Top 5 hip hop albums about to drop without the word “Blueprint” in their title

Ya’ll do know there’s shit other than Blueprint 3 dropping, right?

               So I’m not gonna speak on Blueprint 3 until it officially drops. I don’t care what anybody’s opinion of the album is, Jay Z dropping an album is an event, no matter what leaks, and how it sounds. Since I’m sure most of you have already downloaded the leak though, I figured, why not look ahead to what else is dropping this year? While there’s rumors of Drake’s album dropping, and Wayne’s hybridish album…I figured fuck that, let’s go with shit that is highly likely to drop. So, with no further adeiu, the top 5 albums about to drop within the next two months.

5. Wale “Attention Deficit” October

                It appears someone’s “star” is beginning to fade a little bit. Hey Roc Nation…want to ruin an album release? Let your artist drop a single that will pop for summer…then hold the album until Fall/Winter. Oh…you already knew that trick? Add in a late added Gucci Mane feature to a song with a beat that sounds like a revised “One thing about a Playa”, and fans who know to pronounce the name Wa-lay, not Wall-E may be a little nervous. I however trust Wale will pull through the BS. While “World Tour” featuring Jazmine Sullivan sounds dope, if we can get 3 or 4 BKS (Best Kept Secret) productions on the album, I’m sure it will be dope. Wale is far from lacking in the creativity department, as shown by his “Mixtape About Nothing”, had much of the aforementioned fuckery not taken place, this album would probably rank higher.

4. Raekwon “Only Built for Cuban Linx Pt 2″ September 8th

               So the Chef has returned to make “Only Built for Cuban Linx Pt 2″…and it’s shaping up like “Only Built for Cuban Linx Pt 2″? I’ll be damned! Throwing the name of  a classic album you’ve already created on a newer album and labeling it a sequal sets high expectations (as some other emcees should have learned), but Rae seems to be pulling through. Shit, just look at the cover! Purple cover, featuring Tony Starks. Ghost pictured on the cover also? What more could you ask for? Proof, huh? Ok, check out the video for “House of Flying Daggers” featuring Rza, Gza, Method man, Ghostface, and Inspectah Deck. That’s right, every member of Wu Tang that matters is featured in the video. Over production by the late great J Dilla.

3. Fashawn “Boy Meets World” October 20

               I know what your thinking, bias, right? Fuck no. I’m gonna tell you this now, and you’ll thank me later. If you don’t know yet, Fashawn is one of the dopest emcees coming up in the game right now, period. He’s either one or two on the West (out of himself and Blu barely edging out Diz Gibran), and they are both two of the best coming up now, from all areas. How convenient, Fashawn’s debut album “Boy Meets World” is produced entirely by the man who helmed Blu’s first album, Exile. The young Fresno native, Fashawn is a true representative of all of Cali, not just his central Cal region. He embodies the gritty rhymes of mid 90′s LA area, yet represents the style of the new millennium CA kids. (sans jerking, of course) Don’t sleep on Fash’s “Boy Meets World”, cuz you’ll be sure to regret it.

2. Skyzoo “The Salvation” September 29th

               We’re into the top 2, and this is where Skyzoo comes in. Honestly, since I’m in the “ranking emcee’s” mood, Sky would definitelybe in the top 5 of all doing it right now. I fell in love with Hip Hop through the sounds of New York, and if supported, Skyzoo has the ability to give that same feeling to many getting into the culture now. Technically, lyrically, creative-wise, there aren’t too many fucking with Skyzoo, period. If you haven’t checked out “The Power of Words”, do yourself a favor, and attend to that, dude is beyond ill. He sticks with great production, and he brings his A game every time he steps to the mic. I’ve already gone out on a limb and predicted the album to be a classic, and I stand by that sentiment.

               So if you know the albums that are dropping the rest of this year, you know this only leaves one album. Sure, there are two albums that are KNOWN to be dropping during the next 3 months, and one of them has buzz, but when it comes to that real hip hop shit, the buzz attached to that other album doesn’t necessarily give it a spot amongst these 5…this is hip hop.

 

 

 

1. Brother Ali “Us” September 22

               If I predicted Skyzoo’s “The Salvation” would be classic, what does that say about Brother Ali’s album? Some people say you can’t throw the word “classic” around that loosely, but Brother Ali has created at least 1 classic LP before, so I wouldn’t necessarily consider that throwing the term around. “The Undisputed Truth” was hip hop at it’s finest, receiving props not only from his label mates and the great Rakim, but also hip hop critics from all over. When you bring the type of passion Brother Ali brings to the table, with his lyrical ability, and his insight, on top of beats by Ant…it’s hard to fail. When Brother Ali spit over Jake One production with Freeway, he embarrassed Free worse than Cassidy did. If Brother Ali wasn’t albino, rocked J’s and fitted hats, and was from the Bronx, as opposed to Minneapolis, he’d be getting Tupac comparisons, and Biggie fans would say he’s better by far. If you haven’t already, go pick up “The Truth Is Here” EP, “The Undisputed Truth”, and “Shadows on the Sun” in preparation for the greatness that will be dropping September 22nd.