I just woke up today with a desire to write an article. As you all know, my “favorite albums of the year” article keeps getting closer and closer to being released. I always write it during the last week of December, but with the way this year has been flying by I know it’ll be here before I know it. Every year since 2017 I list every album that I listen to in my notes app. For example, here’s some screenshots from this years list.
My point is, as these albums pile on, it adds on to the pot I’m going to have to choose from for my article at the end of the year. And the top 10 is definitely heating up now. There are some artists that are yet to drop that could definitely find themselves in there. And that is what we are going to talk about today. Albums that are confirmed on the way before the end of the year. Let’s get into it.
1. Tory Lanez – SORRY 4 WHAT ? (September 30th)
After dropping two projects that landed in my top 10 last year, Tory Lanez has returned with another 18-track album titled, “SORRY 4 WHAT ?”. The Canadian-born artist has been releasing some great music over the last two years and songs like “The Color Violet” and “Distance” have been all over TikTok for the past couple of months. Regardless of what is going on in Tory’s personal life, you can’t sit here and deny that he is truly gifted.
Lanez released the lead single for the album on September 17th titled, “Why Did I“. One thing that caught my eye while looking at the track-list is that I see four “double songs”. And if you don’t know what I mean it is when songs are listed with two titles with a slash in between them. An example would be Chris Brown’s “Natural Disaster/Aura” or even Tory’s, “H.E.R.//Are You Dumb“. On every one of those “double songs” that I’ve heard from those two artists have included an insane beat switch and have just been fire in general. Just like his last two projects, this one isn’t very feature heavy. In fact, A Boogie wit da Hoodie is the only feature listed on Apple Music right now. Bottom line is I can’t wait to hear this project this Friday and I’m hoping that it can give me the same feeling that both “Alone At Prom” and “PLAYBOY” gave me.
2. Quavo & Takeoff – Only Built For Infinity Links (October 7th)
If you know me personally, you know how much I talk about how Takeoff is the best member of Migos. If I was getting robbed with a gun to my head and my only way out of the situation was to rap every word of “Pop Shit“, I’d walk out of there unscathed. Obviously, as a true Migos fan, I would love to see them all together on any project they’re apart of. However, I think it’s cool that these two are stepping out of their lane and venturing into something different with each other. The chemistry is definitely still there between Quavo and Takeoff. If you don’t believe me go give “HOTEL LOBBY” a listen and then come back. This project has some quality features as well with YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Mustard, Young Thug, Gunna, Summer Walker and Gucci Mane. I kind of look at this album like a blast from the past, when both Quavo and Takeoff were taking on most of the workload during Offset’s jail time in the early days of Migos. A lot of people don’t remember that era, but the real Migos fans do. I don’t think that it’ll do insane numbers for sales, but I know the quality of music will be high and I’m excited to tune in.
P.S. shout out two Quavo and Takeoff for paying homage to the “Stankonia” album cover with this one.
3. Lil Baby – It’s Only Me (October 14th)
Remember how I said earlier in this article that time is flying by? It’s been over two years since Lil Baby dropped a solo project. And since it’s been that long, you’d have to go back and look at how this man went on one of the craziest runs in rap history that year. Just think about some of the hits that were on “My Turn”.
- Emotionally Scarred
- Grace
- Commerical
- No Sucker
- Sum 2 Prove
- We Paid
If I wanted to, I could probably list like 90% of the album but that would just be doing the most. Now, everything Baby does goes viral and deservedly so. All of his features and songs have yet to disappoint and I’m expecting him to come with that exact same energy on this album. On the album cover you can see four different phases of his life as the “Mount Rushmore” and him sitting at the bottom next to three goats (four including himself). That by itself speaks to his status in the game right now.
The anticipation for this project is on another level. However, that can also be a negative. I’ve spoken about this in previous articles, but sometimes fans get too caught up in the hype or success of an artists last project that it takes away from any of their work that follows. Despite that, I think that Lil Baby can prevail from any of that considering how big of a star he is. I’m just excited to listen and to see what features he puts on there.
4. A Boogie wit da Hoodie – ME VS MYSELF (November 4th)
No matter how you feel about A Boogie, you can’t deny the fact that this man has given us some true classics. So just out of respect for that, I’m always going to give a new A Boogie project a listen. That 2016-2018 A Boogie run was something out of this world. “Hoodie SZN” definitely still my favorite project by him and I’ll still blast “Still Think About You” in my car at any time.
In terms of “ME VS MYSELF” there hasn’t been any news on a track-list or any features so we’ll have to keep our eyes out for that. Despite that, the cover is fire and it’ll be his first full-length album since “Artist 2.0”. People can say whatever they want about him “falling off” or not “hitting the same”, but the man has three platinum albums and a lot more plaques off singles. Put some respect on his name.
5. Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains (November 4th)
If you read my throwback review on Metro’s last album, you’ll know how excited I am for this one. Arguably the best producer in the music industry, Metro Boomin is back yet another again with another album of his own. The album will come only two days after the four-year anniversary of “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” and all eyes will be on the features. Drake, Travis Scott and 21 Savage were just some of the names that were on the last project. I can’t imagine what he has in store for this one.
The music world is a world that never stops. No matter what is going on in “real life”, there is always a new project or song coming out that changes the landscape of the industry. Always a new TikTok sound or a new king of the summer (shout out Bad Bunny for taking that title this year). I know I keep talking about my end of the year album article, but it’s something I truly enjoy writing every single year. This will be the fourth year where I write one and I just feel like that’s a pretty big milestone. I love y’all, thank you for the support and I will keep putting in the time and dedication. That’s a promise. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.
