9 Anticipated Hip-Hop Albums For This Fall
Posted on September 17, 2009 by Martín Caballero
In my opinion, in no particular order:
Clipse- Til The Casket Drops (October 20)
Clipse go in for classic #3. The guest list reads like the guest list to Chris Faraone’s personal rap nightmare: Cam’ron, The Neptunes, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Rick Ro$$ the BAW$E and Drake among them. But honestly, if you didn’t like Lord Willin or Hell Hath No Fury, there’s no short sentence or clever quip that can do justice to what’s really wrong with you. These guys make ALBUMS.
Slaine- Untitled (???)
Since I first heard about Slaine a couple years ago, he’s gone from buzzing to Ben Affleck flicks, from being that dude to being THAT dude on stage rocking a couple thousand alongside Everlast and La Coka Nostra. On their album A Brand You Can Trust, Slaine was unquestionably the best and hardest working rapper on every track he touched, and the album wouldn’t have been the same without his big presence. I don’t know much of the details about his solo album (or if indeed it will be released this year, though I think it should be out by December), but if his rapid rise in the past couple years is any indication, this should be the one to put him over the top.
Eminem- Relapse II (November 16)
Too many fucking sequels in hip-hop…I’m bracing myself for Common’s Return to Electric Circus and Ma$e’s long awaited Triple Up. No really, now that Blueprint 3 and Cuban Linx II are in the bag, there’s only Killa Season II to look forward to…oh yeah, and Eminem’s second stab at Relapse. I know the response to the first album has been somewhere in between 1999-like enthusiasm and abject scorn, but regardless I’d like to hear what else Em has in store now that the burden of his initial “comeback” has been lifted. Even though Relapse had relatively few moments of inspiration compared to his other LPs, there were enough signs that Marshall had at least rediscovered his passion for rap (and unfortunately really annoying voices as well). My curiosity is forgiving to a fault…so this sequel still makes the list.
Random Axe (??)
Trees‘ brainchild has already been well-documented on JTTS, and there really isn’t too much to say that hasn’t already been said about this super group with Sean Price, Black Milk and Guilty Simpson. We already sort of know what to expect; now it’s just a matter of waiting to hear it.
Wale- Attention: Deficit (November)
I was surprised at all the backlash I got when I threw up Wale’s Back to the Feature mix tape (with 9th Wonder) this summer. Did y’all even listen? Did you skip through “Cypher,” the best State Property track in years, or the Roots-esque breakbeat jam “Hot Shyt” with Peedi Peedi and Black Thought? But the fact is I can still go back to that album and listen to it to this day. But we all know that great mix tape can sometimes mean bad album…I’m still betting for DC’s own to come through on this one. I’ll concede he might have taken an L for putting Lady Gaga on the single, but “Chillin” and “Pretty Girls” are both dope (commercial) tracks. The fact that the album just got pushed back to November should be a comforting sign; whenever the label execs don’t know how to handle marketing and single promotion, to me it’s a sign of goof things to come.
Ghostface Killah- The Wizard of Poetry (September 29)
It’s a Ghostface album. Do you really need a reason to cop this? OK. It’s a Ghostface R&B album, with a few tracks like “Stapleton Sex” thrown in for good measure.
Camp Lo- Another Heist (October 20)
I usually don’t get too excited about old(er) MCs or groups making a comeback…notice Rakim’s 7th Seal didn’t make the list here. Not that I don’t like Ra, but I’d much rather listen to Paid in Full or Follow the Leader than most of the shit he’s put out in the past few years. The same could be said for Camp Lo, who earned their unassailable place in my heart with Uptown Saturday Night. Their stuff since has been decidedly ehhhh, but with Ski producing the entire blaxploitation themed album here, I’m willing to put my memories of “Sparkle” on the line in hopes of them producing something even a fraction as good as Uptown.
Cormega- Born and Raised (October 20)
Another veteran, but one who gives us a reason to get excited again. In terms of quality control and dedication, Cormega is up there with the best of them. He doesn’t release a lot of material, and consequently, the material he releases is rarely bad. This one has been like 7 years in the making (formerly known as Urban Legend), leaving the risk of some things sounding dated. But really, can you name another MC out of Queensbridge (Nas excluded) who’s still holding it down like Mega Montana?
The Roots- How I Got Over (October 13)
Do you want more??!?!?!?!
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9 Responses to “9 Anticipated Hip-Hop Albums For This Fall”
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Whoa. I guess you got your future figured out kid. I need to get with that new Cormega.
Cormega – the only rapper to still reference Jerry Stackhouse in songs.
cormega cover.. designed by a child with downs.
Mega.
Can’t believe Papoose was snubbed on this list.
papoose won´t come out till 2120..that´s why!
Pick up the Brother Ali album, Us, in stores 9/22.
definatly copping the Ghostface. Looking forward to Statik’s new album whenever that drops. and was Common’s Return to the Electric Circus a joke? Cuz thats definatly one of his best and most slept on albums. Ill take that any day instead of shitty Universal Mind control or your standard underground fan pleaser Be which really was nothing original or crazy at all. And i havent heard a word about the Damani Marley/Nas album since Rock the Bells guess that got scrapped. If so eh only album Nas should even consider is a all Premo one to make up with the few insults of mediocre albums he has hit us with over the years.
can’t believe I forgot Damian and Nas
Kid CuDi >>>>>> Electric Circus