2019 is here, which means we have a whole 365 363 new days to be blessed with fresh music. 2018 was amazing when it came to releases. We got albums from Nas, Kanye West, Drake, J. Cole, Beyonce & Jay-Z, Eminem, Pusha T, Nipsey Hussle, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj-- and that barely scratches the surface of the mainstream. It felt like legends and rookies all came out the gate swinging, giving fans endless new music to stream. You would think that with so many releases dropping in 2018, 2019 would be a slower year for new tunes as the industry recoups. Nope, not in the streaming era. We dug through all the speculated and scheduled releases to bring you a list of the most anticipated albums of 2019, although surely it is not a complete list.
Kendrick Lamar orchestrated the Black Panther soundtrack, but the King of the West Coast didn't deliver a solo project in 2018. His TDE crony ScHoolboy Q was expected to drop an album in 2018, but the death of Mac Miller caused him to delay the project. Childish Gambino is presumed to release his final album in 2019, while Rihanna is slated to touch down with her first album in three years. Even rappers who did dominate 2018, such as Post Malone and Kanye West, are predicted to come through with new heat in the new year. From up-and-comer Blueface to the independent sensation Chance the Rapper, here is our list of the most anticipated albums of 2019.
GOOD Job, You Found Me was a piece of art that earned Valee praise from around the industry. The G.O.O.D. Music representer promised fans that he had two follow up projects to release before the year's end, but here we are, in 2019 and not a peep. The talented up-and-comer came through with “About U” featuring DRAM recently, which has many speculating that the single came from one of those proposed projects. Is Valee season around the corner? We hope so.
Blueface
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Opting to rap off beat doesn’t always work, but Blueface found a way to make his experimental rhythmic musings the talk of the West Coast. After receiving co-signs from Ice Cube, Kendrick Lamar, J.I.D., Denzel Curry, among others, Blueface is officially one of the most discussed up-and-comers in hip-hop currently-- that's whether or not you like it, and whether or not you agree. With support from rappers who are considered the top lyricists in the game, we can only surmise that Blueface’s debut album will be packed with features. Then again, it’s possible that the School Yard Crip will go the opposite route, and stick to giving fans more of his energetic and unique style dolo. Either way, we're curious what the album will bring, and we'll definitely be checking for it.
Smino caused a stir on social media in November when he answered a fan’s question simply wit simply the year “2019.” The fan had asked Smino on his Instagram story if he, Noname, and Saba would team up to bring the world a much-needed joint album. He could have easily ignored this question, but instead, he dropped the new year as his answer. If Smino, Noname, and Saba collaborate for an entire project, we could very well get an "Album of the Year" contender-- we’ve seen the fruits of their individual labor in the past, and each was glorious.
SMINO SAYS A COLLAB PROJECT WITH SABA, NONAME & HIMSELF IS COMING IN 2019 👀 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HDzeKQqoZG
El-P of Run The Jewels confirmed on his Instagram that the group would be dropping a new album in 2019. Killer Mike and El-P have been hard at work attempting to top their last effort, which will be no easy feat. “I think i look cool in and when the time comes there will be snippets and goodies relating to the creation of our next record (dropping in 2019),” El-P wrote on an Instagram post that highlights his progress and future plans. “We thank you in advance for your patience,” he continued. “I can say without a hint of doubt that it will be worth the wait.” We believe it.
EarthGang has been teasing fans with MirrorLand, and although we expected it to land this year it never surfaced. Opting to perfect their project, EarthGang gave fans a single, "Stuck," featuring Arin Ray, before disappearing back into the lab to concoct their album. It’s possible that the Dreamville artists decided to give J.I.D his time to shine before touching down with their own piece of art. Now that Jiddy Jid has blessed us, EarthGang can push out MirrorLand for 2019, and they've already begun planting the seeds with this Young Thug preview.
Vince Staples
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Although Vince Staples dropped one of the hottest albums of 2018 at the end of the year, he is still planning on unleashing two more projects in 2019. While at ComplexCon, Staples revealed that he’s sitting on four albums worth of material at the moment. After confirming with his manager that he was good to go into further details, Staples claimed that one album would drop in January and the other would touch down in June. The other two albums worth of music will remain in the vault till Staples decides otherwise. With FM! still fresh in our playlists, we honestly weren’t expecting the West Coast representer to drop such a bombshell, but we are most definitely here to consume it.
Solange
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Solange pushed her highly anticipated album back, but the details surrounding the new project are murky at best. The follow up to the sensational A Seat At The Table was first scheduled to drop in the Fall of 2018. Solange described her upcoming project as more “fluid and more sensual” than her last effort, which was much more emotional and indignant. Unlike other artists, who at least give fans a warning that their project is getting pushed back, Solange’s album simply never appeared. Hopefully, we’ll get her latest project in early 2019, but a release date is pure speculation at this point.
Post Malone
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Post Malone released the most successful project of his career in 2018, but, he remains unsatisfied-- perhaps as any artist should. Posty took to Twitter at the end of November to announce that he would like to drop a new project before the year ends. “Trying to put out a new body of work before the end of the year but we all know how that goes wish me luck k,” he tweeted. While he did come through with a new single, "Wow," Posty’s “body of work” never materialized. Speculation has led many to believe that the project will touch down sometime early in 2019, but no one knows for sure when Post will decide to release it. Will he be going the surprise release route this time around?
Trying to put out a new body of work before the end of the year but we all know how that goes wish me luck k
Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake is seemingly lost in limbo. This is another project that was slated to drop in 2018 but never surfaced. Uzi is going through drama with his record label, which is a concern for us. Historically, when rappers get tied up in legalities over their contract and try to leave a label, oftentimes, the album they were working on gets shelved. Be careful what kind of contract you sign, kids! Although Vert keeps promising that the album will drop, it feels as though the situation may be out of his hands at this point-- or else he's really committed to the 'teasing' stage of his album roll out, for the long haul.
SZA
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
SZA released a career-changing album with CTRL in 2017. During a time when albums leave our ears just as quickly as they arrive, it's saying something that CTRL is still an album we keep on repeat over a year later. It was so dope, in fact, that we didn't mind how the singer basically released zero new music in 2018. However, we can't let the slide again in 2019. The singer revealed in September 2018 that she did have a new body of work completed-- a follow-up in her letter series, this one titled A. She's also previewed a new song on Instagram recently, but besides for these crumbs, we don't have any solid information on when or what to expect from a new SZA album. So, we'll just keep waiting.
- Rose Lilah
Offset
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Where is Offset’s album? The Migos member was slated to complete the solo release pyramid from the trifecta but it hasn’t appeared. Now we understand that a pending divorce has been looming, and Offset has been using all of his energy to get Cardi B back. Still, we’ve watched artists suffer through drama on this scale or worse (unfortunately) in the past while still releasing music. 50 Cent famously stated in an interview, “There was one point where you can even say I was a bit insensitive. [Banks’] father passed away and I was like, ‘All right, he passed away, but you can’t just go home and stay home.’ He went home and just stayed at the house. Ask Kanye, his mother passed away while his record was at a peak point. If he didn’t go on tour, he wouldn’t be the Kanye you know right now. He worked his way through that situation; the world doesn’t stop.” He’s right, you know. Where’s the album, Offset?
ScHoolboy Q
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
ScHoolboy Q was slated to drop his follow up to Blank Face this year, but the death of Mac Miller prompted him to push the release date back. "With my nigga gone right now, I just don't feel right putting out an album," he stated back in September. "As y'all can tell, I'm not my real self right now. I shouldn't even be here right now.” ScHoolboy’s role as the de facto number two rapper in TDE has launched him into a space where fans are overly eager for his next album-- and his latest feature on 21 Savage's album did nothing to quell the anticiaption. "I'ma go back, and I'ma figure out when I'ma put this fucking album out, because y'all are going to get this album,” he continued. “I promise that. I'm just not ready to walk into the radio station and the first thing they ask me is 'So Mac Miller’...”
Future
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Future just doesn’t stop working. It wasn’t like he had a slow 2018 by any means, but Future Hendrix is back in the studio. "I'm inspired man, I'm so inspired,” stated Future on his Instagram Story in November. “I got inspiration from everywhere. This 'bout to be my greatest album of all time. It's gon' be one of my best albums." That’s a bold claim Future. With such a storied catalog, what could the ATLien possibly put together that will top the bangers of the past? Whatever Future is working on, he has our full attention.
Rihanna
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Musically, 2018 was a silent year for Rihanna. We’ve been without a new RiRi project since 2016’s Anti, which has been rough, especially if you're a. member of RRi's Navy. Rihanna has been spending her time launching an empire, building her brand, disseminating her fashion lines, and taking over the world on a business level. While that’s amazing and all, we need new music, too. Rihanna had the nation going insane when she responded to a fan on Twitter who asked her when her next album would drop. RiRi simply answered “2019,” which means we should be getting a new single sooner rather than later.
Joyner Lucas has established himself as one to watch in the New Year, a notion only bolstered by a) an Eminem co-sign, and b) a lyrical joust with Tory Lanez. We’ve already received confirmation that ADHD was in the production stages, and “I Love” revealed a potential glimpse at the project’s sonic direction; contemporary production bolstered by a technician’s prowess. Though we have yet to receive any further information surrounding Joyner’s upcoming project, we can expect yet another collaboration with Eminem, in which the pair don their respective storyteller’s hats. Given everything he’s accomplished since (508) 507-2209, the spotlight is looking extra bright right now; can Joyner live up to the hype he’s set for himself?
- Mitch Findlay
Chance The Rapper
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Chance The Rapper came through in 2016 with Coloring Book, which ushered in a new age for him. The young Chicago rapper earned himself Grammys, acclaim, and commercial success all at once. Almost three years later, we’re still waiting on the follow-up. Chance did drop a handful of singles in 2018, but it was his tease of a collaboration with Kanye West that really grabbed the world’s attention. Whether it’s Chance’s solo album, or his project with Kanye, we’re ready for new music.
Kanye West
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
What can we say about Kanye West. In 2018, West’s mental health became the topic of discussion, and this past week proved to be another instance where the rapper's stability was called into question. On the plus side, we do have a podcast with Joe Rogan to look forward to, as a result of Kanye's latest twitter musings.
After West dropped ye in 2018, he announced a second project entitled Yandhi. The project never surfaced but West’s rants continue to. Everyone thought his rants were a publicity stunt to help promote his upcoming album but here we are, and still no album. Kim Kardashian promised us it would appear at the end of the year, but it looks like 2019 will be the year of Yandhi.
Childish Gambino
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Childish Gambino embarked on what was billed as his final tour under his rap name in 2018. He also signed a new record deal at the top of the year, giving fans hope they would receive a new album ASAP. While ‘Bino did drop off the Summer Pack EP, a full-length project from the multi-talented artist is highly anticipated. During his most recent tour, Gambino unleashed two new songs. Both are rumored to appear on whatever album he’s working on, which will be his final project (!). Hopefully, we’ll get ‘Bino’s masterpiece (yeah, we're calling it) soon.
J. Cole
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
Cole’s 2018 campaign was one of the books, further establishing his role as a dominant force in the hip-hop hierarchy. Despite dropping off an album of the year in KOD, as well as doling out featured verses willy-nilly, Cole’s appetite appeared far from sated. Of course, such was the conclusion to be drawn from his spontaneous “Album Of The Year” freestyle, which seemed to signify a man looking to mount a takeover.
Unfortunately, his ambitions never manifested to the extent fans so hoped, which is to say, the rare two albums, one year tandem. Yet it stands to reason that J. Cole will indeed ride again in the New Year, with two projects holding his name: Revenge Of The Dreamers 3, and The Off Season. Now, the latter is meant to act as a mixtape aperitif for The Fall Off, though the extent of Cole’s vision has yet to truly unfold. Either way, we’re excited for whatever he has to offer.
- Mitch Findlay
Kendrick Lamar
The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2019
The West Coast’s prophet will rise again. The internet went wild when a post seemed to hint that a new K.Dot album was on the way. Polydor Records, which is affiliated with Interscope and distributes albums in Europe, posted an advertisement on Instagram that has since been scrubbed from the internet. It lists upcoming albums for 2019, and Kendrick’s name appeared alongside the Black Eyed Peas, ScHoolboy Q, and Selena Gomez. BEP just dropped an album, so that makes the post seem questionable. On the other hand, ScHoolboy Q is slated to drop in 2019, so maybe there is truth to the ad. Fans have been waiting for a follow up to K.Dot's DAMN., which turned hip-hop culture on its head and solidified Kendrick as a GOAT.
What albums are you looking forward to the most in the new year? Let us know in the comments.
