Most Anticipated Albums Of 2012
Entertainment February 28, 2012 Admin
BY SABRINA VICTOR
2011 ushered in a massive amount of music, Adele, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Beyonce, rock band Evanescence, newbie J.Cole and veteran Lil Wayne all dominated their genres and topped the charts. Dubstep, electronic dance music from the UK, gained popularity among teenagers as Skrillex and Benny Benassi’s tracks boomed through club speaker and ipod headphones.
Looking back at 2011, it’s not hard to figure out what’s in store for music fanatics in 2012. Rapper Kanye West is expected to dominate the rap game and more underground rap artists will arise. Drake has already validated his success this year with hits like “Headlines” and “Take Care” conquering the radio. Rock may be diminished a bit as more bands like Coldplay transition into pop for radio play. Pop fans will be pleased because veteran pop stars, like Madonna, are expected to drop new albums. More music will feature more wobble bass, reverberated drum patterns, and syncopated rhythms as the popularity of Dubstep rises.
But, towering over the rest, these nine artists will be releasing the most anticipated albums of 2012.
Jay-Z & Kanye West-Watch the Throne II: In 2011 rappers Jay-Z and Kayne released the chart-topping album Watch the Throne and have dropped hints about a sequel in 2012. Watch the Throne was a fiery, cocky & smart collaboration that showcased their lyrical abilities. On that ego-driven production Jay-Z and Kanye let everyone know they’re not going anywhere, after hearing Watch the Throne, I agree and look forward to the release of Watch the Throne II.
Justin Bieber-Believe: Since 2009, the soon to be 18-year-old pop phenomenon Justin Bieber has sold more than 6 million albums. On Believe he will let the world hear his more mature voice. Bieber has been tweeting up a storm writing, “I gotta feeling this song is gonna be bigger than huge”. Believe will determine if Bieber can remain relevant in the music industry as he reaches adulthood.
Nicki Minaj-Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded: Nicki Minaj is the most successful female rapper right now and is managing to annihilate the guys at their own game. Her first album Pink Friday in 2010 was a huge success with multiple hit singles and numerous award nominations. Can she do it again? We’ll have to wait and see.
Chris Brown-Fortune: Last year, Chris Brown made his comeback with the chart-topping album F.A.M.E. Judging by the success of F.A.M.E. I expect Fortune to be big hit. The first single “Strip”; a slow dance song with great background music, was released earlier this year and exceeded all expectations.
Lana Del Rey-Born to Die: Newbie Lana Del Rey hasn’t even had a hit on the radio, but we are already anticipating her debut album. After landing a performance on SNL, she has sold out shows all around the U.S., Canada, and England. Eager ears are curiously waiting to hear Born to Die and Del Ray’s mix of skater culture and gritty hip-hop.
Van Halen-A Different Kind of Truth: Since 1976, this classic hard rock band has sold 80 million records. Van Halen spent 18 months making the album, A Different Kind of Truth; their first new album since reuniting with original lead singer David Lee Roth. We are anxious to see if Van Halen can match their previous success.
Tyler the Creator-Wolf: 2011 VMA winner Tyler the Creator is a rapper/record producer from L.A. and leader of the hip-hop collective Odd Future. The release of his music video “Yonkers” last year received a lot of attention on YouTube. Wolf will be released in May 2012 and Tyler says “this project will be weird hippie music with fewer lyrics and more beats that will be influenced by the Stones Throw Band Stepkids”.
Nelly Furtado-T.S.I: This Canadian artist dominated 2006 with her No.1 hits “Promiscuous” and “Say It Right”. Furtado has been giving fans a sneak peek of T.S.I. with YouTube clips of recording sessions which seem to indicate a more Caribbean influenced sound.
G.O.O.D Music-The Album: The G.O.O.D record label founded by Kanye West will be putting out a compilation featuring artists Big Sean, Kanye, Kid Cudi, CyHi, Hit-Boy, John Legend, Common and Pusha T in the spring. It is rumored that the first single of the album will be “Lamborghini, Murci” a track featuring Kanye, Pusha T, and Big Sean. This has to be one of the biggest hip-hop releases of 2012.
With these albums and anticipated new releases from artists like Kid Cudi, Estelle, B.O.B, and M.I.A., 2012 is poised to be another huge year for music fans.
