A cornucopia of auditory goodness for every hip-hop taste bud, including sweet and downright dirty. Proceed for this month's best new rap albums.
Five years after signing to Def Jam, impressively tattooed Compton rapper YG is finally set to release his debut, My Krazy Life. YG has his mega-popular single, "My N***a," to thank for the renewed interest. The song somehow managed to climb all the way to No. 53, perfectly setting up the full-length release My Krazy Life.
Release Date: March 18
The empire isn't as strong as it was four years ago, but it's still plenty strong. The three biggest stars -- Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne (in that order) -- get to run solo. Everyone else has to fight for mic time with the posse. The friendly competition should make for a fun album.
Release Date: March 25
Admit it, you thought Sage the Gemini was a one-hit wonder. "Gas Pedal" was huge (it recently notched platinum), but the success of "Red Nose" proved that Sage is just getting warmed up. His Republic debut, Remember Me, features Jay Ant, August Alsina and HBK potna Iamsu!. Justin Bieber is on the "Gas Pedal" remix.
Release Date: March 25
A$AP Mob has been putting in "Work" lately. The crew hit it big with A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg last year, and they look to keep the momentum going with the debut group album, L.O.R.D (p/k/a Lords Never Worry). A$AP Mob — which consists of Rocky, Ferg, A$AP Nast, A$AP Twelvy and A$AP Ant — has already paved the way for this album with the brilliant video for "Trillmatic," alongside Wu-Tang Clan sorcerer Method Man.
Release Date: March 4
Kevin Gates stormed the scene last year with the double-uppercut punch of The Luca Brasi Story and Stranger Than Fiction. The Baton Rouge rhymer is back to solidify his spot with a new mixtape, By Any Means, with co-stars 2 Chainz, late Alabama rapper Doe B, and Plies.
Listen: "Amnesia"
Release Date: March 18
Black Milk is still riding on the high of 2013's No Poison, No Paradise. The Detroit rapper/producer keeps the music coming on his new EP, Glitches In The Break. The 12" vinyl drops on Record Store Day, April 19.
Stream: Glitches in the Break on Bandcamp
Release Date: March 4
GIRL is Pharrell's second solo album, behind 2006's In My Mind. The album cover has been drumming up reams of controversy, with Twitterville exploding over the album cover. The music is supple, though, with guest appearances by Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk and Alicia Keys.
Release Date: March 4More »
Schoolboy Q's first major-label album, Oxymoron, is not for children. It's tougher than leather and harder than [insert corny metaphor here]. Guests -- Kurupt, Tyler, the Creator, Kendrick Lamar -- only serve to complement not overshadow Q's tough talk.
Release Date: February 25More »
Many would've taken a sabbatical after Mollygate. But Rozay just keeps pushing. Like he did during C.O.-gate, Rozay's response to controversy is: more music. Mastermind, his sixth album, is as star-studded as you might expect: Jay Z, Jeezy, Kanye West, The Weeknd, Meek Mill, among others.
Release Date: March 4More »
Madlib and Freddie Gibbs have been working on Piñata (previously titled Cocaine Piñata) for a minute now. They're finally ready to roll out the feverishly anticipated album. You already know what Gangsta Gibbs is capable of, but the guest list is clutch: Earl Sweatshirt, Danny Brown, Mac Miller, Raekwon, among others.
Release Date: March 18
10. YG - 'My Krazy Life'
Five years after signing to Def Jam, impressively tattooed Compton rapper YG is finally set to release his debut, My Krazy Life. YG has his mega-popular single, "My N***a," to thank for the renewed interest. The song somehow managed to climb all the way to No. 53, perfectly setting up the full-length release My Krazy Life.
Release Date: March 18
9. Young Money - 'Rise of an Empire'
The empire isn't as strong as it was four years ago, but it's still plenty strong. The three biggest stars -- Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne (in that order) -- get to run solo. Everyone else has to fight for mic time with the posse. The friendly competition should make for a fun album.
Release Date: March 25
8. Sage the Gemini - 'Remember Me'
Admit it, you thought Sage the Gemini was a one-hit wonder. "Gas Pedal" was huge (it recently notched platinum), but the success of "Red Nose" proved that Sage is just getting warmed up. His Republic debut, Remember Me, features Jay Ant, August Alsina and HBK potna Iamsu!. Justin Bieber is on the "Gas Pedal" remix.
Release Date: March 25
7. A$AP Mob - 'LORD'
A$AP Mob has been putting in "Work" lately. The crew hit it big with A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg last year, and they look to keep the momentum going with the debut group album, L.O.R.D (p/k/a Lords Never Worry). A$AP Mob — which consists of Rocky, Ferg, A$AP Nast, A$AP Twelvy and A$AP Ant — has already paved the way for this album with the brilliant video for "Trillmatic," alongside Wu-Tang Clan sorcerer Method Man.
Release Date: March 4
6. Kevin Gates - 'By Any Means'
Kevin Gates stormed the scene last year with the double-uppercut punch of The Luca Brasi Story and Stranger Than Fiction. The Baton Rouge rhymer is back to solidify his spot with a new mixtape, By Any Means, with co-stars 2 Chainz, late Alabama rapper Doe B, and Plies.
Listen: "Amnesia"
Release Date: March 18
5. Black Milk - 'Glitches in the Break'
Black Milk is still riding on the high of 2013's No Poison, No Paradise. The Detroit rapper/producer keeps the music coming on his new EP, Glitches In The Break. The 12" vinyl drops on Record Store Day, April 19.
Stream: Glitches in the Break on Bandcamp
Release Date: March 4
4. Pharrell Williams - 'GIRL'
GIRL is Pharrell's second solo album, behind 2006's In My Mind. The album cover has been drumming up reams of controversy, with Twitterville exploding over the album cover. The music is supple, though, with guest appearances by Justin Timberlake, Daft Punk and Alicia Keys.
Release Date: March 4More »
3. Schoolboy Q - 'Oxymoron'
Schoolboy Q's first major-label album, Oxymoron, is not for children. It's tougher than leather and harder than [insert corny metaphor here]. Guests -- Kurupt, Tyler, the Creator, Kendrick Lamar -- only serve to complement not overshadow Q's tough talk.
Release Date: February 25More »
2. Rick Ross - 'Mastermind'
Many would've taken a sabbatical after Mollygate. But Rozay just keeps pushing. Like he did during C.O.-gate, Rozay's response to controversy is: more music. Mastermind, his sixth album, is as star-studded as you might expect: Jay Z, Jeezy, Kanye West, The Weeknd, Meek Mill, among others.
Release Date: March 4More »
1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - 'Piñata'
Madlib and Freddie Gibbs have been working on Piñata (previously titled Cocaine Piñata) for a minute now. They're finally ready to roll out the feverishly anticipated album. You already know what Gangsta Gibbs is capable of, but the guest list is clutch: Earl Sweatshirt, Danny Brown, Mac Miller, Raekwon, among others.
Release Date: March 18
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