Release dates aren't as easy to come by as they used to be. Nowadays, it's not unlikely for an artist to drop a project without warning, or with a week or two notice. This makes it harder to predict which projects will arrive when. As unpredictable as it can be, Spring 2017 is certainly looking to be a well-stocked season.
From the speculated to the confirmed, we've collected some of our most anticipated rap projects of the season. Some will be on your phone as soon as this week. Take a look through the galleries to see our picks, and let us know which projects you'll be spinning this spring in the comments below.
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Joey Badass
Joey Bada$$ - ALL AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ (April 7)
Joey's sophomore album ALL AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ is scheduled to arrive this Friday. It will include features from J. Cole, ScHoolboy Q, Styles P and Chronixxx. It follows the Brooklyn rapper's 2015 debut B4.DA.$$.
"This is the most important hip-hop album in a long time. Blood sweat & tears into this," Joey wrote on Twitter. "First body of work I made that isn't about me... This is about us. For the world. Universal sound."
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar - TBA (April 7th?)
While he has not technically confirmed his release date, Kendrick Lamar made the strong suggestion that his still-untitled 4th studio album will arrive on April 7th. "Y'all got 'til April the 7th to get y'all shit together," he rapped on "The Heart Part 4," released two weeks prior to the date mentioned.
Since then, he's released the video for what looks a whole lot like the lead single from the forthcoming album "Humble." Producer Mike WiLL recently hinted that he will have two more beats on the album, so "Humble" seems like a good indication of what we'll be hearing on the album. Read our recent breakdown on what "Humble" can tell us about Kendrick's new music here.
The breathtaking video was a collaboration between The Little Homies (Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free) and seasoned director Dave Meyers, the latter of which has a strong resume of classic rap and R&B videos.
Logic
Logic - Everybody (May 5th)
After announcing the controversial title AfricAryan last October, Logic announced the new title of his third studio album to be Everybody in March. Along with the title announcement came a release date and trailer, which revealed Logic's album cover being displayed in a museum (Freddie Gibbs would later accuse Logic of ripping off his own rollout for You Only Live 2wice). Logic also shared the title track from the project, which reveals some of its central themes. Everybody will serve as the official follow-up to Logic's 2015 album The Incredible True Story. However, his most recent release is the July 2016 mixtape, Bobby Tarantino.
2 Chainz
2 Chainz - Pretty Girls Like Trap Music (TBA)
Originally intended to be released on April 7th (which would have made the date even more stacked than it already is), 2 Chainz' 4th studio album Pretty Girls Like Trap Music is now without a release date. However, it seems close to completion. According to Chainz, he's working on two more songs for the project, and has revealed that his upcoming collaboration with Nicki Minaj (which follows their unforgettable strip club tracks "Beez In The Trap" and "I Luv Dem Strippers") is "goin' to be a problem."
Technically, the album could be pushed beyond Spring, but we're hoping that off the strength of Tity 2 Necklace's incredible tonight show performance and his undeniable hot streak as of late, the release date will come sooner than later.
Vince Staples
Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory (TBA)
We don't know much about Vince Staples' upcoming project, other than the first single has been released and that his label has assured it's "coming soon." The title may not even be set in stone, as it's only been mentioned casually in an interview with VICE. However, it seems likely that the album, which should be the proper follow-up to 2015's excellent Summertime 06.
Kamaiyah
Kamaiyah - Don't Ever Get It Twisted (April 21st)
After sharing one of 2016's best mixtapes last March, Kamaiyah is ready to drop another summer soundtrack this April. We've yet to hear any music from Don't Ever Get It Twisted, but we know exactly when it's coming out. Perhaps her highly-anticipated collaboration with Travis Scott will land on the project, or yet another collab with YG. Regardless of features, we know Kamaiyah will come through with the slappers once again, plus she's promised another "iconic" mixtape cover.
Calling it now my album cover will be iconic once again 🔥
Lil Uzi Vert - Luv Is Rage 2 (TBA)
Lil Uzi Vert is itching to release his upcoming project Luv Is Rage 2, to the point that he took to Twitter to vent about his lack of release date. Uzi's new single "XO Tour Llif3" has been the most-streamed song on SoundCloud for weeks, and after being added to streaming services made its debut at no. 49, making it his second-highest charting solo single to date. He's recently teased new music from the project and revealed that it will feature the debut of his rock band. It seems that the project could be ready to go, but Uzi's team is simply waiting for the right time to give it the green light. Seeing that "Tour Llif3" could easily be his biggest hit ever, the project will hopefully arrive sometime this spring.