With 2024 in full swing, already releases from benny The Butcher, Boldy James, and Che Noir already keeping our streaming devices in full vibration. It's just February. The year of 2023 has been scoffed at by critics and fans of hip-hop as one of the worst in recent memory, but truthfully it was a lot better than these same people gave the year credit for. Releases from Conway, Hall & Nash (that's Westside Gunn and Conway in case you weren't aware), Earl Sweatshirt, Nas, Larry June, Skyzoo, and Planet Asia were certainly grounds to put 2023 higher in the ranks within this century. However, with a new year come the pressures of topping the prior year, if not make it a classic year for the genre and the artform. With that being said, let's see who all are speculated highly to come out and the level of anticipation with them with these twenty albums that are likely to drop and make this year one of watch.
25. J. Cole
It's A Boy
Production: artist, The Alchemist, Boi-1nda, others
Guests: unknown
Fayetteville's favorite son, J. Cole, is slated to drop his, reported, final album as an emcee. The album, It's A Boy, will likely be a continuation of his last outing, 2021's The Off Season. So far, no word of guest producers or artists, but one would imagine, if this is his final album, he's not going out soft. This will likely be among his greatest achievements as an artist to date, which considering albums like 4 Your Eyez Only, 2014 Forest Hills Dr. and Born Sinner, this will be no small task and the bar is very high.
UPDATE: Mr. Cole dropped, what is seemingly being perceived as a teaaser album, entit5led, Might Delete Later. It contained the controversial answer to Kendrick Lamar's diss on Future/Metro Bommin's "Like That" in the form of "Seven Minute Shooter", which, in a strange turn of events, got deleted from all DSMs after Cole apologized for the cut at a DreamVille concert in NC. Even with this odd situation, the album was overall dope, and although it didn't quite meet the previous, Off Season, it still contained burners to bump and showed that Cole still is among the ebst of his generation.
24. Conway The Machine & J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
From Now On
Production: J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
Guests: unknown
On an IG Live, Conway The Machine stated he would have multiple projects drop this year. Most of them are in this list and on the Honorable Mention list as well. In 2023, the "Slanted-Faced Killa" was a busy man. Dropping Won't He Do It: Side A, Palermo with German producer, Wun-Two, Conductor Machine with residential Griselda in-house producer, Conductor Williams, Speshal Machinery with 38 Spesh, plus guests on numerous projects kept him quite the in-demand emcee. One of the more intriguing is his collaboration with Florida duo, the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. The duo is known for providing hits for the likes of Rick Ross, Jeezy, Mary J. Blige, Drake, Freddie Gibbs, and Wale, and provided assistance on the cuts "Kanye" and "The Chosen" on Machine's Won't He Do it: Side A album of 2023. Considering those were two of the best bumpers on that album, this should be an interesting match for an entire full-length project. More of a southern, thumping, soulful sound is likely what we expect to hear from this album, including a rumored collab cut with Nas. Intriguing indeed.
23. Griselda
WWCD2
Production: unknown
Guests: unknown
This was another project Conway mentioned in his IG Live that was happening. For just over a year, all three core members of the Griselda squad (Conway, Gunn, and Benny) all stated the sequel to the CRAZY 2021 effort, WWCD (What Would Chinegunn Do), was in the making. Among the hardest and coldest albums ever dropped from Griselda, expectations are high to duplicate the critical success of the prior effort. No known producers or guests at this time, but if this turns out to be anything like the first one, WWCD2 won't be playing fair. Will we hear more of the ominous, dark boom-bap like the first one, or will we get more of the southern trap sounds they've been experimenting with lately? Either way, the three-headed monster that is Griselda will be looking to dominate another year.
22. Westside Gunn
MICHELLE RECORDS
Production: Conductor, Daringer, Sovren, Denny LeFlare, others
Guests: A$AP Rocky, Stove God Cook$, others
Staying with Griselda once again, for the last couple of years, Westside Gunn has been promoting a project called MICHELLE RECORDS (which is named after his late sister who died a few years ago). With plenty of audio teasers on social media, those cuts either made it on to other efforts such as 10 and 2023's And Then You Pray for Me or are still floating around being speculated that they'll appear on this album. Gunn's solo discography is as solid as anyone in the game right now, with bumpers such as Supreme Blientele, his breakout album, Flygod, his greatly underrated Who Made The Sunshine, Pray For Paris, and his Hitler Wears Hermes mixtape/full-length series being worthy examples. According to producer Sovren and her social media, the album is done, and production is handled by her, Daringer, Denny LeFlare, and a couple of others, with A$AP Rocky and Stove God Cook$ (still waiting on Stove Jesus BTW) being the only guests to appear at this time. Will this effort finally drop? Only time will tell, but based on Gunn's past track record, this album could very well be another entry in an overall tremendous discography from the "flygod".
UPDATE: at a concert recently, the "Flygod" himself stated that "Michelle Records" was, in fact, a duo with he and fellow Griselda-mate, Stove God Cook$. No word as to when their project will drop, but this is certainly news. Stay tuned.
21. Noname
Untitled
Production: unknown
Guests: unknown
Earlier this year, Chicago's Noname stated on her social media that she had a follow-up to her 2023 entry, Sundial, which was critically acclaimed for its soulful, hypnotic production and very introspective, yet bold and confident, lyricism. Known for her brief, yet incredible, discography, one would expect this album to be another excellent addition to her already impressive discography. Also, there are rumors of a possible group album with her, Smino, and fellow Chicago native, Saba, as Ghetto Sage this year so we may get more of Noname in one year than we have in the past few.
20. Boldy James & The Alchemist
Untitled
Production: The Alchemist
Guests: unknown
2023 was supposed to be the busiest year for Detroit's own Boldy James to date, but the beginning of last year put a derailment with those plans as he was involved in a serious car accident that had him recovering most of the year. Projects such as collaborations with V DON, Harry Fraud, Nicholas Craven, and the much-awaited album under lost Dilla production, Drug Dilla, were all slated to hit. With his album with Nicholas Craven, Penalties of Leadership, hitting at the beginning of this year, the wheels looked to be in motion for 2024 to be his 2023. One album in the many he has lined up is another link-up with perhaps the most in-demand producer in the game at the moment, the Grammy Award-winning Alchemist. Uncle Al and Boldy have three highly acclaimed efforts to their name in the form of My 1st Chemistry Set, The Price of Tea in China, Bo Jackson, and their EP, Super Techmo Bo. Based on social media talk, Boldy and Uncle Al are about to embark on another stellar album together and will be available sooner than later. Knowing the chemistry (no pun intended) between these two artists, this will be yet another fantastic showing by them.
19. Pharoahe Monch
External Affairs
Production: artist, unknown
Guests: unknown
It's been a full decade since we got a full-length project from Queens lyrical legend, Pharaohe Monch. We last heard this wizard of words deliver PTSD in 2014. Since then, other than the occasional guest verse with the likes of Apathy, Brother Ali, and Torae, we haven't heard much from the man otherwise known as Troy Jamerson. This ten-year drought ends with External Affairs, the sequel to his exceptional debut solo album of '99, Internal Affairs. Among everyone's year end lists of that year, the bar is set high to replicate the hunger, passion, and fire of the debut. While no producers or guests have been mentioned as of this time, it might be wise that few, if any, guests appear on this album, as not too many in the game can hang with him to this very day. With albums such as the aforementioned PTSD, Internal Affairs, W.A.R., and Desire, along with his Beautiful Day for An Exorcism with his band, th1rt3en, this hopes to be an ass-kicking return for the man who provided THAT verse on Organized Konfusion's "Bring It On".
18. JID
Forever & A Day
Production: Metro Boomin, Childish Major, Christo, others
Guests: unknown
Dreamville's emcee, JID, is among most fans, critics, and emcees lists of best technical emcees and best writers overall. The young Atlanta native has delivered very dope projects over the past few years, including DiCaprio 2, The Never Story, and 2022's wonderful, The Forever Story. Having established himself as one of the south's most talented line for line emcees, JID returns in 2024 with Forever & A Day, which will then be followed up with a collab album with Grammy Award winning producer, Metro Boomin, later in the year. While that album will no doubt provide enough trunk and speaker bump to get some noise ordinance tickets, Forever & A Day is predicted to be as great of a smash as The Forever Story, and that's a very high bar. Expect another crazy year for JID and his star power to continue to climb.
17. Ludacris
Untitled
Production: unknown
Guests: unknown
It's been over nine years since we last had a full project from the former Chris Luva Luva. His last effort was 2015's Ludaversal. The Atlanta (by way of Chicago) native has done several movies (most notably the Fast & Furious franchise) and a few commercial spots. Now it's become time for him to pick that mic back up and remind the game why he's among the most respected and props-earning emcees to emerge from the south over the past two decades. His discography has been fairly consistent, with albums like Chicken & Beer, The Red-Light District, and Theater of The Mind being among his most acclaimed. Will we the Luda of old? Will he drop another anthem for us this year that we will bump decades later like we do now wit cuts like "Move" and "What's Your Fantasy"? Let's hope that does indeed happen.
16. Common & Pete Rock
Untitled
Production: Pete Rock
Guests: unknown
When Common announced on social media that he was doing a collab album with legendary producer, Pete Rock, the anticipation was immediate. Rock is widely known for his work with former partner-in-rhyme, CL Smooth for their highly acclaimed albums of Mecca & The Soul Brotha and The Main Ingredient, along with providing tremendous, boom-bap soundscapes for the likes of Nas, Slum Village, Inspectah Deck, Skyzoo, Conway The Machine, and Raekwon, among many others. Of course, we all know Common is among the most potent emcees to ever touch a mic, and his discography containing the likes of Resurrection, Like Water For Choclate, Be, Black America Again, and The Dreamer, The Believer also speaks for itself. With these two legendary artists coming together for a full-length album, this could be another version of when Common collaborated with Kanye for the CLASSIC masterwork that was the aforementioned Be from '05 in terms of just straight up no frills, unfiltered hip-hop. While there hasn't been information of guests or a title (although They Reminisce Over H.E.R. has been floating), this could be among the craziest albums either star has ever put out.
15. Conway The Machine
Won't He Do It: Side B
Production: Conductor, Daringer, Camouflage Monk, Swizz Beats, Cool & Dre, Graymatter, Cardo, The Alchemist, others
Guests: Method Man, Joey Bada$$, Larry June, Jay Worthy, SK Da King, Stove God Cook$, Key Glock, Flee Lord, 2 Eleven, Swizz Beats, Boldy James, Nas
Conway The Machine had a very tall task in trying to match or outdo the OUTSTANDING effort that was 2022's God Don't Make Mistakes. He attempted to do so with last year's Won't He Do It: Side A, and while it wasn't quite as high on the mark as GDMM or even the prior effort, From King to A God was, it was still a bumper and continued to show Machine's knack for great penmanship and ability to get personal, while letting you know he ain't the one to cross. When talk of a "Side B" was coming, intrigue started occurring. However, Machine's IG Live feeds would have him previewing some of what was to come, and BOY does this sound like Conway of old. Plenty of Murky and haunting production, and threatening lyrics that put him on the map in the first place within the Griselda clan. Based upon already released single and videos of the Joey Bada$$-assisted, "Vertana" and the Cool & Dre-produced, "Give & Give", as well as a preview of a track called "Mutty" produced by Conductor Williams, this could be a monster of a project. While Side A had some gritty moments for sure, Side B sounds like this could be even grimier from the self-professed "Grimiest of All-Time".
UPDATE: the self-professed, "Grimiest of All-Time" is delivering an album in May called, SFK (or Slant-Faced Killa). No clue as to whether this is in fact WHDI: Side B or not, but regardless, looks like an effort of new music is emerging in May and if it contains ANYTHING from Side B, this will be an animal upon its release.
14. Yasiin Bey & The Alchemist
Untitled
Production: The Alchemist
Guests: unknown
Consider this a rumor for now, as the artist formerly known as Mos Def, Yasiin Bey, stated during a concert that he and Uncle Al had a project on the way, and it was supported on social media. This announcement was dropped just after Mr. Dante Smith was catching some controversy for his description of Drake's music as "For Target shoppers." during an interview. Although many praised his commentary over Drake's form of music, there were some that were quite baffled as to why he would openly diss Drake's music in the manner in which he did. Nonetheless, the thought of an entire album between the two of them is fascinating and could be among the most stellar releases of either man's careers, and that's saying an entire mouthful considering the INCREDIBLE yearly work rate of Mr. Maman and how Bey has a couple of classics under his belt as well, including the extraordinary Black on Both Sides. Stay tuned for more on this throughout the year, as this could be ugly and beautiful at the same time.
13. Rome Streetz
Bow Down
Production: Conductor, others
Guests: unknown
NYC underground phenom, Rome Streetz, signed with Griselda in '22 and his Griselda debut, Kiss the Ring, has been widely acclaimed and revered, with many calling it the best debut out the camp in years. With grimy and gutter boom-bap production from the likes of Conductor Williams, Camouflage Monk, and The Alchemist, the album showed that he was meant for Griselda. Never ignoring his underground roots, he delivered the fifth, and final, installation of his Noise Candy mixtape series. Regarded as the best of the series, Rome continued his momentum and started to become quite the in-demand emcee. In '24, he stated on his social media that Kiss The Ring was, in fact, a trilogy, with the second part of it coming soon in the form of Bow Down. The question is, "Will Bow Down resemble Kiss The Ring in terms of its macabre street stories and gritty lyricism?" From Rome, you can bet your ass it will. A better question is, "Will Bow Down meet or exceed the standards Kiss the Ring set?" We will find out later this year.
12. Jay Electronica
Bismillah Boys
Production: artist, others
Guests: Westside Gunn, others
The ever-allusive anomaly known as Jay Electronica. The mystique of this emcee is wide and deep. This VERY highly talented writer and emcee has been quite the topic over the past decade and some change. From his Act series and Exhibit series being unreleased to him finally releasing his retail debut, A Written Testimony, to rave reviews and acclaim back in 2020, Electronica rarely delivers interviews or guest spots, but best believe when either scenario happens, people listen. His controversy hit another level when he guested on Noname's album, Sundial, on the otherwise excellent cut, "Balloons", in which he spewed, what was viewed as anti-Sematic rhymes, on the cut. Near the end of 2023, he delivered a brief teaser for an upcoming album called Bismillah Boys, and the brief snippet sounded nuts. Earlier this year, he likewise dropped another teaser with Westside Gunn that is heavily rumored to be on the album as well. Say what you will about the New Orleans native, but you'll never stop talking about him. Controversial views and all, he's among the most intriguing, yet insanely talented, writers in all of hip-hop.
11. Westside Gunn & Conway The Machine
Hall & Nash 2: The Official Version
Production: Daringer, The Alchemist
Guests: unknown
Just as we were about to say goodbye to 2023, Alchemist dropped a bombshell. He delivered to the masses the much-rumored Hall & Nash 2 effort with Westside Gunn and Conway. The first Hall & Nash effort was seen as a Griselda classic, but the sequel may have even topped that one with some of the murkiest production Uncle Al has done, and considering his alre4ady legendary track record, that's an entire statement in itself. He also mentioned there was a "real" version coming in 2024, with he and Griselda go-to beat monster, Daringer, providing the likely ominous soundscapes. The thought of a "real" version of one of the single best efforts of 2023 and the possibility of it being even better than the nine-track version we were privileged to hear is bonkers in itself. Hurry up with this one Uncle Al!
10. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
Untitled
Production: The Alchemist
Guests: unknown
Mr. Gibbs is one of the sickest emcees on the microphone in the current state of hip-hop. Since his Cold Day In Hell and ESGN days to his undisputed classic with Madlib, Pinata, to other subsequent follow-ups such as Shadow of a Doubt, Freddie, the sequel to Pinata, Bandana, to his most recent acclaimed album, $oul Sold Separately in 2022, Gangsta Gibbs has been among your favorite rapper's favorite rapper list. However, it would be when he would collab with Alchemist that we would hear some of his absolute best work. He and southern underground legend, Curren$y, linked with Uncle Al for the fantastic album, Fetti, and he would later link up with Al again for the Grammy-nominated effort, Alfredo. Reportedly working on the follow-up to Alfredo, hearing Gibbs over some Alan the Chemist production would be another example of how potent of an emcee Gibbs is, as Al is one of those producers that can truly bring the monster out of the Gary, IN native. It'll be exciting to see, and hear, what these two got up their sleeve.
9. Rapsody
Please Don't Cry
Production: Hit-Boy, others
Guests: Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Alex Isley, Phylicia Rashad, Amber Navran of Moonchild, others
When you think of NC hip-hop, the most notable person to comes to mind is Mr. Cole. However, over the years, two more names have become synonymous with stellar NC hip-hop: Phonte and Rapsody. While we absolutely hope for an effort from Phontigga or an effort from he and partner-in-rhyme, Big Pooh for another Little Brother album, we WILL get a new one from Rapsody. The Grammy-winning, Snow Hill, NC native has been hard at work for the follow-up to her exceptional 2019 effort, Eve. Ready to drop at any moment, Marlena Evans has been regarded as the new MC Lyte for her generation and one of the most talented emcees of her or any generation. According to reports, she will be delving away from the Jamala crew of 9th, Khrysis, and the Soul Council, and leaning more into more diverse production. This is exhibited by her first single from the new project, the neck-snapping, Hit-Boy crafted, "Asteroids". It'll be interesting to hear an album not saturated with the soulful boom-bap of 9th Wonder & The Soul Council, but Rap has shown she can be deadly over anyone's production and, indeed, be "that rapper that your favorite rapper scared to rap after." This could be the biggest test towards her legacy, but something says she will not only prove any doubters wrong but will gain even more of a following than she already has.
8. Run The Jewels
RTJ5
Production: El-P
Guests: unknown
What a historic year for Killer Mike. Not only did he deliver a career milestone with his instant classic of 2023, Michael, but he won all three rap categories at the recent Grammy Awards. While we are still crazy bumping the greatness of that album, and its deluxe album as well, other heads are still anticipating the new RTJ album. This album has been in the works since RTJ4 in 2020. He & rhyme partner/producer El-P damn near owned the '10s with their back-to-back-to-back otherworldly great albums of their self-titled debut, RTJ2, and RTJ3. A brief teaser was recently put out on their social media accounts in an indication that they were on the way. Here's to hoping RTJ5 will continue to show their tag team dominance in hip-hop that only Armand Hammer can claim is their only legit competition in today's era of hip-hop. Mike has said that Michael is a trilogy so don't be surprised if the second part gets released this year as well, but for now, understand Run The Jewels may be very well back on the scene, and we could be looking at another monument in the game.
7. ScHoolboy Q
Blue Lips
Production: Tae Beast, Beat Butcha, The Alchemist, Kal Banx, Cardo, DJ Khalyl, others
Guests: Ab-Soul, Rico Nasty, Freddie Gibbs, Lance Skiiwalker, others
As Kendrick Lamar officially left the house he built with TDE, the question was, "Who would be the new go-to for TDE and their success in hip-hop?" The answer comes with Quincy Hanley, aka ScHoolboy Q. The south-central LA native has been known to deliver some very high quality hip-hop over the past decade and change. While his albums of Setbacks and Habits & Contradictions put him on the map, and rightfully so, it was his major label debut, Oxymoron, that made him a star and dropped, at that time, his career best. The Grammy-nominated album officially made Q someone to keep out for within this game. He, then, dropped an even better project with The Blank Face LP, and solidified that he was for real out here. Although the follow-up, Crash Talk, didn't receive as much critical acclaim as the prior projects, he still showed that he knew how to make hits, but there was something missing here that the prior efforts possessed. Whatever it was, he found it again because as news dropped of his forthcoming effort, Blue Lips, began circulating with a promo video, he began dropping singles and street promotional singles and videos. Based off the sounds of these cuts, ScHoolboy is back in the zone that made him among the most in-demand emcees out here, and there's very little doubt Blue Lips will be another complete banger in the discography of Mr. Hanley.
6. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
Montana
Production: Madlib
Guests: unknown
We previously mentioned Gangsta Gibbs in this list with his forthcoming collab album reuniting with Alchemist. Perhaps even more anticipated is the third, and final, album in the Pinata series with beatmaker extraordinaire, Madlib. In 2014, Gibbs & Madlib dropped the album of the year with Pinata, and it was stated it was the first of its trilogy. Five years later, they dropped an equally incredible follow-up album, and the second in the trilogy, Bandana. The genius pairing of these two has made for magical moments between them. Now five years after Bandana comes the final in the trilogy, Montana. Supposedly finished over a year or two ago, if this is the final installment, let's hope they go out as crazy as they've been going up to this point. Let's hope the momentum both prior monuments carry over into this one so this can be rightfully considered among the best trilogies in modern hip-hop history.
5. Hit-Boy & The Alchemist
Untitled
Production: artist
Guests: unknown
Arguably the two most in-demand producers in all of hip-hop are two of Cali's all-time greatest: Hit-Boy and The Alchemist. Hit-Boy became a modern giant with providing Nas with sounds that helped him reinvigorate his career and reminded us all who one of the game's true GOATs is with the King's Disease trilogy and the Magic trilogy. Alchemist has been burning since the late nineties/early thousands, but has been especially in his bag over the past seven, or so, years, providing monster music for the likes of Armand Hammer, MIKE, Earl Sweatshirt, Roc Marciano, Kendrick Lamar, Evidence, and ScHoolboy Q. It's only right these two come together for at least a cut or two. They gave us a glimpse of their potentially exhilarating collaborative efforts with "Slippin' Into Darkness", a two-part beat cut that had Uncle Al rhyming over Hit-Boy's half of the cut and Hit-Boy rhyming (and dissing various producers) over a stellar piano loop courtesy of Mr. Maman. It was announced that these two were in fact working on a full-length together and the waiting game was underway. Earlier in 2024, these two dropped a surprise EP entitled Theodore & Andre, which was a three cut piece that served as a teaser of what will likely be a full album this year. Much like the sorely underappreciated Champion Sound from Jaylib (J Dilla & Madlib), we expect each emcee/producer to rhyme over the other's production. We will likely see this album in 2024, and best believe, our speakers will be on life support afterwards.
4. Mobb Deep
Untitled
Production: Havoc, The Alchemist
guests: unknown
When Albert "Prodigy" Johnson left this earth in 2017, the game lost one of the coldest lyricists ever to touch a mic. His vivid, chilling rhymes placed him among the elite of emcees, and alongside partner-in-rhyme, Havoc, Mobb Deep were seen as one of the most influential duos in hip-hop history. With The Infamous, Hell On Earth, and Murda Muzik all considered genuine classics in hip-hop, and the rest of their discography being nothing to overlook either, Hav became the one to hold down the Mobb name due to this unfortunate turn of events. Havoc has stated that he has a lot of posthumous P material and material they had together that never saw the light of day and that, in fact, they were working on a new Mobb album at the time of his death. Alchemist, likewise, backed this claim up as well. While it's not one hundred percent clear that it'll drop this year, the last time Hav was asked about this was last year and he did state the album was almost done within its mixing stages so it's very possible the final Mobb album will surface. As with any posthumous album, it will be bittersweet hearing the fallen rhyme again and wishing they were still here with us. You can believe Hav, and likely Al, will make damn sure this album will rep the Mobb name to the utmost and will be a project Bandana P would be super proud of.
3. Black Thought & Madlib
Untitled
Production: Madlib
Guests: unknown
Roots frontman emcee, the one and only Black thought has been dropping solo material quite a bit over the last few years. He started with his Streams Of Thought series with 9th Wonder, Salaam Remi, and Sean C & LV throughout the late teens. From there, he and the allusive Danger Mouse dropped the exceptional, Cheat Codes, in 2022, and followed that up with the equally impressive, Glorious Game, with the El Michel Affair group in 2023. As fantastic as all of these releases have been, we may be hitting the upper stratosphere when it was said that Mr. Madliberator, himself, had supplied Black Thought with about a hundred beats for him and that a collab album was coming. Anything Madlib touches is priceless, just based upon his otherworldly collabs with Freddie Gibbs and especially the late MF DOOM as Madvillain. Just imagine Tarik over the unique soulful, jazzy, obscure stylings of Madlib. The "thought" is enough to make you sit on the edge of the bed in FULL anticipation of what could be the greatest album, not just of 2024, but among the greatest front to back albums ever recorded in hip-hop.
2. PRhyme
PRhyme 3
Production: DJ Premier
Guests: unknown
There's only one Gangstarr. That would be Guru and DJ Premier, one of the illest duos to ever grace our presence. When Baldhead Slick died in 2010 from Myeloma, Premier has still been repping his longtime partner every chance he got. However, if there was the next big thing to Gangstarr, it would be PRhyme, the duo consisting of Preemo and Detroit's own Royce Da 5'9". Royce and Preem have been collaborating since Royce's explosive (pun intended) single, "Boom", and since then cuts like "Hip-Hop", "Shake This", and "Ding!" have showed us that there's a chemistry that bled of an entire full-length from them. Enter 2014, when the announcement came that these two were in fact coming together as PRhyme and were dropping an album. Combining the brilliance of both emcee and producer spelled nothing short of enormous expectations, and when they dropped their self-titled debut, they were all met. An instant classic, this virtually perfect nine-track effort saw guests like ScHoolboy Q, his fellow TDE-mate Ab-Soul, Common, Dwele, and Slaughterhouse (including Royce himself) go CRAZY over the Preemo production (with sampling from producer/composer Adrien Younge). They returned two years later with PRhyme 2, an almost as sonically skitzo effort, PRhyme had a lengthier project with seventeen tracks, and not one of them was wasted. With appearances by the likes of Cee-Lo, Roc Marci, Dave East, 2 Chainz, Rapsody, and Big K.R.I.T., this was less gritty and concussion-inducing, but more of a polished sound that still kept the aura of PRhyme solid. Five years after that last effort, fiends have been in huge anticipation for a PRhyme 3, and courtesy of Preemo himself, PRhyme 3 is in fact coming this year. No word on guests yet, nor who would be supplying them with any samples like Adrien Younge or Antman Wonder on PRhyme 2, but no matter what, Royce & Preem are in a lane by themselves and don't need to be labeled as "the new Gangstarr". There's no doubt this new effort will continue to show why they're among the most ferocious duos in all of hip-hop.
1. Boldy James & J Dilla
Drug Dilla
Production: J Dilla
Guests: unknown
Certainly, among all of Boldy's albums that were supposed to roll out in 2023, none were more anticipatory than the album he said was dropping over lost and found J Dilla production. Apparently, Boldy recorded some cuts with the late production legend not long before he died in 2006 to a blood disease associated with Lupus. None were mastered or mixed. However, courtesy of Dilla's estate, most notably Dilla's mother, Maureen, and his brother James (aka Illa J), these and other lost Dilla production will be what Boldy does his thing on with the album called, Drug Dilla. This will no doubt be some of Dilla's most intriguing production considering Boldy's style and content. It's no secret Dilla was the 2Pac of beats in terms of his work rate, even while critically ill. Boldy over some Dilla is something we never saw coming, but it's all day welcomed. Even with Mr. James' already loaded year with efforts that have him collaborating with the likes of V DON, The Alchemist (as mentioned earlier), Harry Fraud, another rumored project with Jay Versace, and another project with Futurewave, Drug Dilla will likely be the most anticipated album, not just of 2024, but within the entire career of Boldy.
Honorable Mentions
*Unconfirmed this album will be released in 2024, just rumored
Nas & DJ Premier- untitled
Kid Cudi & The Alchemist- untitled *
Quelle Chris, Cavalier, & The Alchemist- untitled *
Conway The Machine- EIF4
Conway The Machine- Reject 3
Cyhi The Prince- The Story Of EGOT
Skyzoo & The Other Guys- TMOAS: Deluxe Edition
Killer Mike- untitled *
Rome Streetz & Conductor Williams- untitled *
DJ Muggs & Rome Streetz- untitled
Sauce Walka & Daringer- New Sauce City 2
Conway The Machine & The Alchemist- untitled
Benny The Butcher & Harry Fraud- untitled
Jay Rock- untitled
Ab-Soul- untitled
TDE- untitled
Pusha T & DJ Drama- untitled
Pusha T- untitled
Action Bronson- JOHAN SEBASTIAN BACHLAVA THE DOCTOR
Slum Village- F.U.N.
Mac Miller & Madlib- MacLib
Gangrene- Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
Boldy James & Harry Fraud- untitled
Boldy James & Cardo- untitled *
Roc Marciano & Pete Rock- untitled *
Roc Marciano- Marciology
Larry June & The Alchemist- untitled
Lil' Wayne- Tha Carter 6
Che Noir- The Color Chocolate Vol. 2
Che Noir- Lotus Child
Che Noir & 7XVETHEGENIUS- untitled
Logic- Ultra 84
Cordae- The Crossroads Tape
Big Boi- untitled
Ransom & Harry Fraud- Lavish Misery
Jay Worthy & Hit-Boy- untitled
Big Sean & Hit-Boy- untitled
Big Shug & DJ Premier- untitled
Raekwon- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 3 *
Ghostface Killah- Supreme Clientele 2 *
Prodigy- The Hegelian Dialectic 3: The Book of Death
Benny The Butcher & 38 Spesh- untitled
Armani Ceaser- The Liz 3
dead prez- untitled
50 Cent- untitled
Joey Bada$$- untitled
Da Beatminerz- Stifled Creativity
JID & Metro Boomin- JIDtro
Ransom & Nicholas Craven- untitled
Mach-Hommy- RICHAXXHAITIAN
RJ PAYNE- Leatherface 4
DJ Muggs & Mooch of Da Cloth- ROCSTAR
Snoop Dogg- Missionary
T.I.- untitled
Stove God Cook$- Stove Jesus *
A$AP Rocky- Don't Be Dumb
Isaiah Rashad- untitled
Elzhi & Khrysis- Jericho Jackson 2 *
Evidence- untitled *
Method Man & Havoc- Dirty P *
The Alchemist & Budgie- The Good Book Vol. 3
LL Cool J & Q-Tip- untitled *
Redman- Muddy Waters Too *
Planet Asia & Madlib- untitled *
50 Cent- untitled
Smino- untitled
Blu & Evidence- untitled
Your Old Droog & Madlib- untitloed
Eminem- untitled
Vince Staples- untitled
Flipmode Squad- untitled
Saba & No I.D.- untitled
There are many others speculated to be released this year, and quite honestly, this looks to be quite the interesting year even more than 2023 was. This is just a small list of albums that are either confirmed, highly likely, or unknown as of now as to if they'll ACTUALLY be released this year. All we can do is sit back, enjoy the ride, and make way for some for some likely damn great and exceptional hip-hop on the way for 2024. Until next time, folks!
