In the surprise-album era, we’re often left in the dark about new releases from our favorite artists until they actually arrive. That won’t stop us from obsessing over every little piece of information we can find on the internet, though. Judging by interviews, social media snippets, and press releases, it’s clear that 2019 is going to be another great year for music. Album titles and release dates remain a mystery for many of the inclusions on this list (and there’s a distinct possibility that some of them won’t see the light of day over the next 12 months), but there are enough clues about each album to warrant eager anticipation. From the curiosity surrounding Blueface’s studio debut to the promise of Rihanna’s long-awaited return, there is a lot to be excited about this year. These are Complex's most anticipated albums of 2019.
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In the surprise-album era, we’re often left in the dark about new releases from our favorite artists until they actually arrive. That won’t stop us from obsessing over every little piece of information we can find on the internet, though. Judging by interviews, social media snippets, and press releases, it’s clear that 2019 is going to be another great year for music. Album titles and release dates remain a mystery for many of the inclusions on this list (and there’s a distinct possibility that some of them won’t see the light of day over the next 12 months), but there are enough clues about each album to warrant eager anticipation. From the curiosity surrounding Blueface’s studio debut to the promise of Rihanna’s long-awaited return, there is a lot to be excited about this year. These are Complex's most anticipated albums of 2019.
51.Blueface
If I could travel to Dubai, I would go to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and scream, “Blueface, babyyyyyy!” Why? Because 2019 already belongs to him. Over the final few months of 2018, the L.A. rapper’s name and (pretty) face began popping up all over the place. He made his way into the underground spotlight, mostly because people couldn’t tell if he was trolling or not. But the more his music spread, the more people began to take him seriously (myself included). His strongest songs are also his most disrespectful: Look no further than his current hit, “Thotiana,” as well as “Freak Bitch,” and “Put in Her Face.” I understand completely that his style is… different. Regardless, he has a lot of eyes on him, and we can't wait to hear what a full Blueface album sounds like. —Kiana Fitzgerald
50.Post Malone
Posty wanted to drop a project before the end of 2018 but instead gave us the victory lap single “Wow,” which capped a year in which he broke streaming records and cemented himself as one of the world’s biggest artists. He’s yet to sustain the high of his best singles throughout the course of an entire LP (beerbongs & bentleys’ 64-minute run time didn’t do it any favors), but a Post Malone album is sure to have a handful of inescapable songs that wedge themselves in your brain and somehow find their way onto half of your playlists. Prior to his passing, Mac Miller revealed that he and Post were discussing a collaborative album, so it’ll be especially interesting to see if Miller’s influence is felt on Malone’s next project. —Grant Rindner
49.Kehlani
Kehlani didn’t waste any time making her mark on 2019, as she started the year by dropping “Nights Like This,” with features legend Ty Dolla $ign as her co-star. With the addition of a baby in her life (she’s glowing at seven months pregnant), it seems there’s no shortage of material for Kehlani to fill two projects with in 2019. First, she has plans to return to her roots and bless us with a mixtape in February. Then, she’ll be dropping an album dedicated to her unborn daughter. “My next official album, album is a story,” she recently revealed to Zane Lowe. “I'm telling stories I've never told, they're not even, some, from my perspective; they're from the perspective of two people that I'm about to bring out into the world, into light.” Kehlani is a breath of fresh air in a crowded R&B field, and there’s no reason to doubt that her next two projects will be her best yet. —Waiss Aramesh
48.Ski Mask the Slump God and Juice WRLD, ‘Evil Twins’
Ski Mask the Slump God brought out a different side of Juice WRLD on the STOKELEY highlight “Nuketown,” in which the perennially heartbroken MC traded his Auto-Tune crooning for pure, unbridled rage. The track is visceral and violent, but also undeniably catchy, proving that the duo have pop sensibilities to pair with their raucous underground style. Most promisingly, Ski has said that he and Juice are actually planning to spend a month recording in the same place, meaning their chemistry should really shine through whenever they get around to recording Evil Twins. —Grant Rindner
47.Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish kicked off 2019 by dropping “When I Was Older,” an ethereal track inspired by Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma that showcases the young singer’s chilling restraint and natural chemistry with her producer/co-writer/brother Finneas. But her diehard fans are still breathlessly waiting on the follow-up to dont smile at me, her 2017 debut EP. It’s rumored for a release early this year, meaning 2019 could very well be when she makes the final leap from nascent pop force to full-blown superstar. The 17-year-old singer proved on 2018 standouts like “you should see me in a crown” and “when the party’s over” that she has one of the most arresting voices in pop, and her potential is limitless. —Grant Rindner
46.Playboi Carti, ‘Whole Lotta Red’
Playboi Carti’s sophomore album Die Lit was a fun-filled frenzy of catchy hooks that built on the 22-year-old rapper’s already-established penchant for bangers. Critically approved and full of star-studded features (which, importantly, don’t distract from Carti’s own effortless charisma), the album proved that his breakthrough hit, 2017’s “Magnolia,” wasn’t a fluke; there’s some merit to that mumblin’ shit. As of last August, Carti is already cooking up a third album, allegedly titled Whole Lotta Red. We haven’t heard any other details thus far, but if it’s anything like its predecessors, it won’t miss. —Carolyn Bernucca
45.Wiz Khalifa and Currensy, ‘2009’
I’m writing this blurb with the biggest, warmest heart that has ever beat in a human body. After a full decade, it looks like we’re finally going to get a proper follow-up to Wiz Khalifa and Currensy’s outstanding 2009 mixtape, How Fly. I’m not exaggerating when I say that project changed my damn life. I was a Currensy fan first and fell into the quicksand of Wiz’s charisma the second I heard “Car Service,” the standout song from How Fly. Since then, the two have occasionally appeared on tracks with one another and released a six-track EP, Live in Concert, in 2013. But it didn’t quite leave the impact that Taylor Gang and Jet Life fans were hoping for. With a joint tour between the two kicking off next month, though, all signs seem to indicate that a full-length project, tentatively titled 2009, will actually come out this year. Let us all pray. —Kiana Fitzgerald
44.Megan Thee Stallion, ‘Fever’
If it’s not obvious by now, I’m a certified “Hottie.” In other words, I’m a dedicated supporter of Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion, aka the H-Town Hottie, aka Hot Girl Meg. The 23-year-old full-time student dropped her latest project, Tina Snow, last summer, and her career proceeded to take the fuck off. If you’re unfamiliar, Megan raps mostly about being fine as hell, dominating men, and being a boss—all of my favorite topics. And she’s set to drop her follow-up project, Fever, this month. I’m biting my nails with every day that passes, eager to hear what she’s cooked up. I’m just ready to put that shit on repeat and twerk like my life depends on it. —Kiana Fitzgerald
43.Major Lazer
During a 2018 Complex interview, Diplo let it be known that the next Major Lazer album might be their last. It makes sense. He’s in high demand on the production circuit, whether it’s his own side projects or just working with some of the biggest artists in the game. After a decade as a crew, the squad has taken their particular brand of dance music (which has incorporated everything from dancehall to African rhythms) worldwide, and it feels like their swan song will be just as all-encompassing as their previous bangers. —khal
42.Lil Baby
We’re only a couple of weeks into 2019, but it’s a little surprising that Lil Baby hasn’t already dropped a project. Last year, he released his debut album, Harder Than Ever, as well as two hit mixtapes—Drip Harder with Gunna and the solo Street Gossip—in the span of just seven months. Despite the assembly-line output, Lil Baby’s music just keeps getting stronger as he experiments with new cadences and hones his songwriting skills. There are no signs that 2018's Rookie of the Year has any plans of slowing down over the next 12 months. —Grant Rindner
41.Busta Rhymes
If Just Blaze is “nearly in tears” while listening to your as-yet-unreleased record, and if 9th Wonder is already proclaiming it album of the year, then there’s a pretty good chance it’ll be worth hearing. The select few who have already heard Busta’s upcoming project have lavished it with the most extreme praise. They have also been very tight-lipped, so we don’t know what to expect beyond awesomeness. But that should be enough. I mean, are you really going to doubt the guy who produced “Public Service Announcement”? I didn’t think so. —Shawn Setaro
40.Valee
In 2018, rap's most imitated and inimitable new rapper gave us a taste of his cascading cadences and knack for hilarious punchlines (“I had took a zip in the airport, I needed it/Bought a Caesar salad and I put the weed in it”), but we’re still waiting for a full-length from Valee. It may come in the form of a joint project with producer Cardo or he might drop a purely solo effort. Either way, the part-time koi-pond builder, full-time flame spitter is sure to impress with his one-of-a-kind flows. We can't wait to hear how his style translates to a full-length project. —Grant Rindner
39.Offset
After Quavo and Takeoff each released solo albums in the back half of 2018, it seemed Quavo was up next. An introspective single called “Red Room” surfaced online and he started telling publications that his solo album would contain his most personal work yet. “I'm talking about relevant situations that have occurred over the last 18 or 24 months, like me being in the crash, my kids, my family time and me being married,” he told Billboard in November. Then, he and Cardi B broke up and the album’s previously announced December 14 release date came and went. It’s unclear whether Offset is taking the time to go back and re-write Cardi B out of the album or if he’s simply waiting for the post-breakup dust to settle, but he has assured fans that his debut solo album is still very much on the way. We’re waiting. —Eric Skelton
38.Nas
Nas hasn't outright disavowed NASIR, but when the same guy who once rapped “never on schedule but always on time” and enjoyed a six-year hiatus (during which the most work he did was shill for Hennessy) is already talking about his next album mere weeks after he dropped his last one? Yeah, Esco was feeling that shit about as much as we were. NasYe wasn't nearly as potent of a union in practice as it was on paper, so it's best for everyone to move on and throw something new at the wall. I could easily envision a world in which a Nas/Kanye link-up falters and a Nas/Swizz two-hander is actually the album we deserve. There's anticipation in redemption but also wariness. —Frazier Tharpe
37.Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, ‘Bandana’
The follow-up to Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s Piñata has been long in the works, with Gibbs even describing it as “slow-cooked.” That term is especially promising, since their previous collaborations are warm and soulful, built around lush samples plucked by Madlib that showcase a fresh side of Freddie’s foreboding persona. Records like “Shame” and “Harold’s” are standouts within each artist’s vast and impressive discographies. Plus, Gibbs is on a hot streak after the stellar 2018 album Freddie, as well as Fetti, his silky collaborative project with Curren$y and The Alchemist. In October 2018, Gibbs confirmed to fans that his next collab with Madlib will arrive in the coming year: “Bandana 2019. You're welcome.” Thank you. —Grant Rindner
36.Young Thug, ‘Hy!£UN35’
Young Thug has yet to release a true dud in the years he’s been a star; it’s usually a matter of whether his releases will yield home runs or not. Heading into 2019, how will he follow up a release that features Elton John’s “Rocket Man”? Well, unpredictability is at the center of Thug’s charm, so there’s an inherent anticipation that follows him into the new year. Maybe the results of those Young Thug and Travis Barker sessions will finally see the light of day in the next 12 months. Juice WRLD and Kodak Black may hop on it, too. And what gems are there within that 15,000-song collection? Find out on Barter 7 (or... is that you, Hy!£UN35?). —Brian Josephs
35.Joey Badass
Joey Badass was quiet in 2018, but it appears he spent some of that time working on his third studio album. After getting his start as a young vanguard of New York lyrical rap, the Brooklyn star flirted with commercial success with “Devastated,” his first platinum record. His doggedly loyal fan base also ate up the socially conscious slant of his last album, All-Amerikkkan Badass, so they’ll likely follow him wherever he goes next (even if Joey has been silent on where exactly that is). The only real hints we've seen that a project is actually on the way come through occasional tweets from Joey, like, “RT IF YOU NEED A NEW BADA$$ ALBUM IN YOUR LIFE.” RT. —Brian Josephs
34.Big Sean
Big Sean lay low in 2018 after dropping two projects the previous year: the solid I Decided and the more polarizing Double or Nothing with Metro Boomin. He’s teased that he’ll be singing more on his upcoming LP, but let’s hope the Detroit MC gets back to what he does best: stuffing verses with zany punchlines and larger-than-life boasts. Hip-hop can sometimes feel siloed, with fewer mainstream acts for us all to agree on, and Big Sean might not crack many Mt. Rushmores, but there’s no denying the unifying power of hits like “I Don’t Fuck With You” and “Bounce Back.” Let’s hope he comes out strong in 2019 with a few more. —Grant Rindner
33.Lil Wayne
I really like Tha Carter 5, but if you asked me to name my favorite Wayne track from 2018, it might be a leak. Buried under the mythology of C5 was the news that Wayne wanted to pivot to R&B and Auto-Tune’d croons for his next project, to be named Velvet. (Never forget he kicked around a love album called EVOL before Future beat him to that title.) Well, it appears that project leaked. In part or in full? Who knows, but it's got jiggy indicators—like “Where My Old Lady”—that imply if Wayne did see that pivot through, it wouldn't be as ill-fated as, say, Rebirth. But, really, the general hope is that Weezy just does something now that his label shackles are off. He's said that the finished C5 is just half of what he'd recorded, he's talked of a Jay feature not having enough time to see completion, he's revealed that a Drake collab is being hampered by sample clearances. It's a fresh year, Weezle. Release the hounds. —Frazier Tharpe
32.Rick Ross, ‘Port of Miami 2’
Port of Miami 2 was originally supposed to drop in 2017. As of last summer, it was almost done, and by November it was at its “final stages.” Hopefully the Bawse can skip the announcements of the really-almost-done-for-real-this-time stages and just put out the record in 2019. Ross’ last few projects have sold less than superstar-level numbers and have at times suffered from creative stagnation. But harkening back to his 2006 studio debut, Port of Miami, might counterintuitively inspire Rozay to connect with the energy, vision, and songwriting prowess that made him a star in the first place. —Shawn Setaro
31.2 Chainz, ‘Rap or Go to the League’
Does 2 Chainz make bad projects? This isn't a rhetorical question; the answer is no. Tity stays in his bag. Unlike some of his peers, he's rarely, if ever, tripped up by the distinction between album and EP/mixtape. Heat is heat, solid is solid, and at this point, Dos Cadenas is a certified immovable object. Recent releases like “Hot Wings” and the very jiggy, mink-music “Girl's Best Friend” are solid indicators (as if we needed any) that Rap or Go to the League is headed in the right direction. Alleged involvement from premier rap A&R LeBron James is just icing on the cake. —Frazier Tharpe
30.Kid Cudi
Cudi was reborn after shining on Kids See Ghosts, his collaborative album with Kanye West, but the return of Mr. Rager won’t be complete until he drops another quality solo album. He’s explored isolation and depression so powerfully throughout his discography, so the fact that he says he’s “the best I’ve ever been in my life” means we might be getting a version of Cudi that we’ve never previously heard. Plus, he has teased some quality guests. There’s no doubt that Cudi’s enduring influence means he has his pick of first-rate collaborators who might breathe new life into his sound. Even if a solo project doesn't arrive in 2019, there's always the chance we'll hear new Cudi in the next 12 months through another collaborative project with Kanye. “The plan is to do more Kids See Ghosts albums,” he says. —Grant Rindner
29.Gunna, ‘Drip or Drown II’
Gunna is riding a major wave into 2019, thanks to his massively popular Drip Harder project with Lil Baby, a scene-stealing cameo on Travis Scott’s “Yosemite,” and his own acclaimed Drip Season 3 mixtape. The Saint Laurent-clad rhymer also promised Drip or Drown II before the end of 2018, and while that didn’t come to fruition, it does means the record could be right around the corner. He’s let some promising snippets loose on Instagram Live, and he'll likely cash in some of the favors he’s earned by dishing out guest verses to artists like Playboi Carti, Metro Boomin, and 21 Savage. —Grant Rindner
28.Tame Impala
Will Tame Impala drop the follow-up to 2015’s Currents this year? Based on their slate of headlining festival gigs this summer (Coachella, Boston Calling, Shaky Knees), it seems the Australian psychedelic rock band is finally gearing up for the release of new music. Frontman Kevin Parker spent much of 2018 working on music for other artists, like Travis Scott, Zhu, and Kali Uchis, and he says he has an unreleased song with SZA and Mark Ronson in the vault. But 2019 feels like an appropriate time for the band to get back together (especially after Parker told Billboard that the group is his main focus right now). We’re already fantasizing about the possibility that one of Parker's new friends (Kendrick?) joins the band for a guest appearance on the new record. —Eric Skelton
27.Vince Staples
At ComplexCon 2018, Vince Staples teased that he has as many as four albums worth of material in the can and might drop new projects in January and June. After the stellar FM! showcased his penchant for pitch-black humor and earworm hooks atop brutally efficient production from Kenny Beats and Hagler, we’d honestly be happy if he even gives us one project this year. Never one to overstay his welcome, Vince has consistently pared down his output, with each release slimmer and more unimpeachable than the last. For all we know, Staples could drop a five-song, 15-minute record that happens to be 2019’s best. Whatever form the music ends up taking, we know it will be worth a listen. —Grant Rindner
26.Dreamville, ‘Revenge of the Dreamers III’
An album simply comprised of Dreamville’s impressive roster would have made this list, but J. Cole and company decided to put together an Avengers movie's worth of rap talent in Atlanta. Are Dreamville's in-house producers Omen and Elite too laid back for you? Have no fear—Tay Keith is here. Want to discover the next crop of rising Southern talent? Atlanta upstarts Young Nudy and Deante’ Hitchcock are in attendance. The only challenge that Revenge of the Dreamers III might face is making sure that all of the artists and producers involved are given the space they each need to shine, so this might be one of the only rap albums that deserves an 80-minute run time. —Grant Rindner
25.James Blake, ‘Assume Form’
Modern hip-hop stars have always had their favorite alternative music collaborators. JAY-Z had Chris Martin, and Kanye West had Bon Iver. Now, James Blake is taking up the mantle via recent collaborations with Andre 3000, Travis Scott, and Kendrick Lamar. But fans in the know are aware that his solo material is worthy of a listen, as well. On January 18, Blake will follow up 2016’s excellent The Colour in Anything with Assume Form, which finds the Brit opening up to even more collaborators. Travis Scott, Metro Boomin, Moses Sumney, and André 3000 are all set to appear on an album that’s looking strong enough to stave off Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker from taking the indie-boy crown. —Brian Josephs
24.Justin Bieber
In a now-deleted tweet on January 5, Justin Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, teased his client’s upcoming fifth album, a follow-up to 2015’s return-to-form Purpose. Will it recapture the R&B magic of Poo Bear-assisted projects like Journals? Will Biebervelli, as tabloid sources claimed last spring, start churning out “Christian-appropriate” tunes, since he’s been so deeply involved in the celeb-friendly Hillsong Church? Will he put out an album full of songs inspired by his new marriage? Hopefully we’ll find out the answers to all of these pressing questions soon. —Shawn Setaro
23.Bad Bunny and J Balvin
Since the release of Drake and Future’s What A Time To Be Alive in 2015, we’ve seen a resurgence of joint projects in mainstream music. 2018, in particular, featured its fair share, from Future and Juice WRLD to Jeremih and Ty Dolla $ign. Unfortunately, few of them stick; even the most “duh” collaborations in recent memory have come across as rushed and unfocused. They’re romantic concepts without the necessary follow-through to make them memorable. But Bad Bunny and J Balvin are in a league all their own, which makes us confident about the quality of their upcoming joint album, Oasis. In their cover story for Complex, the duo revealed the title and explained its meaning. “It’s a rescue, a relief, to freshen up. You go there to supply yourself with the vital things you are missing, things that you need,” said Bad Bunny. Coming off of rave reviews for their respective 2018 solo projects, there’s no doubt that Oasis will replenish us. —Carolyn Bernucca
22.J. Cole
J. Cole subtitling his album-ending message to the kids “Intro to ‘The Fall Off’” elicited almost as much attention as the song’s Lil Pump subliminals. What was The Fall Off? Was that the title of his next album? Then Cole dropped a freestyle that seemed to confirm that theory and the existence of a mixtape called The Off Season, which would drop before The Fall Off. Cole revealed a little bit about the project to Angie Martinez, saying that he’d been working on it for two years, and that 4 Your Eyez Only-era loosies “Everybody Dies” and “False Prophets” were originally intended for the tracklist. Beyond those tidbits, not much is known. But given J. Cole’s strong track record (and his ability to assemble world-class talent at a moment’s notice), it’s a safe bet that The Fall Off won’t be much of a fall-off at all. —Shawn Setaro
21.Childish Gambino
Does Donald Glover even have time to make music? He must. The Atlanta creator, who’s also starring in Disney’s upcoming Lion King remake and working on a film with Rihanna, dropped a number of singles in 2018, including the viral sensation “This Is America.” The talk had been that a full-length album would be on its way, but with a whole tour and his other creative endeavors needing attention (as well as the always-rumored album with Chance the Rapper in the wings), it’ll be interesting to see when Gambino’s next album will surface, or what vibe he’ll be on. —khal
20.Tierra Whack
Tierra Whack’s Whack World was a triumph of both form (15 tracks in 15 minutes) and content, making it one of our favorite albums of 2018. Now that it has been established that the North Philly rapper can do the unconventional, 2019 will hopefully be her time to demonstrate that she can deliver full-length tracks with the same style and creativity. Back when she first started rhyming, Whack only had to spit one verse to earn co-signs from the likes of Meek Mill and Cosmic Kev. What she does next should show the world that her early champions were right on the money. —Shawn Setaro
19.Future, ‘The WIZRD’
It feels weird to say “finally” about a guy who's always quick to make 20 songs with a peer in a couple of days and then release them as a collaborative mixtape (WRLD ON DRUGS). But if you're the type of fan who still draws a delineation between albums and mixtapes, then it's been a while since we heard from the wizard. In 2017, he came close to rivaling the perfect zeitgest storm of DS2 with a slick double-album rollout. One project fully indulged his hedonistic, nihilistic trap ways and the other finally saw him conquering the sounds he had first attempted on Honest. Now he's finally back, without Juice WRLD or anyone else, and he claims The WIZRD is even better than his last two. The first two singles he's dropped ahead of the January 18 release date haven't fully convinced us yet, but we want to believe. Wow us, wizard. We're ready. —Frazier Tharpe
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17.JAY-Z
Tucked into post-release interviews surrounding Everything Is Love was Dre (of Cool & Dre) admitting that he became involved in the album after sending a song to Jay that was so good he was summoned immediately. They ended up cutting “five or six” before the subject of Beyoncé duets even came up. So, yeah, this isn't just fan fiction: Jay is actively working. 4:44 might be a new classic, but what's underrated about the Beyoncé collab is that it allowed him to body trap beats from contemporaries like Boi-1da and Sevn Thomas with much more authority than he did on MCHG. As “What's Free” proved, Hov’s sonning and flexing can still coalesce to verse-of-the-year levels. What was most striking about 4:44 when it arrived was how, even though Jay says he'll never bill an album as his retirement ever again, it felt like the birth of a new era instead of a swan song. We can't wait to see what he does next, and with whom he does it. —Frazier Tharpe
16.SZA
Top Dawg Entertainment’s queen had one of the biggest glow-ups in recent R&B history. She went from saying she'd quit music to releasing a beloved album (CTRL) and shining on a song from last year’s biggest Hollywood blockbuster. But how will she stay on top? SZA’s fans shouldn't worry about the answer to that question. TDE doesn’t play around when it comes to quality control, and the snippet she released late last year shows promise. Now that SZA's made it past her permanent-vocal-damage scare, the stage is set for another strong year. —Brian Josephs
15.Lil Uzi Vert, ‘Eternal Atake’
On January 11, 2019, Lil Uzi Vert told fans he was “done with music” and claimed he had “deleted everything.” It was the latest piece of discouraging news about his next album, Eternal Atake, following a year of false starts, bizarre social media posts, and label issues. Uzi has always been open about his unhappiness with fame, so the retirement announcement is concerning, but we don’t think this is the last we’ve heard from the Philadelphia artist. The album is finished and “retirements” like this rarely stick (especially when they’re announced on Instagram). If anything, the idea that Uzi might one day retreat from the spotlight and never rap again only increases our anticipation for Eternal Atake. We’ll keep waiting, like he asked. —Eric Skelton
14.Lana Del Rey, ‘Norman F***ing Rockwell’
In 2017, Lana Del Rey caused a stir during the rollout for her fifth studio album, Lust For Life. But it turned out to be a simple, wholesome one: Lana was smiling on the album’s cover—the first time she has ever done so. That smile would indicate a shift in her sound, her lyrical themes, and, it seemed, her outlook on the world. She got folksy, she got political, and, as the album’s closer asserts, she got free.
Lana's upcoming album, Norman Fucking Rockwell, appears to be a continuation of that shift. The first three singles, “Mariners Apartment Complex,” “Venice Bitch,” and “Hope is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me to Have — But I Have It,” all produced by Jack Antonoff, experiment with instrumentation and form. Lana is still sultry and defiant, but she’s also showing us more of herself, addressing certain emotions and events in her life. The insistence that Lana’s progression and changes are disingenuous and not an indication of an artist committed to evolving has always rung hollow. She’s a musician, for God’s sake. Hopefully this album will put a stop to those tired conversations once and for all. —Carolyn Bernucca
13.The Weeknd
Remember when the Weeknd was one of the biggest pop artists in the world? That’s wild, because he still is. His last full-length, Starboy, was inescapable, and it pulled in astronomical numbers. He followed that up with My Dear Melancholy, a sonic callback to the cloudy nocturne of his mixtapes. The Weeknd has long straddled between his origins and the sci-fi hits, which have taken him from the alternative realm to pop ubiquity. Whichever lane he decides to ride for Chapter VI, it’s a safe bet the music will spread everywhere. —Brian Josephs
12.Pusha-T
In 2018, Pusha-T made the best project of his career and our favorite album of the year. He’d been proclaiming DAYTONA “rap album of the year” since the week it dropped, and mostly everyone (all the way up to the Grammy board) agreed. Now, all eyes are on him to, in the words of his labelmate, keep that same energy. Trying to top (or at least match) one's own masterwork comes with high pressure, but it’s a challenge that greats welcome. With Kanye back choppin, a victory over Drake to sneer and smirk at, and a new marriage to salute, the prospect of a worthy follow-up to DAYTONA seems more inevitable than impossible. —Frazier Tharpe
11.Drake
Last January, Drake bragged about being “gone since like July, niggas acting like I died,” which was a sly reference to his first real sabbatical since 2013. Apparently, he's going to make sure we never mistakenly mourn again. On one hand, serving up a bloated album and already promising a new project before finishing a tour should be grounds for the opposite of anticipation. How can anyone really be excited for a new Drake project after he gave us a 25-track album that had less than 10 real keepers? Well, because it's Drake. Anything he does, even if you're not excited for it, will still command attention when it drops.
Even when he tries to appear nonchalant, Drake still listens to criticism. Dissatisfaction with VIEWS begat bothered heaters like “4PM in Calabasas” and More Life. We'll never know what Scorpion sounded like before “The Story of Adidon” reduced Drake to retooling the album in exile while he rushed to meet his release date. But as he told LeBron, it led to some of the biggest songs on the album: “Nonstop,” “Mob Ties,” and “In My Feelings.” Sure, Drake could continue Don Draper-ing his way through the Pusha defeat, and keep churning out long projects that will never measure up with his best work because he knows streaming numbers will carry him. But maybe, just maybe, getting handed an L in the court of public opinion by a guy to whom most people awarded Rap Album of the Year will be the charge Drake needs to deliver his own critically acclaimed contender in 2019. —Frazier Tharpe
10.Cardi B
Everyone’s favorite success story, Cardi B, had a whirlwind 2018. Her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, sat atop the Billboard 200 chart, spawning a number of streaming records. Her name was on everyone’s lips. That’s not to mention her relationship with Offset, which led to the birth of their daughter. In an interesting move, Cardi said she’d have her second album hitting “around the time of Invasion of Privacy,” which would mean we could be getting a whole-ass Cardi B album sometime this April. What will it contain? She’ll be talking all kinds of new shit, she should have a gang of bars about her relationship, and (hopefully) she'll deliver some shade for Nicki Minaj after their insane 2018 war of words (and shoes). If it sounds as dope as her previous output, we might have another Billboard smash on our hands. —khal
9.Chance the Rapper
It’s unclear what shape it will take, but a major release from Chance the Rapper in 2019 feels like a sure bet. Maybe we’ll finally get his long-rumored collaborative project with Childish Gambino. Or perhaps he’ll reconnect with Kanye West in Chicago and finish Good Ass Job. More likely, the momentum from Chance’s string of singles in 2018 will lead to the release of his first full-length LP since 2016’s Coloring Book. Whether he continues chasing that record’s gospel-infused sound, dips back into the Acid Rap flavor that put him on the map in 2013, or explores something new entirely, we’re here for it. 2018 releases “The Man Who Has Everything” and “I Might Need Security” proved Chance the Rapper can still rap his ass off, when he’s not busy purchasing local newspapers and making cameos on Sesame Street. —Eric Skelton
8.Solange
Solange told us herself that we would hear a new album before December 31, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. Yes, she missed her self-imposed window. But the arrival of a new Solange album just two years after she came through with an album of the year contender is a much faster timetable than anyone might've predicted. Solange is similar to Frank Ocean in regard to craft and time spent fine-tuning. She’s been on record numerous times about how many years it took her to make A Seat at the Table as perfect as it is. As such, it's the kind of album that is successfully built to last; the kind that can keep a fan base fed for years while the next opus is toiled over. And, yet, while Frank (and plenty others) make this list out of hopes for a drop, the arrival of Solange's fourth album in 2019 is a sure thing. She's described it as jazzy and soulful but also crafted with the goal to “make our trunks rattle.” If she originally said she'd release the album by December, that means we can reasonably expect it by early spring, if my auteur-creative-process math is correct. Take all the time you need, Solange. That seat at 2019's table already has your name on it. —Frazier Tharpe
7.Kanye West, ‘Yandhi’
What else is left to say about Kanye West? In 2018, he was 100 percent dedicated to doing the absolute fucking most. From his inexplicable support of Donald Trump to his never-ending beef with Drake to his on-again/off-again relationship with bipolar disorder, ’Ye is completely committed to keeping himself in the public conversation. Unfortunately, his music has been the least-important part of that effort. Last summer, he went on a tear and produced back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back projects, only one of which actually left a lasting impact (cc: Pusha T). His own album, ye, left much to be desired, to put it lightly.
A follow-up to 2016’s The Life of Pablo, ye was less wide-ranging, less ambitious, and generally forgettable. Apparently Kanye knew that, because mere months after its release, he announced that he was already working on a new project, Yandhi. He threw out a release date of September 29, 2018, then he pushed it back to Black Friday. That day came and went, and it was eventually announced that ’Ye was still working, still working, still working. It’s now 2019, and there’s not another release date in sight. Yes, ’Ye fatigue is beginning to set in, but he’s still at a place in his career to warrant a Top 10 position on a list like this. Let’s hope this one lives up to the anticipation. —Kiana Fitzgerald
6.Ariana Grande, ‘thank u, next’
I was convinced Ariana Grande was going to DMX us in the waning days of 2018 and drop thank u, next as the song of the same name continued to top end-of-year lists across the internet. It would've been the perfect double-pump flex to cap a year that saw her forcefully usher us into her imperial phase. Ariana isn't just excelling at her craft right now— she's exciting. I don't wish loss, grief, or confusion on anyone, surely not for the sake of art, but damn if Ariana isn't channeling all of those emotions into some of the best pop music out there. “thank u, next” was crown-level shit, and I fully expect the album to be her coronation. —Frazier Tharpe
5.Frank Ocean
Shouldn’t we have learned by now not to rush Frank Ocean? After Blonde, it became clear that he’s the type of artist who thrives under his own schedule, free of time constraints and conventional album-release patterns. But he’s also shown signs of change lately. Over the past two years, Frank has sat down for several interviews, hosted his own radio show on Beats 1, made his Instagram public, and settled into a habit of releasing music more frequently. “I feel like there was dissonance between how I was seen by the audience and where I was actually,” he explained in a recent GQ cover story. So does this mean an increasingly visible Frank Ocean will drop a new album in 2019? We know better than to pile expectations on the elusive singer—and we’ll happily continue listening to Blonde until he has something new for us—but any inkling of an incoming project from Frank is enough to earn him a Top 5 slot on this list. —Eric Skelton
4.Schoolboy Q
When I heard Schoolboy Q on 21 Savage’s i am > i was album alongside the legendary Project Pat, my soul was soothed. After an extended hiatus, Groovy Q is finally back in my music rotation, even if it’s just a small sampling. His latest LP, Blank Face, was released in July 2016. Later that year, in December, Q said his next album would drop in 2017. That year came and went, and then Q promised it would arrive in 2018. Sadly, as the year rolled toward its end, Q’s good friend and close collaborator, Mac Miller, passed away. After revealing that his album would be pushed back again, so he could both grieve and avoid a nightmarish press run filled with questions about Mac, Schoolboy Q has been M.I.A. Finally, in January 2019, he announced on Instagram that his new album will finally arrive this year, perhaps sooner rather than later. I, for one, cannot fucking wait. —Kiana Fitzgerald
3.Kendrick Lamar
There have been conflicting reports about the next phase of Kendrick Lamar’s career. After rumors of a new Kendrick album spread in late 2018, Top Dawg Entertainment CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith told fans, “ATT: KDOT DON'T HAVE A NEW ALBUM COMING NO TIME SOON. So keep playing DAMN until the kid is inspired again.” Then Kendrick revealed to the Los Angeles Times that he‘s constantly working but is not working on a new album (whatever that means). This satisfied most fans until a swiftly deleted Instagram post from Polydor Records seemed to leak information about a new Kendrick album on schedule for a 2019 release. Sure, this might be the year that Kendrick finally takes some time to rest, but the release of Black Panther: The Album in 2018 marked the fourth consecutive year that he dropped some kind of project. If he keeps that release cadence, it’s likely we’ll get a body of work from King Kendrick in the next 12 months—even if it takes the shape of a film soundtrack or an untitled and unmastered project. He’s constantly working. —Eric Skelton
2.Beyoncé
If you ask me, Everything Is Love is a Beyoncé album that features JAY-Z rapping very well, in the same way that Watch the Throne was a true-blue hybrid that nevertheless skewed closer to the hallmarks of a Kanye project than a Hov one. No one in the Beyhive asked me, though. Even the sect of ’Yoncé superfan who aren't still keeping a “Sorry” energy for Jigga felt like EIL, while cool, didn't amount to more than a plate of calamari before the full B7 Red Lobster entree. So much so that for a minute there, they thought she was going to return to the scene of the flex and drop another paradigm-shifting project in the fall.
That didn't happen, but there's an intangible feeling in the air that Bey is on the cook-up, knowing her fans appreciated a co-album and co-tour with Mr. Carter but want her all to themselves sooner than later. After all, tucked in a No I.D. interview about 4:44 was the nugget that Bey had kicked him and Jay out of the couple's home studio so she could get to work herself. Or there's always the possibility we might be wrong about an incoming album from Beyoncé. After delivering the performance of the year, one of the best albums of the year, and the best tour of the year, she might stay at home with her family, live her life, and enjoy a well-earned (gasp) break for the majority of 2019. Then again, EIL only had one culturally iconic visual, whereas her last two solos had, like, 13. A mortal human would be tired after a year like 2018, but we have a feeling Beyoncé isn't. —Frazier Tharpe
1.Rihanna
Despite the fact that she hasn’t dropped an album since January 2016, Rihanna has been busy. She rolled out her first Puma shoe collaboration in 2015, and the following year, she debuted a whole clothing line with the brand at New York Fashion Week. In 2017, she launched Fenty Beauty, one of the most-hyped makeup lines out today. We (foolishly) thought that after those two ventures, she might be ready to come back to us musically. But, no, she did something we could have only ever dreamed of: She launched a lingerie line, Savage x Fenty. Rihanna has modeled every single line that she’s created, meaning I’ve had many Rihanna photos grace the background of my phone over the years.
While Rih has been handling business, and also secretly working on a movie with Donald Glover, she’s still not too busy to address how pressed the internet is about her next album. She’s posting memes and teasing us with soundless clips from a studio on Instagram. She’s also clearly listening to new music (during a recent Instagram Story, she did a mini-tutorial with Fenty Beauty makeup, while playing both “a lot” and “a&t” from 21 Savage’s new i am > i was album). At this point, we don’t know if Rihanna is planning to release a full dancehall album or a sonic follow-up to the R&B-heavy ANTI. Or maybe she’ll come back for the pop crown. With all the anticipation surrounding it, her album just might be the music-industry equivalent of Game of Thrones. As she said herself in 2019, Rihanna is coming. —Kiana Fitzgerald