The 16 Albums We're Anticipating The Most In 2016

When we think back to 2015 in the coming years, we’ll remember the constant releases of music which actually got to a point that fans started complaining about the game being over-saturated. Due to the amount of projects we heard last year, surely 2016 will be far more quiet?

Kendrick Lamar Shakes Up The Super Bowl With Bold Drake Diss And Surprise Guests

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl 59 halftime performance was nothing short of legendary, leaving fans buzzing with surprise cameos and bold moments that took his long-running feud with Drake to new heights. Kicking off with an unreleased song snippet and followed by “Squabble Up” from his latest album GNX, Kendrick immediately set the tone for a game-changing performance. Fans eagerly waited to see if Kendrick would play his diss track Not Like Us, especially with Drake's ongoing lawsuit against him and his label for defamation and harassment. Lamar's performance included an unexpected appearance by SZA and a quirky cameo from Serena Williams, along with Samuel L. Jackson’s comedic interruptions, all building the suspense around the Drake drama. In the middle of his performance, Kendrick turned up the heat, looking straight into the camera and directly addressing Drake with his famous lyrics, “I heard you like them young," as fans held their breath. Despite the tension, Kendrick censored himself when it came time to call Drake a "certified lover boy" and avoided saying “pedophile,” which had been widely speculated. Social media lit up with mixed reactions, with some fans mocking the performance as a "mid mashup" and others noting the intense hostility toward Drake. With the hashtag #KendrickBowl trending, it’s clear that Kendrick’s performance was a cultural moment that pushed boundaries—but has he gone too far, or is this just another chapter in hip-hop history? Only time will tell, and Drake has yet to respond.

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That’s not necessarily the case. We’ve already told you about our favorite albums and songs from last year and now we’re shifting the focus. We compiled a list of the mixtapes and albums we’re anticipating the most in the next 12 months. Click on the following pages to find out what they are and let us know whether or not you agree with the picks.

In no particular order…

Lupe Fiasco – Drogas

We’re not entirely sure why Tetsuo & Youth is as overlooked as it is in Hip-Hop but like we mentioned in our year-end list, it’s a masterpiece. Lupe has not one, not two but three albums set to drops this year, the first of which is Drogas. The only information we currently have is that ‘Mural Jr.’ will appear on it, which is more than enough to keep us excited, considering the first is arguably the most lyrical song of Lupe’s career.

Kanye West – SWISH

Up until the release of ‘Real Friends’, Kanye West hadn’t truly been himself. Neither ‘Only One’ nor ‘All Day’ succeeded in building the hype he was looking for and reviews of ‘Facts’ had been less than flattering. Ye has seemed uninspired for some years now but in all actuality, when he has his back up against the wall can be when he sees the best results (see ‘No More Parties In LA‘). The return of G.O.O.D. Music Fridays has been promising and we’re still hopeful that on February 11th, SWISH will be everything that we want and need it to be.

Lil Wayne – Tha Carter V

Right up until the last day of 2015, the chances of Tha Carter V dropping were slim to none at best. All year long Wayne had been dropping music for free, with each project throwing some not so subtle shots at Cash Money and Birdman. However that all came to a confusing end when Stunna and Wayne were seen in pictures together on New Year’s Eve and even more recently. Could 2015 be the year of the Carter series coming to a grand close?

As usual with projects from Wayne, 2015’s Sorry 4 The Wait 2, Free Weezy Album and No Ceilings 2 were all met with mixed reviews. The truth is, none of them are consistent with Wayne’s best material, but they each have their moments. The right collection of these moments on C5 would be just what Wayne needs.

Majid Jordan – Majid Jordan

If you’re unfamiliar with Majid and Jordan’s music, they’re probably OVO’s most prized possession as of right now. In just a few weeks they’ll release their self-titled debut album which, if ‘Something About You’ and ‘King City’ are any indication, is shaping up to be a great body of work. Their affiliation with Hip-Hop through OVO Sound could have a serious impact on the culture in the coming years if up and rappers are influenced by their vibes. If you’re a fan of mood music and sounds for different emotions, or even if you’re just looking for something a little left field, look no further.

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