10 Rap Predictions For 2012

Gaze into our crystal balls for a glimpse of what's going to happen in the rap game this year.

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Image via Complex Original
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Intro

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Gucci Mane

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Gucci Mane Will Take A Six-Month Hiatus From Jail

Albert Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Gucci Mane is far from insane—though certain court documents may disagree—but he sure does keep going back to jail over and over. These days when we hear the phrase "Gucci release date" we never know whether he's dropping another mixtape or getting out of the pokey again. At some point this year, we predict he'll take a little break, just to clear his head.

Wayne

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LIl Wayne Will Become To Skateboarding What Drake Is To Basketball

Weezy's not afraid to laugh in the face of danger: after all, he's spent time in Rikers, and also dealt with four babies' mothers. Even more scary is his love for skateboarding. At home, on tour, in skate parks—in his dreams. While the man deserves props for taking risks trying new things, there are dogs on YouTube who look better on a Birdhouse. Too many high-flying attempts and sooner or later, all that early retirement talk will be more than just talk.

50 Cent

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50 Cent Will Leak Detox

Curtis Jackson and Jimmy Iovine are the Ronnie and Sammi Sweetheart of Oversized Jersey Shore. It seems like every week there's more bickering and unhappiness from these two—then they make up and forget their difference before starting a new cycle of quarrels.

But 50 can only be pushed so far. If they don't put his album out this year, he's sure to unleash the ultimate weapon—his version of tossing Sammi's bed—and give away Interscope's holy grail, Dr. Dre's long-awaited opus, Detox, for free.

Lil Kim

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Lil Kim Will Take Credit For Nicki Minaj's British Accent

We love Lil' Kim, but she's spent the past 18 months making the case that Nicki Minaj hasn't given enough respect to her forebears (namely: Lil' Kim). Sure, there used to be some basis to the argument: the Queen Bee had pink hair first, but she also had gray hair first. At this point it's a beef gone rotten—or better yet, a one-sided tug-of-war.

With Hard Core 2 supposedly hitting stores this year, maybe Kim will up the ante and take credit for Nicki's worst quality: a British accent that sounds like a mixture of Snatch, fish & chips, and that tosser Larry, the Cable Guy. Shite.

Dipset

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Dipset Will Re-Reunite on Love & Hip-Hop

After years of disharmony, Dipset reunited in 2010. Two years later, we still haven't really heard much from the collective: sure, there've been a few concerts and a couple of round-table discussions, but not too much music of note.

But there's another place they can all coexist in the public eye: VH1's hit reality show <em>Love & Hip-Hop</em>. Jim's and Juelz's women have already fought one another—and there's no reason Cam can't bring some broad into the brouhaha. Sign here, initial there, stand here, scratch her eyeballs out there. Set your Tivos!

Ludacris

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Ludacris Will Build A Time Machine

Luda's been lost for a few years, trafficking in so-so hooks and middling verses, falling short of the energy and fire he gave us for most of a decade. If his last few songs made him sound dated, his latest mixtape—and that painful beef with Drake and Big Sean—make him sound elderly.

There's only one solution: spend 2012 building a time machine so that he might live on as the old Luda, rather than Old Luda. With so many technological advancements and so much Fast and Furious money, there's no reason why the former King of the South shouldn't return to his throne.

Young Buck

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Young Buck and Pill Will Swap Identities

For months now, the internet's been ripe with speculation that Young Buck would imminently sign with Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group. The one major stumbling block? An ironclad contract that ties the name "Young Buck" to 50 Cent's G-Unit Records.

Meanwhile, Pill, the last player off the MMG bench, recently claimed that he was never actually part of the team, and began looking for a fresh start elsewhere.

 In a prediction that's half-comedy, half–action movie plot, we foresee the rappers switching names and careers, paving the way for both to have a successful 2012 filled with hijinks, hilarity, and maybe even a cameo by Katt Williams.

YMCMB

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Everyone Will Sign To YMCMB

2012 will be all about Young Money Cash Money Business! in fact, there won't be any competition left once they sign every single rapper to their label. (They should be able to afford it as long as they don't pay any producers.)

Sony

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An Unknown Rapper Will Sign To Sony For $4 Million

Last year, internet sensations Odd Future and Kreayshawn were both blessed with seven-figure checks from Sony/RED; A$AP Rocky and his cohorts topped out at with a $3 million RCA/Sony deal in October. It's 2012. The world is ending this year anyway—so why the fuck not?

Swag

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Everyone Will Stop Using The Word "Swag"

2011 was swagged out. In fact, it was swagged all the way out. Swagged the swag out, if you ask us. Odd Future got it started, and by mid-year, everyone from Soulja Boy to Justin Bieber was swaggin'; Diddy even re-christened himself "Swag" in an effort to jump aboard the runaway train. But just like all those kids in art school trying to dress "weird," everyone ended up looking the same. In 2012, we see rappers making a concerted effort to stand out... Starting by using proper English.

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