2017 was a great year for music. We had SZA come out with her 5 time Grammy Award-nominated album "CTRL". We had Taylor Swift's historic album "Reputation", and we had Dua Lipa come out of nowhere and take over the music scene with "New Rules". We have seen the rise and fall of some of the greatest artists of our generation within the last year, but 2018 is going to offer us so much more. So here are the eight artists to look forward to in the new year.

1. H.E.R.

After dropping two indie R&B albums, H.E.R. is finally revealing all. Known to never show her face, similar to Sia, she is finally letting it all go. Originally from the Bay Area, H.E.R. is an artist that delivers soulful and enticing sounds that we’re looking forward to. Look for "Vol. 3" vibes from H.E.R. in 2018.

2. Sakima

Sakima, a new artist on the scene is shooting up the charts with his tracks like "Daddy", "DTF", and "What I Know Now".From not being noticed to being known all over the world, Sakima is doing a good job of being an independent artist. While most LGBTQ+ artists keep their lyrics pretty PG, Sakima does not.

3. Kim Petras

Kim Petras is also a newcomer to the music industry, but that hasn't stopped this gorgeous gal from taking over some of the top spots on Spotify's charts with her biggest hit "I Don't Want It At All". She gives you that Cali-girl realness with her tracks, especially with "Hills" and "Hillside Boys." But, in my opinion "I Don't Want It At All" is pure pop perfection. Kim's music is usually on my playlists for nights out on the town.

4. Troye Sivan

After being on a hiatus after his debut album "Blue Neighborhood" in 2015, there have been rumors that Troye has been working on his second album. Hopefully, he graces us with new music soon, because we miss his indie-pop and soulful sounds.

5. Ariana Grande

We can't deny that Ms. Grande is one of the biggest stars on the planet right now. From "Into You", "Side to Side", and my personal favorite, "One Last Time", we know she has the power to create perfect pop songs. It seems that her next album will be full of them, too. Her manager, Scooter Braun has said: "it's time for [Ariana] to sing the songs that define her."

6. Rihanna

We used to expect a Rihanna album every year. "Rated R", "Loud", "Talk That Talk", and "Unapologetic" were all released 12 months apart. But Ms. Fenty broke the norm when she took three years off to work on her groundbreaking album "ANTi". It is her best record to date, and it cemented Rihanna's status as an icon. Many speculate that we may or may not get an album this year, and from the success of Fenty Beauty to her clothing line, it will be exciting to see what she does.

7. Lady Gaga

It has barely been over a year since Lady Gaga released her last album, "Joanne", which she named after her aunt who passed away from lupus, but she's already made clear that she is hard at work on her next one. "The Cure" star has been in the studio with long-term producer, DJ White Shadow.

8. Beyoncé

The queen is coming back! There has been a lot of speculation that Beyonce is coming out with another surprise album in 2018. The rumors consist of Destiny's Child getting back together, a solo album, or a joint-album with her husband, JAY-Z. Regardless of what type of album it is, I think we can all say that we will stop and enjoy what she puts out. Long may she reign!