2023 produced a string of unimaginable albums (see HipHopDX‘s picks for Finest Rap Albums and Finest R&B Albums), however because the yr involves a detailed, it’s solely pure for everyone’s consideration to shift to what’s subsequent — and there’s loads to look ahead to in 2024.
The yr forward guarantees new music from big-name stars on the peak of their powers, thrilling up-and-comers and established veterans alike, together with a number of favorites who we haven’t heard from shortly. There’s cause to consider that we’ll get our fingers on eagerly-anticipated tasks which were within the works for years, and even perhaps a number of curveballs. In any case, how many individuals had an André 3000 flute album on their 2023 bingo card?
With albums from J. Cole, Cardi B, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Lil Wayne and extra doubtlessly on the horizon, 2024 is shaping as much as be one other thrilling yr in music. Listed below are our picks for the ten most anticipated albums of 2024.
B.G. — TBA
(Gucci Mane/Youtube)
After 12 years behind bars, B.G. was launched from jail this previous September. The previous Sizzling Boys rapper was arrested in his hometown of New Orleans again in 2009 after police discovered three weapons in his automotive, two of which had been reported stolen. He later pled responsible to 2 counts of possession of a firearm and one rely of conspiracy to impede justice.
A testomony to the influence that he made previous to his incarceration, B.G. has obtained a heat welcome from his friends, in addition to these he influenced. Since regaining his freedom, the 43-year-old has appeared on songs with Boosie Badazz, E-40, Kevin Gates, Sexyy Purple and Maino whereas dropping a joint undertaking with Gucci Mane, Choppers & Bricks.
Even his former label boss Birdman has taken him again beneath his wing, proudly saying that B. Gizzle has rejoined Money Cash. Having hinted at flooding the streets with as many as eight albums — together with The Coronary heart of Tha Streets Vol. 3 — it’s clear that B.G. is trying to make up for misplaced time in 2024.
A$AP Rocky — Don’t Be Dumb
(Photograph by Jason Koerner/Getty Photos)
A$AP Rocky has some extent to show in 2024. Regardless of having infants with some of the sought-after ladies on the planet, Rihanna, and making extra main strikes in vogue and enterprise, the Harlem native has been comparatively quiet because the launch of his polarizing TESTING album in 2018, which some think about the weakest of his profession. But when there’s one factor Lord Fairly Flacko Jodye doesn’t lack, it’s confidence.
The bar has been set excessive for his long-awaited fourth album, with Rocky calling it his “finest work but.” Even the title itself, Don’t Be Dumb, looks like a cocky (and really New York) response to those that assume he’s misplaced his contact. With Hip Hop’s reigning hitmaker Metro Boomin mentioned to be a “massive presence” on the undertaking, there’s solely extra cause to be excited.
Assembly followers’ musical expectations could possibly be the least of A$AP Rocky’s worries subsequent yr, although, as a result of firearm assault case that looms over his head, stemming from an alleged 2021 taking pictures of former buddy A$AP Relli.
J. Cole — The Fall Off
(Photograph by Ethan Miller/Getty Photos)
J. Cole first introduced The Fall Off again in 2020, revealing the album would shut the curtain on what he referred to as “The Fall Off Period.” Satirically, it’s been something however as Cole’s output since then has solely solidified — if not elevated — his legacy.
The previous couple of years have seen the North Carolina native rating a string of firsts — a Grammy Award, a diamond plaque, a No. 1 single — whereas rising Dreamville into one of many sport’s strongest manufacturers, boasting two legit stars in JID and Ari Lennox and an annual competition that attracts over 100,000 individuals. Cole’s determination to ditch the “no options” strategy he was as soon as well-known for has additionally paid dividends, turning him into considered one of Hip Hop’s most deadly visitor verse assassins — simply ask Drake, Lil Durk, 21 Savage, Benny The Butcher or Lil Yachty.
Having lately topped the Billboard Sizzling 100 for the primary time in his profession with “First Particular person Shooter,” there’s a way that The Fall Off could possibly be J. Cole’s greatest — if not finest — album but. Let’s simply hope he was kidding when he hinted at it being his final.
Rihanna — TBA
(Photograph by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
Since 2016, Rihanna has been in a sport of hen with Frank Ocean to see who can depart their followers ready the longest after dropping arguably their finest album — a minimum of that’s one principle to clarify her years-long hiatus.
ANTI arrived nearly eight years in the past to very large important acclaim and industrial success, however the Bajan celebrity has all however deserted music since then — save for the odd collaboration or soundtrack contribution. In fact, the drought is not any shock contemplating she began a household throughout this time and continues to run a vogue and wonder empire that has made her America’s youngest self-made feminine billionaire.
However as her record-breaking Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present proved, followers will at all times crave one factor from RiRi: music. The mom of two has dropped loads of hints in recent times, saying in 2021 that her new album might be “experimental” and “fully totally different” from her earlier work, however concrete particulars stay scarce. Simply don’t let Frank beat you to the punch, RiRi.
TGT — TBA
(Photograph by Earl Gibson/BET/Getty Photos for BET)
For all of the speak about R&B being “useless,” quite a few artists — not least HipHopDX‘s R&B Singer of 2023, SZA — have carried the torch for the style this previous yr, proving that it’s thriving, not declining. Whereas new faces and youthful power are at all times welcome, subsequent yr might see the return of some previous favorites: TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank).
Nearly a decade after the R&B supergroup referred to as it quits over a monetary dispute, Tyrese revealed on Tank’s R&B Cash podcast in April that their label, Atlantic Data, had signed off on a brand new album, the long-awaited follow-up to 2013’s Three Kings.
Months later, their truce was made official backstage at a Ginuwine live performance. “All bullshit apart, all enterprise apart, I like you brothers in actual life,” mentioned Tank throughout an impassioned speech to his groupmates. “The one option to seal [our] legacy is to convey this muthafucka again.”
Usher — Coming Residence
(Photograph by Scott Legato/Getty Photos for iHeartRadio)
After serenading half of Hollywood — together with Janelle Monáe, Jessica Alba and, fatefully, Keke Palmer — throughout his sultry Las Vegas residency during the last yr and a half, Usher Raymond’s racy renaissance is ready to proceed in 2024.
On February 11, the R&B legend will headline the Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present for the primary time in his profession, a second he’s referred to as “an honor of a lifetime.” The exact same day, he’ll launch his new album Coming Residence, his first in eight years (not counting his 2018 collaboration with Zaytoven, A). “We’ve put numerous thought and creativity into this new album to inform a narrative that’s open to interpretation and that can join with individuals in numerous methods,” Usher mentioned of the undertaking in a press launch.
The bouncy lead single, “Good Good” that includes 21 Savage and Summer season Walker, is proof that followers are primed for Usher’s return, marking his highest-charting hit in nearly a decade. And in case his Sin Metropolis residency didn’t restore his standing because the sexiest man in music, simply feast your eyes on the, um, peachy album cowl.
Cardi B — TBA
(Photograph by Wealthy Fury/Getty Photos for TikTok)
5 (quickly to be six) years in between albums is a niche few artists can afford to depart, however fortuitously for Cardi B, the astronomical success of her 2018 debut Invasion of Privateness has afforded her the posh of biding her time. A No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200, over 4 million gross sales within the U.S., a Grammy Award for Finest Rap Album, numerous streaming data and a number of diamond singles — its accolades are infinite.
As keen as her followers — and little question document label — have been for her to launch a follow-up, the journey to Cardi’s sophomore LP has been something however clean. Regardless of the large success — to not point out controversy — of 2020’s “WAP,” the as-yet-untitled undertaking has been suffering from delays, which the Bronx rap star has chalked right down to struggles with self-doubt and anxiousness, in addition to juggling the obligations of motherhood.
Her new album has been penciled in for a 2024 launch, and whilst you would possibly count on her current breakup with husband Offset to derail these plans, Cardi followers can take hope in her current assertion that she’s “been going so exhausting for 2024 to go immediately as I need it to.”
Fabolous — The Reload
(Photograph by Prince Williams/WireImage)
Fabolous tasks have been few and much between during the last a number of years, but there stays an urge for food for an additional full-length effort from the Brooklyn-bred wordsmith.
In an period the place lyricism is now not on the forefront, Loso has maintained a constant pedigree with the pen, spitting slick visitor verses on King Combs’ “Flyest Within the Metropolis,”Diddy’s “Act Unhealthy” and DJ Drama’s “Ceaselessly,” amongst others. He was additionally the primary (and solely) notable MC to simply accept Drake’s Scary Hours 3 problem, hijacking his “Evil Methods” beat and turning it into the wordplay-heavy “Benzgiving Freestyle.”
Throughout an interview with HipHopDX in November, Fabolous shot down hopes of dropping one other installment in his basic S.O.U.L. Tape mixtape sequence, however revealed plans to launch a brand new undertaking referred to as The Reload. “[The pandemic] actually made you analyze sure issues in life and in music and I feel even via there, I’ve grown and folks have grown and your followers proceed to develop,” he mentioned. “That’s why it’s referred to as The Reload as a result of it’s sort of, like, me reloaded.”
Lil Wayne — Tha Carter VI
(Photograph by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Photos for 4WRD)
In his sprawling internet of solo albums, mixtapes and collaborative tasks, Tha Carter sequence stays the jewel in Lil Wayne’s adorned discography.
Whereas Weezy will most likely by no means recapture the magic that surrounded 2008’s Tha Carter III, which is nearing diamond standing, the franchise has continued to offer a few of his finest late-career moments — from colossal gross sales (964,000 first-week copies for Tha Carter IV) and heavyweight collaborations (Kendrick Lamar, André 3000, Nicki Minaj) to basic lyrical shows (“6 Foot 7 Foot”).
Like Scottie Pippen, the Chicago Bull legend he devoted a music to on Tha Carter V, Lil Wayne is trying to safe his sixth ring with the subsequent installment within the sequence. The discharge of Tha RepairEarlier than Tha VI in September suggests the long-awaited album will lastly arrive in 2024 — and given the new function run he’s at the moment on (see: Benny The Butcher “Large Canine,”Nas “By no means Die,”DJ Khaled “GOD DID”), the timing couldn’t be higher.
Benny The Butcher — Everyone Can’t Go
(Photograph by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Having established himself as one of many grittiest rappers within the sport together with his Tana Discuss sequence and different facet tasks, Benny The Butcher is trying to stage as much as the key leagues with Everyone Can’t Go, his Def Jam debut (out January 26).
The Griselda MC clearly isn’t phased, declaring it the “finest Hip Hop Def Jam album” since DMX’s 1998 basic It’s Darkish and Hell Is Sizzling (the late legend’s first of two chart-topping albums that yr).
However like many lyrically-minded road rappers earlier than him, Benny faces the problem of broadening his attraction with out deterring his day-one followers. Early singles like “Large Canine” that includes Lil Wayne and the Range God Cooks-assisted “One Foot In,” plus the truth that The Alchemist and Hit-Boy are producing your entire factor, are promising indicators that the BSF boss will discover the candy spot.
Honorable Mentions:
- 50 Cent — TBC
- Future & Metro Boomin — TBC
- Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre — Missionary
- Pusha T & DJ Drama — TBC
- Frank Ocean — TBC
- ScHoolboy Q — TBC
- Griselda — WWCD2
- Future — Soiled Sprite 3
- JID & Metro Boomin — TBC
- Chief Keef — Almighty So 2
- Child Cudi — INSANO
- Lil Uzi Vert — Luv Is Rage 3 / Barter 16
- Likelihood The Rapper — Star Line Gallery
- Missy Elliott — TBC
- Joey Bada$$ — TBC
- Megan Thee Stallion — TBC
- Juice WRLD — The Celebration By no means Ends
- GloRilla — TBC
- Redman — Muddy Waters 2
- LL COOL J — TBC
- Rapsody — TBC
- Ghostface Killah — TBC
- Nelly & Ashanti — TBC
- Ludacris — TBC
- The Roots — TBC
- Juicy J & Venture Pat — TBC
- Boldy James & J Dilla — Drug Dilla
- Jay Rock — TBC
- Polo G — Hood Poet
- Remy Ma — TBC
- Frequent & Pete Rock — TBC
- Saba & No I.D. — TBC
- Juicy J & Logic — TBC
Take a look at our earlier Most Anticipated Albums lists beneath:
You may also take a look at the winners and nominees for the HipHopDX Awards 2023 right here. Art work and Graphic Design by JR Martinez.
