You know I had to do one of these lists. The only list I like better than the year end rap up is a list of what’s to come. Honestly, I don’t think hip hop will be able to top 2007 for a while, but there definitely are some goodies that are supposed to drop sometime this year. I know the one question everyone has is, “will we finally get Dre’s Detox”? I know he’s supposedly working on it, but who knows. Anyway, this is my list of my ten most anticipated album releases for this year (the ones that have been official announced anyway). All release dates are tentative and could change at any time.

10.

AZ: Undeniable
Release Date: February 5, 2008

Brooklyn MC AZ has an unheralded track record in hip hop. Classic albums such as Do Or Die, Pieces Of Man, 9 Lives, and Aziatic have combined sold more than 1.5 million units to date. Most known for his groundbreaking appearances on Nas’ hip hop classic Illmatic and membership in the hip hop supergroup The Firm, AZ has become synonymous with real hip hop. This year, the ‘Visualizer’ is back with his brand new album Undeniable. The infectious first single “Body Rock”, feat. neo-soul crooner Dwele, along with the street single and groundbreaking video for “The Hardest” feat. Styles P will surely make Undeniable a must get for hip hop fans everywhere.

09.

Lil’ Wayne: Tha Carter III
Release Date: February 12, 2008

After most of the album leaked to the Internet in mid-2007, Lil Wayne decided to use the leaked tracks, plus four new tracks and make an album out of them, titled Tha Carter III : The Leak. The Leak was to be officially released December 18, 2007, with the actual album being delayed until February 12, 2008,but The Leak was confirmed to be a fake which will inevitably never be released. Originally when questioned about the unplanned album leak, Lil Wayne said :

We have to find out exactly what’s out there. I’ll probably just [collect] all the songs that’s floating around and make my own mixtape called “The Leak” since people want the music so bad. To tell you the truth though, there’s a song I did with Kanye West out there—of course you want to save that for your album, but the rest of them songs probably wouldn’t have made the album. There’s a song floating around that says ‘produced by Timbaland’ ; Tim didn’t produce that record though.

Lil Wayne stated in XXL magazine that producers will include Kanye West, Scott Storch, The Runners, Timbaland, Mannie Fresh and will.i.am.

Collaborators include Birdman, Enrique Iglesias, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, The Game, and more.

08.

Saigon: The Greatest Story Never Told
Release Date: 1st Quarter 2008

This debut album from rapper Saigon is just screaming to be a hit. With the majority of the album produced by Just Blaze and guest appearance from Q-Tip, Jay-Z, and Bun B this album could be a contender for 2008 album of the year. Also rumored is the first ever song jointly produced by Just Blaze and Kanye West. How can you go wrong with that? Only time will tell…

07.

The Roots: Rising Down
Release Date: April 29, 2008

Rising Down will be the tenth album from Philadelphia-based hip-hop band The Roots. It is set to be released on Def Jam, their second with the label, following 2006’s Game Theory. The album will feature roughly the same lineup as Game Theory ; the band’s members remain, with guest appearances by Peedi Peedi and Malik B., the latter reportedly even moreso than on the group’s previous album, as well as conceivable appearances and/or production by Dice Raw.

According to band leader ?uestlove, Rising Down, “is an electric record, more synthy. The darks are darker and the lights are lighter. But all I know is making quality hip-hop stylistically. We tried to do something we never did before. Kamal had to be the sacrificial lamb this time. The one instrument that has defined the Roots has been the Fender Rhodes . This is the first year he’s had to change his instrumentation and try other sounds out. We have a bunch of keyboards and synthesizers we’re using on this record. It feels like the musical equivalent of ’Blade Runner’ sometimes. We’ve also added a horn section has divulged that while the album’s direction is as yet uncertain, keyboardist Kamal Gray is utilizing more synthesizers than Fender Rhodes in his playing this time around.” Tracks in the mix for the album include the afro-beat infused “I Will Not Apologize” and the pop-ish “Birthday Girl.”

06.

Pete Rock: N.Y.’s Finest
Release Date: February 26, 2008

NY’s Finest is an upcoming album by hip-hop producer Pete Rock. The album will be Rock’s first studio album since 2004’s Soul Survivor II and is currently expected to be released in February 2008 through the Nature Sounds label.

The first single is “914″, featuring Lox members Styles P and Sheek Louch, and its B-side “The PJs” (featuring Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon and Masta Killa). A third track, “Gangsta Boogie” featuring Slum Village, was also been leaked onto the internet but did not make the final cut.

As with previous Pete Rock albums, the album features an array of guest artists, and prior to its completion, Rock expressed interest in collaborating with rappers such as Papoose, Method Man, Redman, Fat Joe, D-Block, Lupe Fiasco, Slum Village, MF DOOM, Jim Jones, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Cappadonna & Ghostface Killah. The album also sees Pete Rock rapping on 5 songs.

05.

Rakim: The Seventh Seal
Release Date: TBA

The Seventh Seal is the 3rd solo upcoming album from Rakim. It will be released on his own label Ra Records and it’s also his first album after an absence of 8 years.

The original title for the album was “Oh My God” and the original release date for the album was in 2002, but Rakim had label and creative differences with Dr. Dre to whom he was signed. After a parting, he recorded new songs for the album and Dr. Dre allowed him also to keep all his songs that he produced for him.

When asked about the album title, Rakim stated:

The number 7 has a lot of significance. The 7th letter of the alphabet is G — that stands for God. There are 7 continents, 7 seas. The ‘Seventh Seal’ deals with that and also some revelations in the Bible,” said Rakim to Billboard. “Some call it the end of the world, but for me it’s the end of the old and the beginning of the new. By me naming my album that, I’m using it metaphorically in hip-hop. I’m hoping to kill the old state of hip-hop and start with the new.

Fans were originally waiting for the album to drop on July 7, 2007 as promised, but were disappointed as nothing of the sort occurred. However, Rakim states that he still has intentions to drop the long-awaited album.

04.

Nicolay & Kay: TIME:LINE
Release Date: February 12, 2008

TIME:LINE, the new concept album from Nicolay and KAY JACKSON of The Foundation (who’s worked with A Tribe Called Quest, SA-RA Creative Partners, Bilal and many others) will be released in February 2008 on Nicolay Music Recordings. The album draws guest artists from both of their musical families. Features include Oh No, Myth & S1 of Strange Fruit Project, Stokley Williams of Mint Condition, Chip Fu of Fu Schnickens, The Luv Bugz (PZ of Ideal & Erica ‘Miss America’ Marlin), Nicole Hurst and more.

I am a huge Nicolay fan and this album should be nothing short of spectacular! Nicolay himself has dropped by the site before to show his appreciation and gratitude for our support. That gives him extra points in my book! If you can’t wait another month to hear the album, download the sampler below courtesy of NicolayMusic.com:

TIME:LINE Sampler

03.

9th Wonder: The Wonder Years
Release Date: 1st Quarter 2008

Original set for a release date of January 29th, 9th Wonder’s follow up to The Dream Merchant 2 is intended to connect with an audience he feels is being neglected by current trends in hip-hop. The Wonder Years will unite some of today’s top R&B artists with some of the best MC’s in the game in an effort to reach an older, more mature listener.

“You’re going to get some younger people who will enjoy this, but my main demographic is women who have careers, women who like to sit in the house and relax as they listen to it. My album is not for the club. A lot of women my age don’t go out, because they don’t like the music being played. I want my album to be played in the beauty salon or a Coach bag store just as much as anywhere.”

9th describes the new album as an expansion of his sound with bigger sounding beats, and elements of classic R&B with a current twist. The Wonder Years includes guest appearances from Talib Kweli, Q-Tip, Mos Def, Little Brother, Erykah Badu and Teedra Moses.

“With this album I’m not only defining myself, but I’m defining people in my age group. There’s no music that suits them wholeheartedly, you either have young for the young or old for the old. You still want to hear Hip-Hop, but you want Hip-Hop that’s your age.”

02.

Murs/9th Wonder: Sweet Lord
Release Date: TBA

There’s not much info yet on this album, except for that fact that 9th Wonder himself said it was coming out this year. Apparently Murs and 9th get together ever year for Thanksgiving and the result for the past three years has been a new album. The last two Murs & 9th Wonder collaborations have been my favorite stuff to come from 9th, which leads me to wonder, “what the hell do they put in their yams?!?!”

Anyway, Murs has been busy as he also plans to release another album this year called Murs For President. Both albums should be hot!

01.

Foreign Exchange: Leave It All Behind
Release Date: TBA

Probably one of my all-time favorite albums is 2004’s Connected. When I caught word that Phonte and Nicolay were going in the studio again, I almost wet myself. This is probably one of the most perfect pairing in hip hop. Nicolay’s beats match Phonte’s flow so well, it’s a match made in heaven. Not much info on this album, except for the name, but it is supposed to be released this year. With this, TIME:LINE, and a possible new Dutch Masters mixtape it should be a productive year for Nicolay. Let’s hope Phonte stays inspired and drops a new Little Brother mixtape as well.

Well, those are my picks. Of course, there are a lot more albums due out this year (some of which have not even been mentioned yet). What are you all looking forward to? Of course, I have some honorable mentions… albums that I’ll check out, but not as excited for as the ones in my top ten:

Busta Rhymes: Back On My BS (2nd Quarter 2008)
Eminem: King Mathers (2nd Quarter 2008)
Erykah Badu: Nu AmErykah (February)
Jean Grae/9th Wonder: Jeanius
Murs: Murs For President
Nas - N***** (February)
Raheem DeVaughn: Love Behind The Melody (January)
Stat Quo: Statlanta
9th Wonder/BuckShot: The Formula (March)