It’s too soon to say which hip-hop albums made 2017 and how this year fits into the genre's larger narrative. So far we only have the threads— the albums, mixtapes, and songs— that make it all up.
This year has so far delivered: DAMN., with all its fury and piety; a revitalized Jay Z doing penance on 4:44; the subtle, cerebral art of Vince Staples’ Big Fish Theory; SZA capturing 20-something love and uncertainty on CTRL; Soundcloud kids finally out of detention, here to stay; Syd shining on her own with Fin; Drake cherry picking sounds from across the world and introducing the “playlist” album by way of More Life; Joey Bada$$ in full political mode on All Amerikkkan Badass; Tyler becoming Flower Boy; A$AP Mob refocused under Rocky’s leadership; Cardi B’s meteoric rise; and so much more. Just today, we received a few new albums which thusly didn't make the cut for this list (but otherwise would have been sure-fire contenders), from the likes of Gucci Mane (Mr. Davis), dvsn (Morning After), and Wu-Tang Clan (The Saga Continues).
But we’re not done. As the year closes out, there are plenty more projects slated for release. So we’ve prepared a list of artists who have more music coming, some with set dates and some that have strongly encouraged us to believe that they will indeed deliver a new body of work this fall or winter, as we lead up to 2018. Of course, given how popular the surprise drop has become, it's only best that we prepare and get ready for some unexpected ones to come out of the woodwork and close out the year-- ones we haven't even seen coming.
From the young and polarizing, to established greats, here are some of the projects that we're looking forward to the most, as of right now (when else!). Who knows, given artists' penchants for delays too, we may have to wait for some of these come 2018 too.
Until then...and in no particular order...
Chris Brown— Heartbreak on a Full Moon (31 October)
After a lengthy wait, Chris Brown is almost ready to let fans hear what it sure to be a monster album-- with a promised double disc release boasting 45 tracks, how could we define it otherwise? We can only keep our fingers crossed that every record is as fire as his latest collaboration with ATL superstars Young Thug and Future -- and we're also hoping for a host of other A-plus features (and a few unexpected ones too).
Majid Jordan— The Space Between (27 October)
These guys have struggled to step out of Drake’s hit-making assembly line. Their self-titled debut looked to offer that chance, but it fell flat. Great beats, great label, great everything— maybe this new album will make room for the imperfections that lend their music a unique voice, their ‘something’ that they can’t just lend to Drake.
Big K.R.I.T.— 4EVA is a Mighty Long Time (27 October)
K.R.I.T. has been on the mixtape circuit for almost three years now. His most recent album, Cadillactica, was his most developed treatment of the southern-rap/soul ideal he has enshrined, and it will be interesting to see if he keeps down that path. He’s a young guy with a voice that sounds old in the south’s current musical landscape, but he won’t be pushed out any time soon.
T-Pain— OBLiViON (17 November)
In 2013, T-Pain chopped off his dreads, an action he tied to a new stage of maturity and growth. Presumably, the gesture was connected to the album he was finishing at the time, Stoicville: The Phoenix. Except the project never came to fruition, we never got to see the dread removal put into music. Sure, there were a few mixtapes and collabs here and there, but they didn’t suggest anything new past his trademarked auto-tune rap. OBLiViON offers that chance, and is being led by the Blac Youngsta-featured "Goal Line."
Ty Dolla $ign— Beach House 3 (27 October)
Ty Dolla $ign is about to take fans back to his roots, real quick, with his next album a new installment in the fan-favorite mixtape series, Beach House. What started as a mixtape series in 2012, resulted in two free tapes, before Ty delivered an installment in the extended-play format. Now, with the series receiving a full-length commercial album, we're excited to hear how Ty takes his foundation and improves upon it -- we've already been spoiled in the singles department, the most recent release being the YG-featured "Ex."
Capital STEEZ— KIng Capital (23 December)
Closing out the third annual STEEZ Day Festival, Joey Bada$$ announced the imminent release of a Capital STEEZ album. Before his death, STEEZ was Pro Era’s standout lyricist, and the standout voice of the whole Beast Coast movement, so the audience was understandably thrilled. At the same time, hip-hop has a thing for distorting its martyrs with posthumous releases, so let’s hope Pro Era curates this one with a light touch.
Fabolous—Summertime Shootout (TBA)
Summer came and went, and Fabolous has yet to deliver on the third installment of his Shootout series. He recently dropped the single “Flipmode,” a song with features and production that speak to how blurry the line between mixtapes and albums have become, and how ambitious this next Shootout will be. Now we just need the release date.
Pusha T— King Push (TBA)
Pusha T has said that his goal is always to have “album of the year.” And there’s no denying his last two albums put themselves in the discussion. If his last project was just the prelude, the mostly-Kanye-produced King Push, is going to be a dangerous competitor. In February of this year, he said the album would drop in the Spring. In June, he claimed the album was 85% done. Presently, we've had no further updates. Here's to. hoping the remaining 15% gets wrapped up ASAP.
Jazz Cartier— Fleurever (TBA)
Jazz Cartier has been low-key vying for the title of Toronto’s next big rapper, even though the other guy isn’t done being the next, the current, or the future of Toronto hip-hop. When Cartier forgets this contest and focuses on dark narratives about club love and street grit, like he does on the single “Tempted,” the first official single from Fleurever, listeners can make that bigger inference for themselves.
The single released in January, and since then, Jazz has popped up on a couple of Redbull Sound Select cuts, but nothing that quite stacks up to any of his previous work. The most recent update on Jazz that gives us a (possible) glimpse into Fleurever -- apart from the to-be-expected Lantz production, of course -- is that he was in the studio with the legendary Scott Storch.
BROCKHAMPTON— SATURATION III (TBA)
The L.A.-based collective (though they prefer the term boy band) are on a spectacular run. They released the first two Saturation albums just two months apart, and in that time improved dramatically, masterfully coordinating what could easily have devolved into the dizzying noise of twenty dudes sharing a beat. Before Saturation 2 had even been released, they blessed fans with the first single from the third instalment, "Follow." It’s been about a month since the last album, so expect Saturation 3 around November.
And if you don't yet know about Brockhampton, here's everything you do need to know.
Tory Lanez— Memories Don't Die (TBA)
Tory Lanez’s first album was dense. It was celebratory and diverse, and he had a big story to tell. We’ve already discussed some things we would like to see on the new album, now it’s just a matter of waiting (and in the meantime, compulsively replaying those bangers he’s released as singles). He's wasted no time in getting singles to us either -- the third one dropped today, and it's a doozy, featuring Future, "Real Thing."
Post Malone— Beerbongs & Bentleys
This year, the former country aspirant, Austin Post, exploded, far beyond his humble Soundcloud beginnings, touring heavily off the strength of his debut album, Stoney. Building on the alt-rock spin we are seeing in hip-hop, he capped the summer off with a chart-topping single, “Rockstar.” Beerbongs & Bentleys, which will be his sophomore album, is the kind of title you expect from that fusion, something like a frat party where all the dudes are as well-versed in hip-hop as they are in Metallica.
Desiigner— The Liife of Desiigner (TBA)
Besides a mixtape that was probably already going to be released, Desiigner has been unable to capitalize on the hype generated by “Panda” and a G.O.O.D. Music label deal -- yet, we've still got our eyes peeled, we're still very much interested in hearing his next release, let alone full body of work. According to his Instagram account, his debut album should be here soon (as well as another mixtape).
Travis Scott, Astroworld (TBA)
This might be a two-for-one. In a recent club performance, Travis Scott announced a break from concerts (a promise he hasn’t quite kept to) to focus on two projects. The first is a solo album, Astroworld, that he hinted might arrive in November, and the other is an unnamed Quavo collab project.
YG— Just Re'd Up 3: Know Your Worth
This is a project that YG has been teasing since December of last year. After taking a sharp turn with Still Brazy, he has enlisted DJ Mustard to helm production on Just Re’d Up 3. And listening to their song, “Pop It, Shake It,” it seems like YG is ready to revisit his early sound. We're here for it.
Rae Sremmurd— Sremmlife 3 (TBA)
Not only did they tell Tim Westwood that Sremmlife 3 is essentially done, Swae Lee also revealed that he’s working on his first solo project. No word on the specifics for either of those, other than that they are coming "soon." In the meantime, we have SremmLife 3 single (which should win Song Title of the Year award), "Perplexing Pegasus," on heavy repeat.
Lil Wayne— The Funeral (TBA)
We could easily have listed Dedication 6 or the Carter V, because Lil Wayne’s actual release dates are anybody’s guess. He most recently teased Dedication 6, but has been talking about The Funeral since last November. As for Carter V, this is just a reminder that it’s still being held hostage. Which of these three releases are you most amped for?
Migos— Culture 2 (TBA)
It seems it was just yesterday (actually, eight months ago) that Migos blessed us with Culture, their most cohesive and radio-friendly album to date. As they continue to dominate the charts, collectively and as individual artists, they show no sign of slowing down. They haven’t revealed much about this one, other than Quavo confirming a Cardi B feature. Although, Offset first promised we'd get it in October...
A$AP Rocky (TBA)
A$AP Rocky loves switching up his style. That skill is a must-have for a fashion icon, and it extends to his music too. He’s promising “new swag… new everything” on this next album. If you’re still not over how unexpected and trippy At.Long.Last.A$AP was, this next album might leave you behind.
ScHoolboy Q (TBA)
Q recently posted a video where he defended his musical tastes. No, I don’t think his next album will sound like Lil Pump’s, but ScHoolboy Q doesn’t get enough credit for the strides he takes to experiment and incorporate new sounds into his own projects. Blank Face LP, for example, leaned heavily on storytelling and lyricism in ways that Oxymoron did not, and to great effect. We’ve been told that the next album is “90%” done, so we’ll soon find out how much different his music has become.
Cardi B (TBA)
Cardi B has had a record-breaking summer. Although she seemed ready to drop her album this month and capitalize on the success, she recently expressed some anxiety about trying to compete with the hype generated by “Bodak Yellow.” Hopefully J. Cole’s tweet of support convinced her otherwise.
Young Thug— Slime Season 4 (TBA)
Young Thug doesn't slow down. Coming off of his "singing album," Beautiful Thugger Girls, he paired up with DJ Carnage last month for a short, no frills EP. And in the last two days, there have been hints of another project. First TM88 tweeted out the thought on everyone's mind, telling Young Thug "you gotta do Slime Season 4." And on Tuesday, London On Da Track, Thugger's frequent collaborator tweeted out simply, "Slime Season 4." The gatekeepers have spoken— Slime Season 4 is coming.
Eminem (TBA)
After a month of back-and-forth rumours, it seems we might get a new album by next month. Eminem recently came at Donald Trump with a furious freestyle in a video played as part of the BET Awards. It was characterized by the kind of explosive sentiment that can't be contained in one song, something we are sure to see more of on the coming album.
Drake (TBA)
We are about to be saturated with OVO's R&B music. With two confirmed releases (dvsn's Morning After out today) and one very likely, a new project from Drake would cinch their hold over fall and winter. Closing out OVO Fest, he announced a new album on the way, and since then, he's shared views from the studio quite a bit. Even so, a release before the year's end seems unlikely. It makes more sense for him to lay low and give his lesser established label-mates space to breath.
Wiz Khalifa— Rolling Papers 2 (TBA)
This one's fresh off the press. Just yesterday, Wiz announced the second instalment to his debut album, Rolling Papers 2, was completed. By extension, that means, it's on the way soon. Still, it sounds like there will be a buffer period-- he teased on Instagram that we will get a mixtape before the album (so it's good-bad news, in a way). We're with the commenters on this one, we're hoping to see a return to form on Rolling Paper 2, an album that harkens back to the "old Wiz" but with an updated twist of some sort.