will be the year of full fledged returns. Expected to drop albums this year are Kanye West, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, and Rick Ross – all major players in the rap game. We’re also expected to see a few underdogs attempt to prove their worth in Asher Roth, Kendrick Lamar, and Curren$y. Check out the full list of albums below, and notch them up on your list.
Asher Roth – Is This Too Orange?
Album Number: 2nd
Release Date: March 2012
Label: Def Jam
Songs: “G.R.I.N.D”; “Last Man Standing” featuring Akon
Personally, been anticipating his follow up album for a long time. Asher Roth was one of the most promising up and coming rappers of 2009, but after the release of his debut album – there wasn’t much push behind any sort of commercial success. However, he kept his fans completely satisfied with mixtape after mixtape, but now we get to hear him back again on a much grander scale. Grander features, production, it will all culminate in the effort Is This Too Orange on Def Jam Records. Def Jam is the home of some of the most prominent rappers ever in rap, can he etch his name into history?
Big K.R.I.T – Live From The Underground
Album Number: 1st
Release Date: TBA
Label: Island Def Jam
Songs: N/A
Classic is what this man in. I’ve said it before, Big K.R.I.T is a future southern legend in the making and he proved it on his mixtapes K.R.I.T Wuz Here and Returnof4eva. With back to back acclaimed mixtapes and a slew of friends who’s willing to help, KRIT could very well have one of the best rap debut albums of the year, he’s certainly got the potential.
B.o.B – Strange Clouds
Album Number: 2nd
Release Date: March 2012
Label: Grand Hustle / Atlantic
Songs: “Strange Clouds” featuring Lil Wayne; “Play My Guitar” featuring Andre 3000
One successful album deserves another. One of the breakout artists of 2010, B.o.B found the most healthy combination of hip hop and pop without sounding incredibly forced. Now he’s back to prove that he can once again pull out a #1 album and not suffer the sophomore slump. Thus far he has worked with T.I., Lil Wayne, Andre 3000, Ryan Tedder, Waka Flocka Flame, Nelly – and I’m sure he’s got a ton more surprises in the works.
Curren$y – The Stoned Immaculate
Album Number: 6th
Release Date: March 2012
Label: Jet Life / Warner Bros
Songs: TBA
Curren$y takes absolutely no days off, and that’s the attitude you need to win. Dropping 3 albums in 2011 (“Weekend At Burnies”, “Couvert Coup”, “Jet Life”) along with two full length mixtapes, he has proved to have one of the strongest work ethics in the game. No doubt the Jets everywhere are going to be ready to hear his tough bars over his lush beats in The Stoned Immaculate.
DJ Khaled- Kiss The Ring
Album Number: 6th
Release Date: TBA
Label: Def Jam
Songs: We The Best / Terror Squad / Cash Money / Universal Motown
With “I’m On One” being the biggest hit of his career, and garnering hima Grammy nomination – Kiss The Ring already sounds like he’s throwing his success in our faces. No doubt the album will feature the same cast of characters over the same type of beats, but we’ll see of Khaled can pull another summer anthem out that can top the success of “I’m On One.”
Fabolous - Loso’s Way 2
Album Number: 6th
Release Date: TBA
Label: Desert Storm / Def Jam
Songs: TBA
One of the most consistent rappers to date, in my opinion, hasn’t impressed as he should be with his last two mixtapes of 2011 (“The Soul Tape”, “TiNC 3″), but he’s more than likely been saving the gold for his album. Fabolous has garnered major success as a someone who has directed his records towards the female audience, but will he be able to finally pull out an album that will essentially cement his 10+ year career?
G.O.O.D Music Compilation
Album Number: 1st
Release Date: Spring 2012
Label: G.O.O.D. Music
Songs: TBA
This album is simply a treat for fans. G.O.O.D Music has been killing it over the past year with the stuff released from Kanye West, Pusha T, Big Sean, and more – but now to get them all on one album is insane. Their roster is nearly impeccable, their producers have proven they’re winners as well – GOOD Music Compilation is going to be absolutely bliss.
Jay-Z – TBA
Album Number: 12th
Release Date: TBA
Label: Roc Nation
Songs: TBA
We haven’t heard a full Jay-Z project since his uber successful, platinum album, The Blueprint 3 – which while personally, I found it solid – still received mixed reviews all the way around. However, the joint album with Watch The Throne found Hov being a lot more adventurous with records. Sonically, while working directly with Kanye West and a set of producers on an album – he took more risks than anything, and allowed himself to be much more open. Now with fatherhood on his mind, a tiff with Lil Wayne still left unfinished, and a new direction to take – could we hear one of the most bold albums from Hov to date?
Jay-Z and Kanye West – WTT2
Album Number: 2nd
Release Date: TBA
Label: Roc-A-Fella / Roc Nation / Def Jam
Songs: TBA
Watch The Throne was in everyone’s top 10 list this year, so for them to even think about recreating this experience….could possibly be a gift and a curse. On one hand, it’s the two greatest doing it again – now you’re throwing growth into the mix as a duo, along with things they could’ve improved on in the first album. On the other hand, more than likely will be scrutinized even harder than the first. I’m not complaining, but more than likely the general public will.
Kanye West – TBA
Album Number: 6th
Release Date: TBA
Label: Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
Songs: TBA
Can Kanye West actually release three albums this year? Hell – he might have the Best Rap Album category exclusively his if 2012 is said and done. With the GOOD Music Compilation, working on the sequel to Watch The Throne, and more than likely working on Jay’s record – one has to be wondering how in the hell is he gonna find time for his. However, Kanye West has never dropped a bad album. As a perfectionist, the production will be out of this world, the lyricism will be amazing, so what’s stopping him from racking up another album of the year? Nothing.
Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid In A Mad City
Album Number: 1st
Release Date: TBA
Label: Top Dawg Entertainment
Songs: TBA
Section.80 is gonna be one hell of an album to top. Ranked as our 3rd best album of 2011, Section.80 was one of the finest debuts for a hip hop artists in a long time, and it’s a shame it didn’t recieve a major release. Good Kid In A Mad City is going to have to be an incredible album to not only please his diehard fanbase, but be able to push units on a major scale as well with radio like records. Thought provoking and deep lyrics might not cut it this time around.
Kid Cudi & Dot Da Genius - WZRD
Album Number: 1st
Release Date: January 30th
Label: Wicked Awesome / Universal Republic
Songs: TBA
No matter what Kid Cudi does, his fan sare firmly behind him because he’s just got a damn near impenetrable fan base like that. So when Kid Cudi decides that he wants to collaborate with Dot Da Genius on a rock album instead of going straight to Man On The Moon III – you better believe those fans are going to be right behind him. This one isn’t too out the lane of Kid Cudi, so hopefully he can deliver some quality records – moreso than that other rock album from that popular rap artist coughWEEZYcough.
Ludacris – Ludaversal
Album Number: 8th
Release Date: TBA
Label: DTP / Def Jam
Songs: TBA
Ludaversal is scheduled to be his eight studio album in 10 years, and the upcoming sequel to Theater Of The Mind – arguably one of his strongest albums to date. Not much has been revealed about this album thus far, but he has been reportedly working on it with The Neptunes and such. And recently with the release of 1.21 Gigawatts, it seems Luda is back in prime form and ready to deliver another enjoyable album.
Lupe Fiasco – Food and Liquor II
Album Number: 4th
Release Date: TBA
Label: 1st and 15th / Atlantic
Songs: TBA
The real album the fans have been waiting for. In 2011, Lupe Fiasco delivered Lasers – which wasn’t by any means the album we were expecting from Lupe. A major change in sound and direction of the album made it one of his most commercially appealing albums to date, but his core fans were disappointed in the result due to compromises made with his record label. Food and Liquor II is the highly anticipated sequel to his now modern classic debut album that hit the shelves in 2005. Lupe Fiasco still has to the amazing storytelling lyrical prowess he’s always had, but will he be able to release it with once again resistance from Atlantic?
Machine Gun Kelly – Lace Up
Album Number: 1st
Release Date: TBA
Label: Bad Boy /Interscope
Songs: “Wild Boy” featuring Waka Flocka Flame; “Invincible” featuring Ester Dean
One of the most promising up and coming artists in 2012, named the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011, and the latest signee to Bad Boy Records in 2011. To say that MGK didn’t have a hell of 2011 was an understatement, but now he is set to prove himself in 2012. With his caution to the wind, wild, energetic style of rap – he’s shown some signs of Kid Rock back in the day in my opinion. “Wild Boy”, his first single exemplifies that fact down to a tee – but he also has a major radio single like “Invincible” which could give him that much needed commercial success. Bad Boy may have something good on their hands here, all they need to do is capitalize on that.
Meek Mill – TBA
Album Number: 1st
Release Date: TBA
Label: Maybach Music Group / Warner Bros
Songs: TBA
Meek Mill is another major artist of 2011 who has made such a name for himself, that his debut album is being long anticipated. Never disappointing in features, putting out a solid mixtape, and being part of the 2011 Freshman Class are just a few of his claims to fame that have made him a star. But last and not least, Rick Ross – one of the biggest rappers in the game right now is firmly behind him. With that MMG Machine fueling Meek Mill, his debut album is gonna provide little room for error and he might surprise the world out the gate.
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
Album Number: 2nd
Release Date: February 14th
Label: Young Money / Cash Money / Universal Republic
Songs: “Roman In Moscow”; “Stupid Hoe”; “Va Va Voom”
Nicki Minaj ran the world in 2011. With Pink Friday shelling out 7, count’em – SEVEN singles, and a major Billboard splash with “Super Bass” – she has cemented herself as not only the top female rapper in the game, bar none – but as a major artist with crossover appeal. She’s got the entire world watching, and on February 14th – she will drop her follow up, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded where apparently her alter ego Roman will take the reigns. Personally, I think the album could use a lot more development than just dropping a release date out of nowhere – but we’ll see if she can capitalize on her newfound success.
Rick Ross – God Forgives, I Don’t
Album Number: 5th
Release Date: TBA
Label: Maybach Music Group / Def Jam / Warner Bros.
Songs: “You The Boss” featuring Nicki Minaj; “I Love My Bitches”; “Made Men” featuring Drake; “9 Piece” featuring Lil Wayne
From just some bearded cocaine rapper to one of the biggest and most powerful forces in rap today, Rick Ross has evolved so much since his Port Of Miami album only 6 years ago. While Teflon Don was major, God Forgives I Don’t will see him as a epic star. He’s taken the Weezy route in appearing on every single track known to man, and his Rich Forever mixtape set a high precedence for releases in 2012. Will his ear for beats and his superlative wordplay finally give him a signature album?
Rick Ross & Drake - YOLO
Album Number: 1st
Release Date: TBA
Label: TBA
Songs: TBA
A Drake/Lil Wayne album might be too predictable, even though their collaborations in the past have shown they have quite a chemistry – but a collaborative effort between Rick Ross and Drake is much more interesting, and possibly more enticing. Both men have created absolutely magic on record they’ve been on together and seem to bring out the best of one another. One has to think a joint album from the both of these, plus the dollar signs in Rozay’s eyes – could be major.
Slaughterhouse – TBA
Album Number: 2nd
Release Date: April 2012
Label: Shady Records
Songs: TBA
Slaughterhouse is a astounding stable of lyrical beasts. Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Royce Da 5’9″ – all capable lyricists in their own right, but when brought together – it’s like something we’ve never seen before. Under the helm of one of the best lyricists ever, Eminem – their album is sure to combine and showcase the elements of these four MCs as well as help their star shine even brighter. If you’re not anticipating this album, you don’t love hip hop.
T.I. - Trouble Man
Album Number: 8th
Release Date: TBA
Label: Grand Hustle / Atlantic
Songs: TBA
Trouble Man is an understatement. However, after being released from prison and a reality show in the can – T.I. is setting up the pieces for his eventual major return with the album Trouble Man. While No Mercy was a solid album that never got it’s due, Trouble Man is set to take T.I. back to the days of Trap Muzik with a much more raw style, featuring the more hood intellectual T.I. that was showcased more than 10 years ago. T.I. rarely disappoints, so expect this one to be his strongest one since his commercial breakthrough, Paper Trail.
Tyler, The Creator – Wolf
Album Number: 3rd
Release Date: May 2012
Label: Odd Future Records / XL
Songs: “Annie”; “Secret Garden”
Tyler The Creator’s 2011 consisted him feuding with Chris Brown and meeting a bunch of “cool as f**k people.” Hopefully he can get those new friends he’s made on his follow up to 2011′s Top 5 album Goblin, on his newest album Wolf. The album is expected to be low on the rape/killing/pillaging and exploring the new lifestyle, bragging about his success, and making hippie music for people to get high too. Yup. Wolf will be THAT album.
Tyga - Careless World
Album Number: 2nd
Release Date: Spring 2012
Label: Young Money / Cash Money / Universal Republic
Songs: “Rack City”; “Far Away” featuring Chris Richardson; “Still Got It” featuring Drake; “Faded” featuring Lil Wayne
Tyga needs this follow up album more than anything. Having a career where your discography is solely based on mixtapes which can easily be replaced with the next one you drop in a month, is not my idea of long lasting success. No Introduction dropped years ago, and since then his fan base has been beefed up, he’s lyrically stepped up, and his content is…well, it’s overall the same except it sounds much more grand.
Waka Flocka Flame - Triple F Life: Friends, Fans, And Family
Album Number: 2nd
Release Date: TBA
Label: 1017 Brick Squad / Warner Bros / Asylym
Songs: “Round Of Applause” featuring Drake
Used to think he was crap, and then I got what he was doing – and it’s like a relationship started anew. Waka Flocka in the gym, Waka Flocka on the bus, Waka Flocka in the bedroom – in a boat, in a coat, around a moat. After almost retiring from the game due to some fishy business, but this album seems to be getting him back on track and for one – I’m actually anticipating this one.
Wiz Khalifa – O.N.I.F.C.
Album Number: 2nd
Release Date: TBA
Label: Rostrum / Atlantic Records
Songs: TBA
Wiz Khalifa has been out for over 6 years now, and he finally released his major album Rolling Papers in 2011. The album, while featured some great tracks, was much more geared towards the radio than Tayler Gang would’ve liked. In fact, with songs like “Roll Up”, “No Sleep”, and more – it was much more soft than his previous mixtapes. However, with ONIFC – the unconfirmed acronym, Wiz hopefully adds more of an edge to his joints so the fans can appreciate it. It’s all about the perfect balance behind the boards.
50 Cent - TBA
Album Number: 5th
Release Date: TBA
Label: Shady Records / Aftermath / Interscope
Songs: “Girls Go Wild” featuring Jeremih
50 Cent has always managed to gather some sort of external conflict around the release of his album, and he may have met the biggest match yet in his label. In fact, the music, the hype, everything that should be the focus for this album has been pushed aside and made secondary for the beef between artist and label. So now the question of how good will the album be isn’t even on our minds, but if 50 Cent will even release the record.
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