There was a lot of great music in 2018. A LOT. Personally, I think Janelle Monáe’s Dirty Computer is the best of 2018. But that’s a discussion for another day. Given the prolific rate at which stellar art was created in 2018, in stands to reason that 2019 will feature even more. Here are some of the most anticipated records of the new year. Some are confirmed for release, others, we’re just hoping for.
Rihanna – While there’s been no official announcement, Rihanna did respond to a fan question on Instagram, saying that we can expect new music in 2019. Obviously a lot goes into the making, marketing and releasing of an album and things can certainly change, but let’s cling to this IG comment for now. It’s really all we have to go on.
Chance the Rapper – Chicago’s favorite son has been in the studio. That much is clear. With four new singles released in July, it’s prompted speculation that a new album is due soon. There was momentary anticipation back in the summer that he and Kanye were releasing a seven track EP. But he ended that speculation with one tweet. “Sorry no album this week, def been in the
“Sorry no album this week, def been in the
Twitter @ChanceTheRapperstu
tho. 😎”.
Schoolboy Q – Listeners anticipated the follow-up to Blankface in 2018. Shortly after Mac Miller’s death, Schoolboy Q let it be known during a concert that he wasn’t in the proper space to put out an album. That’s obviously understandable, as fans and colleagues of Mac mourned his passing. Here’s to hoping we hear more from Schoolboy in 2019.
Q-Tip – Fans of Q and A Tribe Called Quest have been waiting for Tip to release The Last Zulu aka The Riot Diary for about a decade. So, forgive us if we’re skeptical when he tweets that it’s “coming soon”
SOB x RBE – Bay Area rap group SOB x RBE had a productive year. Not only did they release two full-length works – Gangin and Gangin 2 – they also released plenty of solo music from each of the group’s members. Their breakout star
The Weeknd – In March 2018, the Toronto native released My Dear Melancholy, a six-track project in which he returned to his original sound. It was dark. It was moody. It was what you want from him. It was also what he’d seemingly left behind when he released Starboy and Beauty Behind the Madness.
He recently announced that Chapter 6 is coming soon. Which Weeknd will we get? Brooding? Poppy? Both? Guess we’ll all find out together.
Stormzy – the English rapper has kept the details of his upcoming album hush-hush. Although his producer (Fraser T) has stated that it will be different than Stormzy’s debut, Gang Signs and Prayers. A few months ago, he teased in a freestyle, “They told me back in summer I should drop a summer tune/But I’ve been working hard, the second album’s coming soon.”
DRAM – More than two years ago he released his debut, Big Baby DRAM. He did release a three song EP (That’s a Girl’s Name) this summer, but has hinted strongly that we’ll get another full length album in 2019.
Kendrick Lamar – This may be a stretch. Recently, reports circulated that he wouldn’t be releasing a new album any time soon. Then Instagram happened as only Instagram can. In a post that has since been deleted, Polydor Records, an Interscope-affiliated record label responsible for Interscope’s European distribution , we see a list of artists alleged to be dropping albums in 2019.
Among the names are Black Eyed Peas, ScHoolboy Q, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez and K. Dot himself. There’s no other information other than this post that no longer exists, so like everything else in the new year, we’ll have to wait and see.
