Anticipated Albums of 2010

Well, 2009 has been what many people have described as a bad year in the music industry, album sales falling dramatically from 2008, albums leaking up to a month before general release (mentioning no names... *Cough* 50 Cent *Cough*). However, others will argue that there just hasn't been that many decent albums released this year compared to the previous.

2008 saw fantastic albums such as T.I.'s 'Paper Trail', Young Jeezy's 'The Recession', Nas' infamous but brilliant 'Untitled', The Game's 'LAX' and a potential classic in Lil Weezy's 'Tha Carter III'. I just mentioned them without even going into the fact that Ludacris, Plies, Rick Ross, Flo Rida, Common, E-40, Kanye West plus efforts from Hip-Hop legends Ice Cube & Q-Tip.



To be fair, 2009 has seen some good albums from the likes of the 'God Of Hip Hop' - Jay-Z- with 'The Blueprint 3', Eminem's 'Relapse', Jadakiss' 'The Last Kiss' plus solid efforts from 'The Boss', Asher Roth, Cam'ron, Busta Rhymes and Mos Def. However, for me, the only album that even slightly hits the heights of 2008 is KiD CuDi's debut 'Man On The Moon: The End Of Day' (Jonny will disagree to the end of the earth... Until he actually decides to listen to it!). To be honest, it's probably the best album i've heard since Kanye's debut 'The College Dropout'.

However, that is all in the past now, but we do have many albums to look forward to over the next 12 months or so, some won't have even been spoken about yet. Here is my list of 10 albums to keep an eye out for:



Drake - Thank Me Later - Probably the most anticipated hip-hop debut since Kanye West. The Canadian was possibly looking like a "one-hit-wonder" when he dropped the brilliant single 'Best I Ever Had'. Haters were proved wrong when he better that with probably my favourite song of 2009 - 'Forever', whilst also being backed up by an allstar-cast of allstar-cast's comprising of Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Eminem. This won't just be the big break for Drake concerning this album, but close friend and producer Boi1da will no doubt be playing a big part. Expect HUGE things from this one.



B.o.B (Now known as Bobby Ray) - B.o.B Presents The Adventures Of Bobby Ray - MY most anticipated album of 2010. I've been waiting for this album for almost 2 years since B.o.B dropped the marvellous mixtape 'Who The Fuck Is B.o.B?' No tracklisting has been announced yet, however B.o.B himself admitted that the acoustic love song 'Lovelier Than You' will be on it. If the music on the album are even half as good as songs like 'I'll Be In The Sky', 'No Mans Land' or 'Ghost In The Machine' then this is going to be an album to savour and will cement his label as the next Andre 3000.



Juelz Santana - Born To Lose, Built To Win - One of my favourite artists. Juelz has leaked quite a lot of music since departing from Dipset. The song with the most radio appeal so far would be 'Back To The Crib' featuring Chris Brown and unorthodox production using trombones and such by Polow Da Don. However, the most creative and even slightly odd, song to have been leaked is the Kane Beatz' produced 'Mixing Up The Medicine'. Fantastic production in my opinion with a mix banjo's and bass make a 'western' feel to it. This has been awaited for a good two years or more, so Juelz won't have too many excuses if it donesn't meet the expectations.


Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty - Eagerly anticipated debut solo from one half of Outkast. The first single 'Royal Flush' featuring Andre 3000 & Raekwon may not have done that well on the Billboard Charts or radio play, but it has already been nominated for awards and is lyrically outstanding. Another leak; 'Shine Blockas' brings out the best in a usually dull and 'same-ole same-ole' Gucci Mane. Features big artists such as T.I., Chris Brown, Jamie Foxx, Andre 3000, Mary J. Blige, B.o.B, Jadakiss and Gucci Mane. Sure to be loved by Outkast and hip-hop fans alike with a mix of great beats and lyrical genious.



DJ Khaled - Victory - Many people won't agree with me on this one, but I generally look for to new music from 'Mr. West The Best'. One thing I like alot about Khaled is the fact that he generally works with some of the best producers such as The Runners, Cool & Dre, The Inkredibles, Danja among others. Okay, the songs he does may generally be aimed at the radio and may not incorporate the greatest lyrical rap, but he mixes good production with catchy hooks as well as catchy verses. The first single - 'Fed Up' Featuring Usher, Drake, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross & Young Jeezy - falls perfectly into that assessment. Expect guest features from Florida in general - artists such as Plies, Rick Ross, Ace Hood, Trick Daddy, Flo Rida, Dre, Brisco plus singers like Usher, Lloyd, Trey Songz & T-Pain.




Dr. Dre - Detox - I know what you're thinking... That this has been on 'Album's to look out for next year' articles for the past 6 years. Originally slated for 2004 release, the West Coast King decided to focus on his artists and his own production. Arguably the best producer around these days, probably only rivalled by The Neptunes and - in my opinion - the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. Various artists have said they have worked on the album such as T.I., Nas, Drake, Lil Wayne, Ice Cube... The list goes on. Very few leaks so far, although a song called 'Topless' featuring Nas and T.I. has, with rumoured ghostwriting from T.I. . Ludacris is also a rapper claiming to have ghostwritten. Over 6 years in the making, and on the back of two hip-hop classics, pressure is high, but if his new batch of songs are anything like the bangers he has been producing recently, maybe he will have a third classic. Wouldn't be a bad way to retire would it?



Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV - Little is know about Tha Carter IV as yet due to Weezy seeming to be concentrating most of his efforts on the debut album of his Young Money Fam and his Rock debut 'Rebirth', both due on 15th December. All we can say about this one so far is that Play-N-Skillz have claimed to be producing for it. The reason why this album is on my list considering so little is known about it, is because it is the follow up to what many people such as - English radio personality Tim Westwood - called a modern classic and it will be interesting to see if his Rock album puts people off this one. It's fair to say that people aren't expecting big things from Rebirth due to past attempts by rappers to blend into the rock scene, the fact that leaks off it so far have sounded very clichéed, transparent and just lame to be brutally honest.



Young Jeezy - Thug Motivation 103 - 'The Recession' received mainly positive reviews in 2008 which was probably helped by it's social relevance of the whole album itself along with the epic 'My President' about the then newly elected Barrack Obama. However, this album seemsas though Young has goine back to the old Jeezy, bringing out the 'Thug' and music predominantly for the streets. So far, leaks have been just that. A diss track aimed at Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman whilst also speaking on the NBA called '24, 23 (Kobe/Lebron)' is an absolute scorcher in my opinion with big bass and screachy strings with a catchy hook whilst also dissing - in my opinion - two of the lamest rappers around. Added to that is 'Trap Or Die II' which to me, sounds like a track for the 'trap' mainly because of the mix of a simple flute melody with simple bell rings... Yep, it was produced by Zaytoven, who else?

Sway - Signature 2 - Without any doubt the best rapper from the UK. His first two albums showed his talent at using imagery to create stories that the average Joe would go through whilst mixing it with humour and generally adding a moral to the story. 'The Signature LP' was propelled by club and radio friendly Akon collabo 'Silver & Gold', however, that was the only song that got anywhere in the charts. 'Signature 2' will probably be his most commercially accessible album so far with guest spots for UK R&B acts Craig David and Jay Sean as well as, oddly, Liverpool Football Cub's Ryan Babel. The first single 'Mercedes Benz' allows his to brag about his money, but also lets him show off his lyrical flow along with a catchy hook: the perfect recipe for a potential radio hit. The single has big fans in UK radio personalities Mistajam and Zane Lowe.

Ya Boy - Facelift - Slated for a 2009 release, however I have a feeling it won't be until 2010 that we get the highly anticipated sophomore effort from the Bay Area Bully. I honestly cannot wait for this album, as over the last two years or so, Ya Boy has been one of my favourite artists with fantastic mixtapes like 'The Bay Area Bully' and 'Mohawks & Heavy Metal'. He has a brilliant mix between cuts for the club and radio as well as joints for the streets. The first single 'Fall In Love' with the Cataracs is exactly the type of song to get radio play and get him so exposure before the street tracks come out. A highly synthy instrumental along with a hook using auto-tune, it may not be a classic Dr. Dre banger, but it SHOULD get some radio play and if so the cubs and the ladies will love it. Ya Boy - like many rappers before him - has claimed to be retiring after 'Facelift', whether that is true or not, we won't know for a while, but if he plans on sticking to that plan, then he will want to go out with a bang.

Signing off, Ryan 'The Infidel'