By most standards, 2014 was a slower year than hip-hop fans would have predicted, with the likes of Iggy Azalea, Young Thug and Bobby Shmurda ruling the airwaves for the better part of the year. This is especially true when considering that the year before brought us Yeezus, Nothing Was The Same, Born Sinner and Acid Rap; all of which combined brought the rap game to its knees.
That being said, great showings from breakout artists like Freddie Gibbs, Isaiah Rashad, YG and Logic, added new energy to 2014, a year that has atrophied under the weight of the commercial and uninspired.
Late showings such as the nostalgic classic 2014 Forest Hills Drive by J. Cole and Nicki Minaj’s high-powered The Pinkprint, and surprise loose singles like Big Sean’s I.D.F.W.U and Drake’s 0 to 100/The Catch Up, helped end 2014 a on high note.
The most anticipated albums of 2015 have been long in the making, each laden with their fair share of rumor and mystery. This year looks to emulate the ferocity of years past as hip-hop’s titans return from absentia in full force. So batten down the hatches and secure all ports, there’s a storm approaching on the horizon. Here are 2015's most anticipated hip-hop albums.
Kanye West – Untitled
Beside its first single, Only One, and a few live sneak preview performances, not much is really known about Kanye’s next offering. Judging by his new relationships with legendary artists like Paul McCartney and Sia, we could be in for something more tuneful and less aggressive than Yeezus. All speculation aside, we do know that whatever Kanye is cooking up, it will, as per usual, be a venture into the boundaries of artistic expression.
Chance the Rapper – Surf
What can be said about Chicago’s youngest go-getter, Chance the Rapper, that hasn’t been said yet? A relatively unknown prospect two years, Chance’s breakout success has become one of hip-hop’s fastest rising stars. The no holds-barred, sporadic energy of his second mixtape, Acid Rap, enchanted listeners with his signature mix of introspective, truthful lyricism and soulful, rusty crooning. With surprisingly sparse musical offerings since Acid Rap, fans and critics alike have been left anxiously anticipating his return to the grand stage. His next album, Surf, looks to be more instrumental thanks to his in house band, The Social Experiment. With Justin Beiber, Migos and even J. Cole, rumored to have spent studio time with Chance, there can be no doubt that Surf is going to be in a league of its own.
Drake – Views From The 6
Arguably the most contentious rapper in the hip-hop world, Drake is still set to release an album this year despite dropping If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late, a 17-track mixtape rumored to have been a snub at the Cash Money Records label head, Birdman. Drake, a rapper known for his sensitive and meditative lyrics, seems eager to shake this persona and be recognized as the go to guy for chart-topping street bangers. Not much is known about his next album, Views From the 6, other than the fact that is slated for a spring 2015 release. If his latest offering is anything to go by though, we are in for a darker and more visceral Drake than ever before.
Kendrick Lamar - Untitled
The mere mention of new Kendrick Lamar content sends hip-hop fans into head spins. Good Kid, M.a.a.d City, Kendrick’s debut album, was the most lauded album of 2012; gripping music enthusiasts well into the next year and beyond. An artist known as much for his brutal delivery as his secrecy, he has made sure that no one is too sure of what he’s currently brewing. His most recent song release, the Blacker The Berry, a powerful and much needed look at the many identity issues that plague Black America, indicates that the Kendrick Lamar of old is still alive and well. Luckily for us, his next album is set to be released sometime in the spring of this year.
