Most Anticipated 4th Quarter Music Releases

The 4th quarter (Sept – Dec) is usually reserved for some of the hottest music releases you’ve been waiting for all year. This year, 2009, is no exception. Every year around this time, I like to put together a list of my most anticipated 4th quarter releases. This year it was really tough for me to put these in any kind of order, as the anticipation for each is really high. I’ve highlighted my Top 15 in alphabetical order, as well as list the rest of what I know is scheduled to drop. If I missed any releases or have some dates wrong, feel free to correct me. I promised myself that I would not include any HiPNOTT related releases in this list, but here’s my shameless plug: look out for new projects dropping this fall from Dasha, Speek Greene, Has-Lo, G.C., Cee & Bekah, Notion, and Trav Williams!  4th quarter is gonna be busy!

Brother Ali – Us

Scheduled Release: September 22, 2009

First Single: “Us” [download]

Brother Ali returns with his first full length album since 2007′s The Undisputed Truth.  As with previous endeavors, the beats here are courtesy of Ant, whose production work seems to be getting more soulful and lush by the minute. The guest appearances only accentuate Brother Ali’s strengths, with Chuck D, Freeway, Joell Ortiz and Stokley Williams of Mint Condition making strong appearances.

Clipse – Till The Casket Drops

Scheduled Release: October 20, 2009

First Single: “Kinda Like A Big Deal” [download]

The Clipse is set to drop their third studio album in October and is rumored to feature production from Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, The Hitmen, The Neptunes, Rick Rubin, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Alex Kresovich, Dame Grease, and DJ Khalil.

Emilio Rojas – The Natural

Scheduled Release: TBA

First Listen: “Closure” [view video]

Yeah, I know this is technically a mixtape, but with as hot Emilio’s last tape was [download Recession Proof], The Natural is gearing up to be even hotter and one of my most anticipated releases. Mixed by DJ Green Lantern, Emilio’s new tape is set to feature some hot productions (though I’ve promised not to divulge who yet). Trust me, if you’re not a fan of Emilio Rojas yet… you will be after this tape.

Freeway & Jake One – The Stimulus Package

Scheduled Release: TBA

First Leak: “Blogger” [download]

We first got word of this project back in February, only to receive a poorly put together Philadelphia Freeway 2 a few months later. Originally announced for a summer release, let’s hope we get The Stimulus Package this fall. Jake One’s White Van Music was one of my top albums of 2008 and Freeway on a Jake One beat is like peanut butter and jelly.

Ghostface – The Wizard of Poetry

Scheduled Release: September 29, 2009

First Single: “Baby” feat. Raheem DeVaughn [listen]

So Ghostface wants to put out an R&B album… nothing wrong with that! Listen to our Ghostface Killah R&B Duets compilation [download] and you’ll see that some of Ghost’s best tracks are R&B-tinged. Let’s just hope the rest of the album comes out sounding better than the first single, “Baby.”

Kidz In The Hall – Land of Makebelieve

Scheduled Release: October 13, 2009

First Single: “Flickin’” [download]

I became a fan of Kidz In The Hall with their last album, The In Crowd. It was definitely one of my favorite albums of 2008 and if the Kidz follow that same formula for Land of Makebelieve, they should have another hit on their hands.

Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3

Scheduled Release: September 11, 2009

Singles: “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)” / “Run This Town” (feat. Kanye & Rihanna) [listen]

The Blueprint 3 has probably made every single one of our anticipation lists for the past year. We were originally hoping for a 4th quarter 2008 release, but Hov decided to make us wait a little longer. Mixed feelings surround this September 11th release as we have been waiting and waiting for so long. It seemed Jay was on point with the leak of “D.O.A.”, but lost a lot of us with the single “Run The Town.” Jay says he’s forming a new “blueprint” and also plans to form an official group with Kanye and Rihanna. If this is the new Jay that we are expected to hear, I may have to turn in my stan pass. Either way, look out for our “10 Days of Jay” feature starting September 1st! View the rumored tracklist.

Nicolay – Shibuya (City Lights Vol 2)

Scheduled Release: September 15, 2009

First Single: “Lose Your Way” feat. Carlitta Durand [download]

Hot off the release of last year’s Foreign Exchange album, Leave It All Behind, Nicolay is set to release volume 2 in his City Lights series. The Foreign Exchange producer had decided to stick with the formula and has invited FE members Phonte, Carlita Durand, and Zo! along for the ride. Nicolay never seems to disappoint, so this album is sure to be a winner. View release details.

O.C. & A.G. – Oasis

Scheduled Release: TBA

First Single: “Put It In The Box” [download via iTunes]

Originally planned for release last fall, D.I.T.C. members O.C. and A.G. should be releasing their new album Oasis on Nature Sounds Records by the end of the year. The album is executively produced by Show and also features production by E. Blaze, Lord Finesse, and Statik Selektah.

Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II

Scheduled Release: September 8, 2009

First Single: “House of Flying Daggers” [download via our July 09 mixtape]

An album that was originally scheduled for release in 2005 will finally see the light of day in September. Raekwon’s sequel to his 1995 debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, is probably on every hip hop heads most anticipated release list. With production from Dilla, RZA, Pete Rock, Dr. Dre, The Alchemist and more you can definitely see why. Expect guest features from the regualr Wu-Tang crew as well as possible verses from Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Stlyes P, and Beanie Sigel. Get your Raekwon fix with our Prelude to OB4CL2 compilation.

Rakim – The Seventh Seal

Scheduled Release: September 22, 2009

First Single: “Holy Are You” [download via our July 09 mixtape]

Even longer anticipated than OB4CL2, Rakim has had us waiting with baited breath since 1999′s The Master! Originally scheduled for release in 2002, The Seventh Seal has finally been confirmed for a September release date. No other info, other than the album’s first single, is yet available.

Reflection Eternal – Revolutions Per Minute

Scheduled Release: TBA

First Single: “Back Again” [download]

We first got wind of the Reflection Eternal reunion when we interviewed Talib Kweli back in February [full interview]. Since then, they have dropped their first single, “Back Again,” and have announced release dates in July and August. Currently a date is not confirmed for release, but I know we’ll see it this year. Talib may be one of the hardest working emcees around, as he is also said to be finishing up his Idle Warship project as well as possible reunions with Madlib (Liberation 2) and Mos Def (BlackStar). Only time will tell.

Royce Da 5’9″ – Street Hop

Scheduled Release: September 22, 2009

First Single: “Shake This” prod by DJ Premier [download]

Royce Da 5’9″ never seems to disappoint. He came in at number one on our 2008 Top Emcees list, was listed multiple times in our 2008 Top 20 verses list, and has some of my favorite verses on the Slaughterhouse album due out this Tuesday. We’ve been waiting for Street Hop for a while now, but with all his recent features, Slaughterhouse materiel, as well as The Revival EP, we really can’t complain.

Skyzoo – The Salvation

Scheduled Release: September 29, 2009

First Single: “Beautiful Decay” [download via our July 09 mixtape]

Another hard working emcee, Skyzoo, is releasing the album I feel we’ve been waiting our whole lives for. Though Sky has been everywhere on the underground scene with features and mixtapes, this is his first official album release since the 9th Wonder produced Cloud 9: The 3 Day High. 9th contributes to the first single from The Salvation, as well as a few other tracks, but we’ll also get to hear Skyzoo over some Just Blaze, Black Milk, Illmind, Nottz, and Best Kept Secret beats. View release details.

Statik Selektah – 100 Proof (The Hangover)

Scheduled Release: September/October 2009

First Single: “Critically Acclaimed” [download via our July 09 mixtape]

We’ve mentioned a few hard working emcees, now let’s talk about the hardest working producer of the last couple of years. Statik Selektah released his debut production LP, Spell My Name Right, in 2007. The album was amazing. A year later, Statik outdid himself by coming even harder on Stick 2 The Script (an album I listen to weekly). Earlier this year Statik put out All In A Day’s Work with Saigon, an album they completed in 24 hours. After three albums and countless production credits with artists such as Reks, Termanology, and Consequence, 100 Proof is bound to be a sure fire hit!

Other Scheduled Releases:

• Killer Mike- Underground Atlanta (9/1)
• KRS-One & Buckshot- Survival Skills (9/15)
• Q-Tip- Kamaal the Abstract (9/15)
• Trick Daddy- Finally Famous: Born a Thug Die a Thug (9/15)
• Melanie Fiona – The Bridge (9/22)
• Termanology – Time Machine (9/22)
• Dynas- The Apartment (9/28)
• 50 Cent – Before I Self Destruct (9/29)
• The Roots – How I Got Over (10/20)
• Wale – Attention Deficit (10/20)
• Fashawn & Exile- Boy Meets World (September)
• M.O.P.- The Foundation (September)
• Lupe Fiasco – Lasers (December)

Releases Scheduled or Rumored for 4th Quarter w/ no Release Date:

• Big Boi – Sir Luscious Left Foot
• Bobby Ray (B.o.B.) – The Adventures of Bobby Ray
• Buff1 & DJ Rhettmatic- Crown Royale
• Canibus & Keith Murray- The Undergods
• DJ K.O. – Picture These Remixes
• Eminem – Relapse 2
• Evidence & Alchemist: Step Brothers
• Hell Razah- Heaven Razah
• Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon
• Killah Priest- The Psychic Mind of Walter Reed
• Random Axe Project (Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Sean Price)
• Redman – Reggie Noble “0″ 9 1/2
• Rhymefest – El Che
• Slum Village Project
• Sean Price- Kimbo Price
• Vakill- Armor of God
• Dre Dre – Detox (of course this list wouldn’t be complete without it)

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