The hip-hop albums we all can’t wait to see this year!
By Andy MacKay
2013 has a lot of huge projects in the forecast. Some are for certain coming out, but some are just speculation or total longshots. Here is a list of albums that are going to come out or that I would like see come out in 2013.
Twelve Reasons To Die – Ghostface Killah
Ghostface has had this album, produced by Adrian Yonge and executively produced by RZA, lined up for awhile. His previous album Apollo Kids wasn’t to shabby, but I believe this album will be better. Expect it to be released on April 16th.
Prisoner Of Conscious – Talib Kweli
This album has by Talib has been delayed a few times, but a few singles have come out recently. His last album Gutter Rainbows was underrated and didn’t get much press, but I definitely enjoyed it. Prisoner Of Conscious has a lot of features like Curren$y, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, and Melanie Fiona. It is set to drop on April 23rd.
Indicud – Kid Cudi
Cudi has claimed that Indicud is his version of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic 2001. That is setting the bar pretty high, and a bar that many artists have said about their albums but have fallen short. With that being said, I have faith in him that he can come somewhat close to the expectations. He has confirmed that Too $hort, RZA, and Kendrick Lamar are on the album. It is slated to be released on April 23rd.
Hall Of Fame – Big Sean
This album is a really important for Big Sean. His first album Finally Famous was pretty underwhelming. He needs to prove that he’s not just a rapper who drops good verses every so often or getting outshined by other artists on his own work. He did pretty good on Cruel Summer, but I want to see him come through on his own album this time. It’s currently set to be in stores in June.
Wolf – Tyler, The Creator
This is album is crucial for Tyler, The Creator also. Will the Odd Future leader be known for his outrageous antics and really explicit lyrics or actually making quality albums? His last two albums, Bastard and Goblin, were shocking and hard to comprehend, but he showed some promise. I expect Wolf to be a little more mature than his previous works. Tyler announced in a hilarious video (it’s worth looking up) that Wolf is coming out April 2nd.
Doris – Earl Sweatshirt
Speaking of Odd Future, Earl Sweatshirt is finally going to be coming out with another album. His first release, Earl, sent shockwaves throughout the music community and was criticzed for his grotesque lyrical content. Despite the controversy around him, he has been talked about a lot as a great upcoming MC who’s potential is through the roof. There is no release date set yet, but I am going to guess it’ll come out in the first half of the year.
Born Sinner – J. Cole
J. Cole’s first album Cole World: The Sideline Story was pretty hit or miss. I was disappointed because I think he played it safe and had too much radio-friendly material on the album. But J. Cole’s new album has a lot of potential. He is already coveted as one of the best young MCs in the game, and I would tend to agree, but I want to see him put out an album that is up to par with what I know he can do. No release date for this album either, but I think it’ll come out in the next couple of months.
My Name Is My Name – Pusha T
I am really looking forward to this coming out. Pusha T killed his features on Cruel Summer and Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and I expect this first solo album to be solid. The name of the album is a quote from the HBO series The Wire. It’s supposedly coming out in May, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it was a bit later than that.
Old – Danny Brown
Danny Brown is quite the character. His fantastic mixtape he released in 2011 called XXX made a lot of statements for Brown. His flow is instantly recognizable and his lyrical content is funny but also off the wall. I have no idea what to expect from Old, but I am looking forward to what surprises he has in store. Features on the album are A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Purity Ring’s Megan James. No release date for the album yet, but I expect it to come out somewhat soon.
Street King Immortal – 50 Cent
This album has been delayed for a hell of a long time. With some failed singles and album name changes, it finally looks like this album is going to be released. I am still eager to see what 50 has got even though his last two albums were duds in my opinion. I don’t expect mid-2000’s 50 Cent, but I think that he will come out better this time around. Expect this album to come out in the first half of this year.
Oxymoron – Schoolboy Q
This album could launch Schoolboy Q into another class. His first album Habits & Contradictions was superb and was definitely looking forward to whatever he would release next. No details yet on the release date, but the album is going to feature the usual suspects of Danny Brown, A$AP Rocky, and of course his boys from Black Hippy (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul).
Saab Stories – Action Bronson
Saab Stories has been talked about for a while now. The album is Bronson collaborating with producer Harry Fraud. A song from these two was released recently, but no indication was given if it was for Saab Stories or if it was just a random single. Nothing has come out on when it will be released, but I really hope this comes out this year.
Act II: Patents Of Nobility (The Turn) – Jay Electronica
I want this album more than anything. Jay is such a beast on the mic and he can flow on basically anything. He has released a few songs over the past couple of years and an EP called Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge), which features samples from the movie Eternal Sunshine For The Spotless Mind. He released a potential track list over the summer that featured Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Erykah Badu, but nothing has come to fruition since then about the project. No word on the release date, but I am hoping this comes out this year. It’s quickly becoming equivalent to Dr. Dre’s Detox in terms of what is known about it.
Cruel Winter – G.O.O.D. Music
This album is up in the air as well. There have been conflicting reports by people in G.O.O.D. Music about it’s existence. Some say that they crew is in the middle of recording it right now and others have said that there have been no talks of such a thing. Only time will tell if this will happen or not.
TBA – Common
Speaking of G.O.O.D. Music, Common said he is going to release an album by the end of the year. Nothing else has been said with respect to the album’s release date or who it will feature, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Common did indeed release an album this year. His last album The Dreamer/The Believer was pretty solid, so I am thinking that he is in a creative zone right now and is making some quality music.
TBA – Eminem
Little is known about the new Eminem album. The only thing that has been said regarding it is that it will be released sometime after Memorial Day. Let’s see what Slim Shady has got in store in the next few months.
TBA – Kanye West
Like Eminem, this album has very little information. There were some reports that the title is called Rich Black American, but that title has never confirmed. He hasn’t released a solo album since My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010, so it seems about that time that Kanye releases another solo album. It’s always a waiting game with Kanye West, so hopefully it ends up being worth it.
TBA – Jay-Z
This album is pure speculation. Nothing has been announced about Hova even recording for a new album. Jay-Z is known to be in album mode when he starts letting his hair grow out, but that is all I got if you wanted to have something to look for.
TBA – DOOMSTARKS
This album, which is a collaboration between MF Doom and Ghostface Killah, has mostly been all talk. Together they released a song called Victory Laps in 2011, but otherwise, nothing has surfaced regarding the project. It is mostly in the hands of MF Doom, who is known for his elusiveness from the media. But Ghostface Killah recently said that they are indeed still recording and that he expects something to come to fruition.
TBA – Wu-Tang Clan
It has been been confirmed that this album is being recorded, but no release date has been announced. This year is the 20th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), so there are a lot of people, including myself, that we will see the album come out this year. Despite the tensions that are involved with some of the members, I expect them to put their differences aside and crank this one out.
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