New Year’s resolutions are bologna. Everyone signs up for Planet Fitness, goes vegan and joins a book club on January 2nd, and by February 1st, 95 percent of those people are lying around, eating Hot-N-Ready meat lovers pizzas and watching Netflix.
But you know what’s not Oscar Mayer? The promise of dope new rap music with each coming calendar year. Last year we named 17 albums to salivate for in 2017, and for the most part, the MCs behind those projects delivered. With the new year here, check out 18 albums we’re turnt up for in 2018.
18. Royce Da 5’9 — Book of Ryan
Ryan Montgomery is one relentless rhymer. Not long after Layers dropped in the spring of 2016, Royce announced that he was already almost done with his next album. As raw Layers was, Nickel Nine promised an even more personal project with his seventh studio album, Book of Ryan. “It’s really, really a lot of stuff that I want to share,” he told HotNewHipHop. Of course, that’s not the only Royce project that has us on our toes, but more on that later.
17. ScHoolboy Q — TBA
ScHoolboy Q’s last album, 2016’s Blank Face LP, was a never-boring smorgasbord of trap, traditional gangsta rap, and psychedelic tunes. It will be interesting to see what tapestry of sounds he comes up with for his next go-round, which he said in September 2017 was 90 percent done. Q hinted in an Instagram post that the album’s content will feature a more personal, mature direction. “I’ve never been this inspired this fast,” he wrote. “It’s more so my life after I made it to the point of ScHoolboy Q. I gave you me, but I never gave you the other side of me- the father, the dude that’s actually happy, the dude that doesn’t be in the hood just hanging out. The dude that’s trying to put his homies in position now.”
16. The Game — Westside Story
Jayceon Taylor is no stranger to claims of retirement. He had said LAX would be his last album way back in 2008, and three years later claimed “Give Interscope two more albums, then I’m done for good,” on “Pot of Gold.” So it’s a little hard to take him seriously when he claims that Westside Story will be his final bow. Regardless, The Game has been one of the most consistent rappers out for 13 years, so when he announced in June that he was working on a new album, Hip Hop heads stood at attention. The album is supposed to feature Dr. Dre beats and a Kendrick Lamar feature. The Game promised in an Instagram post to deliver “pain, love, sacrifice, and dedication to my craft.”
15. Joyner Lucas — TBA
Joyner Lucas has been dropping well-received albumixtapes for the past few years, but it wasn’t until the fourth quarter of 2017 that he really made a splash. Shortly before turning Lil Pump’s “Gucci Gang” into flea market goods, amidst a flurry of political commentary, Lucas stood out from the pack with “I’m Not Racist,” scathing political commentary from the perspective of a Trump-supporting white man and a young black male. The video went viral and made Lucas a hot topic in the blogosphere. Even though an album hasn’t been announced yet, it’s likely that the Atlantic Records signee will capitalize on the buzz in 2018. If the project is anything like “I’m Not Racist,” we’ll all be in for a compelling, if uncomfortable, ride.
14. Phife Dawg — Forever
It’s been nearly a year since Desha, the widow of the late Malik Taylor, announced that his posthumous studio album Forever would drop in the first quarter of 2017. “We’re working on it now,” she said in February 2017. “He completed his entire solo album before he transitioned, so we’re excited about releasing that.” The album hasn’t dropped, though, and its details have been scarce. Still, seeing how A Tribe Called Quest honored Phife with We Got It From Here…Thank You For Your Service, as well as with a performance at the Grammys last year, it’s likely that Phife’s friends and family will release the album soon as a final hat tip to the Five-Foot Assassin.
13. Lil Wayne — Funeral
Go ahead and forget about Tha Carter V. It’s the new Detox. And even if it does come out, how could it possibly live up to expectations? Weezy knows this, so while shady-ass Birdman is holding onto that joint, Dwayne Carter has turned his attention to another project. He said in late 2016 he’s making Funeral, and while he’s been mum about it since, Rolling Stone reported that he’s been busy in the studio with Scott Storch. The album proceeds Dedication 6, which dropped Christmas Day and was a satisfying appetizer for starving Wayniacs.
12. Travis Scott — AstroWorld
The follow up to Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight was supposed to drop in 2017, and its absence probably had Scott stans calling his house like, “Pick up the phone, Travis!” It looks like their pleas will finally be answered this year, as Scott told fans in August 2017 that he was about to dive into a new album following the completion of the DAMN. Tour with Kendrick Lamar. Expect more of Scott’s robo-rhythms and maybe an anthem or two. A bona fide hit would be welcomed following the tepid Quavo collaboration LP that was Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho.
11. Nicki Minaj — TBA
Nicki hasn’t released an album since 2014’s The Pinkprint, but she’s stayed incredibly busy in the interim. Aside from her beef with Remy Ma, she’s stayed on your newsfeed by breaking up with Meek Mill and dating Nas. Oh, and she’s also made a splash on the charts. She released “Changed It,” “No Frauds,” and “Regret in Your Tears,” which gave her the record for most Billboard Hot 100 songs ever by a female artist (76), and are all said to be singles from her upcoming album. While Barbie has kept details of the project close to the chest, she told Dazed in September 2017 that this “era” of her music will be the most impactful of her career. Minaj also explained that her dedication to her loyal fanbase is the reason she has taken so long to drop an album. “It’s a beautiful thing,” she said. “I don’t take that for granted. That’s why I’m not rushing the album, because it means so much to me. I have to release a classic at this point.”
10. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib — Bandana
It’s been a long time, and Gangsta Gibbs and Madlib shouldn’t have left us without a dope beat to step to. Never fear; the follow up to 2014’s fan-favorite Pinata will finally arrive this year. Gibbs, who is still emanating heat from the 2017 HipHopDX Award-winning You Only Live 2wice, told Beats 1’s Zane Lowe in November that the album was being mixed. “…It’s definitely coming soon,” Gibbs said. “I can’t tell y’all when we’re gon’ drop it, but we’re just gon’ hit y’all out the blue.” These two have collaborated on one studio album and four EPs prior to Bandana, so expect flawless chemistry, as well as the imaginative production and steel-toed rhymes that graced Pinata.
9. Nipsey Hussle — Victory Lap
Nipsey may finally make the leap he’s been poised to take for years. His long-awaited, first official studio album Victory Lap will drop February 16, which coincides with NBA All-Star Weekend in his Los Angeles hometown. It’s not yet known if the album will be similarly star-studded, but Hussle definitely upped the ante by partnering his label All Money In with Atlantic Records for the release. “It’s not about fame, ambition or getting a radio record,” Hussle told Billboard in November 2017. “The decision really came down to the message I’m trying to get across. I wanted to give that message the best chance to be heard and consumed on the highest level.” Nipsey dropped the lead single and beautiful visuals to “Rap Niggas,” in December.
8. Cardi B — Debut Studio Album
Cardi B might be the most successful rapper to have never dropped a proper retail album. Her hit “Bodak Yellow” single made her the first female rapper to have a solo record hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in almost two decades. On top of that, she became the first female artist ever to have three songs in Billboard’s Top 10 at once, with “Bodak Yellow,” at No. 2, “Motorsport” (with Migos and Nicki Minaj) at No. 5, and “No Limit” (with G-Eazy and A$AP Rocky) at No. 10. However, Cardi doesn’t just want to drop a few hits and disappear, so she’s taking her time with her debut solo album. She tweeted in November, “I have a lot of pressure on me. I have songs stashed up. I just don’t think they qualified for my album. Sometimes I think is ready sometimes I think it’s not so I’m going to take my time till it’s right.” Look for the forthcoming album to eclipse Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 2, which dropped in January 2017 to the lowest of low reviews.
7. Pusha T — King Push
Peasants have been waiting a long time for the royal return of King Push. He announced the album not long after his formidable solo debut, My Name Is My Name, dropped in 2013. The follow-up seemed right around the corner after he dropped Darkest Before Dawn – The Prelude in December 2015, but more than two years later and there still is no album in sight. What’s the hold up? Pusha told Billboard in November 2017 that it was his and Kanye West’s perfectionism that has delayed the album for so long. “I’ll rap to the beats, song’s done,” he said. “Then, he will listen to it and say, ‘Hey, I can do all of these beats better.’ It is Kanye West, and he’s probably the greatest producer of all time. So if he’s willing to take all of that time, then I can take my time.” Push promised the album will drop early this year, and said it would be the album of 2018.
6. PRhyme — PRhyme 2
As if one highly-anticipated Royce Da 5’9” album wasn’t enough, Ryan Montgomery holed up in the lab with DJ Premier for the follow-up to PRhyme, which was HipHopDX’s 2014 Album of the Year. Expect more pristine Premo beats and dexterous Royce rhymes from the duo. Premier told DX in November that the album was finished, and that even though there was no set release date, he hoped for PRhyme 2 to drop at the top of ‘18.
5. Kanye West — Turbo Grafx 16
Yeezy has busied himself by beefing with JAY-Z and working tirelessly on Pusha T’s upcoming album. However, he announced back in 2016 that he began work on the successor to The Life of Pablo, which is titled after his favorite gaming console he played as a kid. Kanye reinvents himself every new album, so anyone trying to speculate on what it will sound like is talking out of their ass. However, ‘Ye was spotted at an L.A. studio with Kid Cudi and Plain Pat, and there also were those rumors that West and Mescudi were working together in Japan. If Kanye can rein in his obsessive streak, we may actually hear a new K. West project in 2018.
4. Drake — TBA
Whether you’re dizzy for Drizzy or yawn over Aubrey, everyone takes notice when the prolific 6God drops new music. His last project, a “playlist” dubbed More Life, was a well-received flow of smooth joints that redeemed him from the colossal disappointment that was Views. He announced in August that he was going back to the studio to craft another project. “I’m about to go back to making this new album in Toronto just for you,” he told a crowd in the 6. “I’ll see you next year, we’ll be bigger, we’ll be better. I go by the name of Drake, this a OVO Sound ting for life.”
3. Nas – TBA
DJ Khaled announced way back in the summer of ‘16 that “Nas Album Done.” God’s Son told DX in 2016 that he was listening to Otis Redding and Frank Sinatra while recording the album, and said multiple times last year that the album was coming soon. However, ‘18 is here and we still don’t even know the title of Nas’ 11th studio album. The record will bridge the six-year gap created by the critically acclaimed Life Is Good, and at 44-years-old, it’s likely Nas will continue with the mature, elegant tunes that dominated that LP. Whenever he does drop, everyone except Lonzo Ball will be tuning in.
2. Migos — Culture 2
Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho wasn’t Quavo’s (or Travis Scott’s) finest moment. No matter. He’s still buzzing like three beers in, and he and Migos mates Offset and Takeoff are prepping the follow-up to 2017’s massively popular Culture. The album is slated to drop in January and is bolstered by supposed lead single “MotorSport,” a zoned-out trapfest featuring Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. Quavo listed off a slew of features, including Scott, Drake, Big Sean and Ty Dolla $ign.
1. Chance the Rapper — TBA
Lil Chano from 79th already won a Grammy for Best Rap Album and he’s still claiming to be working on his first official studio album. He told Complex in March 2017 that the difference between his 2016 HipHopDX Album of The Year-winning, Coloring Book, and his next joint is “opening the scope” to actually selling the album. He said he has songs recorded, but he’s not working on an album with a singular theme this time. “Acid Rap and 10 Day and Coloring Book was like a trilogy in itself,” he said. “One aesthetic, one goal. Whatever my next thing is, it’ll be a bit bigger. Like, maybe there’ll be some type of visual component to it. Like it’ll be a movie, or it’ll be a play, or some type of tour.” It’s unclear what kinds of sounds will fill out his next work, but in August, he posted to Instagram a video of himself vibing out to Soul For Real’s “Every Little Thing I Do.”
No Jon Connor? Dre really hinders his artists.
Looking forward to Nas, Pusha T, Royce and Premo, Phife and Gibbs, the rest will be trash! as usual
Decent list. I’m looking forward to the Capital Steez album… Support quality Hiphop y’all…an Happy Kwanzaa!!
Excited about the new Gibbs/Madlib collabo the most.
So no Phife solo shit until after he dies? That’s the rap game I guess. Royce Gibbs Nas Pusha and Game I guess I’ll check for. Hopefully see a new Cube and Mitchy Slick too.
He had a solo back in 2000
No A$AP Rocky? O O K…
He’s better off modeling. Fergs the man now
Same thought, how the fuck can they forgot rocky hiphopdx stupid?!?
This list is alright still too much bull shit. I want all hip-hop releases. I don’t care about the fans that go crazy for fake drake and gay weezy. This is so suppose to be HIP HOP dx not rap dx. Anyway, here’s a few on my list: the wu tang clan, cypress hill, d.j. muggz and doom, onyx, ghostface killah, gza, snowgoons with nine, hue hef, mooncrickets featuring killah priest, prodigal sunn, nas, hopefully cannibal ox and many others. This is hip-hop classic shit not trash music, mumble rap for idiots, autotunes for rappers that are sucking a dick, and rnb singers that think their tough.
Whatever you say old man lmaoooo
Yo virgin, please don’t be mad because we like hip hop and you like corny ass rap. That’s your fault not mind. You should know not to follow gay rappers, bums that don’t write their shit or rappers that the radio plays all day. We listen to great music from the golden era and today’s hip hop but not rap. You listen to wack rappers that need the radio to survive because their trash. Hip-hop is about skills. Rap is just promotions.
Golden era ended 30 years ago. I agree the music was great but art evolves. You don’t have to like it and younger people don’t have to indulge your narrow definition of Hip-Hop either. You can enthusiastically celebrate the parts of the culture you love without shitting on what other people enjoy.
Music does evolve but into something better. Hip hop has changed over the years and it will continue to change. If you listen to hip hop today it is still great. Its not played on the radio anymore but still better than rap. Its to mature for lil kids. Rap is just full of fads including trap music, autotunes and other bullshit. In rap, you don’t need talent to be on the charts. Hip hop would never change into bullshit rap. Rap is about watered down idiots that are slaves to the radio thats why rappers wear the clothes that the corporations want them to wear. Hip hop has its own identity. We would never allow the radio to dress us into homosexual clothes. You guys need to stop following no good rappers around like your homos in love. One day the radio will find some new bullshit to play then trap music, mumble rap and autotones will be over. You guys don’t listen to music thats not hot anymore because the shit was terrible from the jump.
My dude, Hip-Hop’s artistic integrity has been compromised since the day Sylvia Robinson walked into Big Bank Hank’s pizza shop.
What do you know about integrity? You listen to rap music! Rap has no standards at all. Corporations love music without skills because it saves them money. They don’t have to look for real talent. Corporations can find any half ass kid to read someone else’s rhymes. Lil wayne and fake drake are two perfect examples of a corporation rap shit.
And you’re a 45 year old white boy who thinks Onyx is a golden era group! GTFO!
Lol! A white boy? I’m 100 percent black homie. Onyx came out in the early 90s. Of course, onyx is from the golden era. Jam master jay had them on his label. You don’t know what your talking about brother. Your a phony, buddy! You come from the rap years. Therefore, you don’t know your ass from your elbow.
Do yourself a favor and study the Golden Era. ’86-’88. Listen to Big Daddy Kane, Eric B & Rakim, EPMD, Public Enemy, Ultramagnetic, Schoolly D, Just Ice, Slick Rick, Stetsa. Learn a bit about the culture you’re supposedly such a great advocate for.
You fool the golden era is more than just 3 years. The golden era stop when the radio switched over to bull shit rap. The greatness of hip hop didn’t stop just because the radio plays no talented gay rappers now. We still buy classic records to this very day. You buy homo rappers and wear gay clothes. How does that make you feel? Lol!
I hereby declare myself the king of homo. I just love the peenis!
You guys forgot Lupe’s album Drogas Waves? Seriously?
No cudi?
Anderson .Paak album on Aftermath!!!
No thank you
How many times we have to tell you guys, MIGOS AINT HIPHOP
And on second place? What are you waterheads been smokin??
gasoline probably
You sound stupid. Jeezy, Scarface and Gucci Mane weren’t hip-hop when they came out too huh???
I just love black caulk in my mouth.
Gtfoh you sick queer
Game and Schoolboy are annoying af. They were hyping us that they were working on their albums months ago like they were gonna drop then went quiet. I’d rather the artist just keep it real and talk if the project is really coming out soon or stfu until it’s ready. Dope list though
I’m also looking for a Westside Gunn debut on Shady.
forward*
Really no Evidence here???
and i didnt know about that Gibbs/Madlib follow up,im super excited about it .Pinata was probably one of the best albums of the decade
Man where’s q-tip
nah. 5/18
Game and Royce, but no 50?
Sorry to have to break this to you bruh but it’s 2018 now, not 2006, and ain’t no one checkin for 50 anymore. Now since I did you that favor of telling you what time it is (ok what date it is), please repay my kindness by explaining to me WTF Migos is doing at #2 on that list.
Ay thats what I’m saying. 50s album belongs in this list
Street king immortal
Lord Infamous – resurrected remixes
No earl sweatshirt or Danny brown huh?
Danny Brown isn’t that good, a hybrid of mumble and traditional rap. Suprised there wasn’t an Earl album on here, and that Kanye was mentioned when he releases an album every 3 years
Can you guys tell me why chance is so popular. I don’t think his music is bad but it’s not as great as others say.
Ain’t nobody lookin for a Nicki, or Cardi record, foh. Nas is a legend but he ain’t dropping a classic this year.
Remy ma
Royce twice, hell yeah. Oh, it’s a travesty that Migos is #2.
Fake Drake’s a bitch made pop puppet who recites songs written by others. more life was just as trash as views was..fake drake and his fans agree more life was garbage dumpster juice
No Jay Electronica, Mos Def, Bas from Dreamville, Fabolous or Jay Rock?? I know the masses may be hesitant to hear Jay Electronica or Mos def but I have feeling they’d drop classics when they drop. Bas album was the most underrated album of 2015 it’s a classic and I’m willing to give Yassin another chance after dec 99 for what he did for the culture.
no capital steez??
King Los, fuck all this other shit
Royce’s book of ryan is the most anticipated, seeing as layers was the best album of 2016. Crazy that its the first one listed, while bullsh*t like migos and cardi b are close to the number 1 on the list. blasphemy.
50 cent not onthe list?
50 is a snake.
I miss THE ROOTS, CYPRESS HILL at least on your List
Totally forgot to mention The Roots! I have every album can’t beloeve i forgot to mention the roots. I didn’t know Cypress Hill still made music.
Lupe Fiasco drogas waves
Migos at 2? fuck outta here! Joyner Lucas should be swapped with those closet fvckers
DX is really anticipating a Migos album?? LMAO!!
I like the list but I’m looking forward to that new Skyzoo joint dropping in Feb as much as anything!
No DMX on this list?
You have Cardi b, but no DMX. Fuck off.
What year is it?? I guarantee there are more anticipating a Cardi B album than a Dmx album. It’s time to step into the present day buddy!!
Fuck a Cardi B, time for you to grow up shorty, who who gonna wait for a jump off who has her rhymes written. X gon give it to ya bitch
yall bitches gay waiting on a x cd.I can go on youtube to see crackheads rap,i rather see and hear a fine mf rap than a crackhead.GAY BITCHES
Yeah, 13 year old female pop fans are – and strippers. Any real hip hop fans aren’t waiting for a fucking cardi b Album.
Dmx is a legend no matter the year.
I’ll wait for your apology when x releases the best hip hop album of 2018 😉
You have everyone’s album but Denzel Curry’s Taboo here, Fuck outta here
Joyner said he’s not trynna release an album this year sooooo
This list is hilarious LOL
HipHopDx is trash
HX waiting for… A fucking Chance The Rapper album?! That’s it, this site is done with. F u c k i n g j o k e.
Beer bongs and Bentley’s????
Ok ok ok but what about Rocky’s new album?
except for a few (migos, nicki, cardi, travis scott, wayne) this is actually a pretty solid list.
Beerbongs and bentleys?
But cardi b and chance do makw the list lmao what a joke
Kanye,Nas,Pusha T, the only ones I’ll consider listening 2
lol how the fuck Migos and Chance more anticipated than Nas? Seriously? Hip Hop is D.E.A.D.
The Bottom Of The Top Album Releases Are Sure To Bring A New Type Of Panic To The Radio .From Debuts To New Release From Artist That Haven’t Dropped In A Minute .Im Excited ?.Much Respect
Nicekid