With regards to music, there has been few months this year with great album releases; September being the standout month with new releases from Mac Miller, Bon Iver, Regina Spektor, Danny Brown, and Solange. However with the promising albums set to be released this month, it seems that December might have enough fire power to become music's best month this year. December got off to a swift start with the release of Childish Gambino's highly-awaited Awaken, My Love! and John Legend's, Darkness and Light on December 2nd. Following the hot start to this month, hip-hop fans were treated to plenty of albums on December 9th with releases from J. Cole, Ab-Soul, Post Malone, CJ Fly, and Hodgy. Along with John Legend's and Gambino's albums, here are some new releases that are worth listening to:

J. Cole, "4 Your Eyez Only"

With a Beyoncé-esque release, J. Cole, aka Fayetnam's Finest released his fourth studio-album, 4 Your Eyez Only on December 9th—exactly a year since the release of his uber popular, critically acclaimed album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive. Just before dropping 4 Your Eyez Only, Cole released a surprise documentary of the making of the album, which featured two new songs ("False Prophets" & "Everybody Dies"). Given the hype that the "Eyez" documentary produced, the ten-track album, 4 Your Eyez Only does justice by living up to the hype. On the album, he raps largely from a perspective that is not J. Cole, however, he still manages to have no features. It's safe to say the 'Ville is back.

Ab-Soul, "Do What Thou Wilt"

It's been awhile since fans have heard a new project from the Black Lip Pastor, and Ab-Soul has been quite vocal about his lagged album release with his Twitter followers. That all changed on December 9th when Ab-Soul and TDE released, Do What Thou Wilt. With sixteen tracks, thislengthy album serves as a perfect follow-up for Soulo's last album, These Days. Soulo Ho!

Post Malone, "Stoney"

It’s hard to categorize genre-bending artist Post Malone, aTexan sort-of-rapper whooften blends hip hop with alternative rock and folk. Coming off the success of his hit song, "White Iverson" and touring with Justin Bieber on the Purpose World Tour, Post Malone finally released his debut album, Stoney.