The Most Anticipated Albums of Summer 2013

Image via Complex Original

Release Date: July 2013
Label: Def Jam/IDJMG
Producers: No I.D., Hit-Boy, T-Minus, Mike Will Made It, Pharrell Williams, Harry Fraud, The Runners, David D.A. Doman
Guests: Chris Brown, John Legend, Future, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Young Jeezy, Chrisette Michelle
Singles: "Ready" f/ Chris Brown, "When I Feel Like It" f/ 2 Chainz

New York hip-hop is different than it was in 2001, when Fabolous first burst onto the scene with "Can't Deny It." The rapper, known for his limber flow and rewind-worthy punchlines, is gearing up for his sixth album, Loso's Way 2: Rise to Power, which he's claimed will be his most mature project to date. You might expect him to pad his tracklist with newcomers like A$AP Rocky or Action Bronson in a bid for radio and blog relevance, but Fab is now one of the game's elder statesman. And it looks like he is operating as such, recruiting old heads like Nas, Jadakiss, and Eminem to help him out on the feature tip. On the boards, he's got heavyweights like the RZA, Just Blaze, and The Alchemist. Don't think that Fab's been taking the ethos of "No New Friends" too close to heart, though: Future 'n' Mike WiLL Made It will be collaborating with Fab on at least one track. —Nathan Susman

Release Date: 7/30/2013
Label: Strange Music
Producers: Drumma Boy, Scoop Deville, Seven, Young Fyre
Guests: T-Pain, Game, B.o.B, Big K.R.I.T, Cee-Lo Green, Danny Brown, Big Scoob, Red Cafe
Singles: "B.*.*.*.H." f/ T-Pain

Ever wondered what Tech N9ne over a Drumma Boy beat would sound like? You're about to find out. The Sultan of Strange is about to release his thirteenth studio album, Something Else, and he's not exaggerating: this is going to be a truly outside-the-box hip-hop record.

Something Else will be divided thematically into three parts (Fire, Water, and Earth) with each representing a distinct facet of Tech's personality. While you might look at that concept and say, "Hmm, not sure I want to listen to a Coheed and Cambria-style rap record," fear not; Tech N9ne has recruited a veritable who's-who of rhymeslayers to make sure the proceedings don't get bogged down by wanky guitar solos and arbitrary time-signature changes. Danny Brown, Big K.R.I.T., Trae The Truth, Rittz, and B.o.B. are just a few of the rappers ready to go toe-to-toe on wax with the man known to the government as Aaron Yates.

And just in case you decided, "Hey, I did want somebody from a popular 00s alt-metal band on this rap album," guess who's on track No. 10? Serj Tankian from System of a Down. You're welcome. —Nathan Susman

Release Date: 7/1/2013
Label: Atlantic
Producers: DJ Spinz, D.R.U.G.S.
Guests: Too $hort, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J, Kirko Bangz
Singles: "Go Deep," f/ Too $hort "Irie" f/ Wiz Khalifa

Need something that's smooth (but slaps) this summer? The prince of Ratchet 'n' Blues and his D.R.U.G.S. crew are scheduled to make their return July 1st, when Ty Dolla $ign drops his sixth mixtape, Beach House 2. If it's anything like the OG Beach House, we can expect more earworm hooks, forward-thinking production, and guest spots from artists like Wiz Khalifa and Brick Squad's Joe Moses, but Ty's got some surprises up his sleeve, too: On the 29th of March, he tweeted "just did a banger with @iconapop." What that collab sounds like (or if it will even make the mixtape) is anybody's guess, but regardless, summer's gonna be a whole lot hotter with the Dolla $ign in it. —Nathan Susman

Release Date: 8/20/2013
Label: RCA
Producers: Darold Brown, Steven Pugh
Guests: A$AP Rocky, Onyx, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. French Montana, ScHoolboy Q, Trinidad James, Gunplay
Singles: TBA

When A$AP Ferg stormed onto ASAP Rocky's lean love song "Kissin' Pink'" blowing "hella smoke," we saw a glimpse of an artist who would one day stand on his own two. Last summer, his raucous spaghetti-at-the-wall anthem "Work" emerged as the standout track from the A$AP Mob's Lords Never Worry mixtape, and it soon became evident that Ferg had the presence and personality to be the next member of the Mob to shine. He'll carry that momentum into the release of his debut, Trap Lord. Obviously, A$AP Rocky will apear, but the record also includes legends like Onyx and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. By summer's end, should his album deliver, the trap lord could be the next member of the Harlem collective to ascend into the limelight. —Julian Kimble

Release Date: 8/6/2013
Label: Maybach Music Group/Def Jam
Producers: J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, Jake One, Boi-1da
Guests: Lupe Fiasco, Jadakiss
Singles: Rockie Fresh "God Is Great" Wale f/ Lupe Fiasco & Rick Ross "Poor Decisions," Rick Ross f/ Jadakiss "Oil Money Gang"

If there's one thing we've learned from the initial installments of Self Made, the guest list will be a spectacle in itself. MMG head honcho Rick Ross reiterated this much when he explained to MTV, "It's all about the collaborations." With three tracks already released from the project (in one day, no less), features from Lupe Fiasco and Jadakiss have certainly showcased Rozay's reach; more names, obviously, will be added to the lineup before its August 6 release.

Along those same lines, Self Made Vol. 3 will be an opportunity for recent signee Rockie Fresh to break out from his mixtape shell. The rapper's new record "God Is Great" is a solid cut, and the Chicago MC is in a prime position to follow in the footsteps of Meek Mill ("Ima Boss") and Wale ("This Way"), should he get a chance to shine. —Edwin Ortiz

Release Date: TBA
Label: Bricksquad/Interscope
Producers: TBA
Guests: TBA
Singles: "Macaroni Time"

Last year's pugnacious rookie quieted down this year, only really popping up in headlines when speeding and getting busted for weed. But those are fairly common teenage behaviors, drawing ire and tongue-clucking but not really much in the way of  mainstream attention, at least compared to his role as a symbolic scapegoat in 2012. Keef has pulled back from the mainstream glare, quietly slotting in with other rising rookies/Gucci Mane album guest artists in his lane like Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug. He's left his label's dreams of a new 50 Cent by the wayside in exchange for a True Religion suit he seems much more comfortable wearing.

In fitting with this more low-profile approach, "Macaroni Time" isn't the crossover smash that "Love Sosa" was. But the song is a grower, catchy and distinctive, even if it does double down on the mush-mouth that so enraged traditionalist listeners. Sosa is nothing if not unpredictable, so hearing what the rapper has in store for 2013, whether it's Bang 2, the long-awaited follow-up to his debut, or Almight So, his recently-promised new tape, it'll be worth hearing where he's leaning. —David Drake

Release Date: TBA
Label: Young Money/Aphilliates Music Group
Producers: TBA
Guests: TBA
Singles: "Bugatti Freestyle" f/ Boo

"I woke up in a new punani!" That's right: Lil Wayne is back. "Rich As Fuck" from I Am Not a Human Being II might still blanket the airwaves, but Wayne is already taking steps to release his next Dedication tape, according to a tweet from DJ Drama. He might no longer be in peak form, and the vagina-centricity of his recent output may seem a little one-note. Overall enthusiasm for new Wayne releases—never mind for rappers abusing industry freestyles rather than paying for new production—has waned of late. But he's still undeniably one of hip-hop's most important superstars, one of its few true crossover stars, and—even in 2013—is still releasing hits. You can pretend you don't care, but there will be at least four or five lines all your friends know by the end of the summer. —David Drake

Release Date: TBA
Label: Cinematic Music Group
Producers: Statik Selektah, Chuck Strangers
Guests: TBA
Singles: "Word Is Bond"

Fans have been waiting for an official follow-up to 1999 for a year now. Sure, there was PEEP: The aPROcalypse, but that was a crew effort. There have been tracks here and there, from the DJ Premier-produced "Unorthodox" to "Wendy N Becky," his collaboration with Chance The Rapper. But a full project will offer fans the opportunity to see how Joey has matured as an artist in the wake of the death of his friend Capital Steez or his "beef" with Lil B. Initially planned as an EP release to set up his album B4.Da.$$, Summer Knights has become a full-length release of its own. The first track, "Word Is Bond," is our taste of what's to come. —Dharmic X

Release Date: 6/26/2013
Label: Fools Gold
Producers: El-P
Guests: Prince Paul, Until the Ribbon Breaks, Big Boi
Singles: "Banana Clipper," f/ Big Boi "Get It," "36 Chain"

What was the best rap story in rap music last year? TDE's rise? Chief Keef? Nas's comeback? My vote goes to the unlikely pairing of El-P and Killer Mike. Who would have thought that combining the dense futurism of underground Brooklyn with the erudite side of Atlanta's trap scene would spur two highly respected veterans to career heights in artistry. But that's what happened. El-P's Cancer for Cure and Killer Mike's R.A.P. Music were about as good as it got in 2012. Lucky for us, the two went back in the studio this spring, dipped the chocolate into the peanut-butter again, and return, as an official duo this time. Run the Jewels they're calling themselves. It's very difficult to imagine that their eponymous album will be anything less than awesome. —Dave Bry

Release Date: 6/11/2013
Label: 215 Aphillyated/Maybach Music Group/Warner Bros.
Producers: Cardo
Guests: Future, Jadakiss, Trina, Waka Flocka, Gourdan
Singles: "Levels"

The first two Dreamchasers mixtapes were both better than Meek Mill's official debut album—something about the rushed rawness of the mixtape process suits the quick-tongued Philly rapper better than more meticulous, highly calculated major label fare. After some delay due to a busy touring schedule, the third installment is set to hit the streets this summer, and judging from the first single, "Levels," Meek's back in his comfort zone. Listen to his voice squeek as it hits a higher register over the rising-and-falling piano loop. "That's the reason that you mad, nigga?!" he says, taunting a lower-status rival. "I love ballin', my bad, nigga." That's the reason we're psyched-'cause Meek sounds amped.

Release Date: August 2013
Label: Fools Gold
Producers: Paul White, Oh No, Rustie, Skywlkr, A-Trak, Darq E Freaker, Frank Dukes
Guests: Freddie Gibbs, Schoolboy Q, Mr. MFN Exquire, Scrufizzer, A$AP Rocky, Ab-Soul, Charli XCX, Purity Ring
Singles: "Dope Song"

Two years ago, we heard Danny Brown's XXX and its unapologetically brash vocals matched to debaucherous, hilarious, and extremely dark lyrics. With the release of tracks like "Black Brad Pitt", "Kush Coma", and "Grown Up" since, we've been gearing up for the release of his album, Old in mid-August.

Even though his Old album drops halfway through that month (the same time XXX did two years earlier), we know it will dominate the summer. Why? There's stacked features from Freddie Gibbs, ScHoolboy Q, Mr MFN Exquire, Scrufizzer, A$AP Rocky, Ab-Soul, Charli XCX and Purity Ring, and production by Paul White, Rustie, OhNo, A-Trak, and more. And if this "Dope Song" he performed at Coachella is any indication of what to expect? We can't wait. —Lauren Nostro

Release Date: 7/4/2013
Label: Roc Nation
Producers: The-Dream, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz
Guests: Nas, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Drake, Raekwon
Singles: TBA

We know very little about Jay-Z's upcoming album at this point. There is no title and no single; just a rumored release date.

We do know, though, that Hov has been working. Pictures have made the rounds online showing him in the studio with Nas, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Drake, and Raekwon. The-Dream has talked about working on the album in interviews, although he offered no information on what is being done. And we've heard two records in the last few months: "$100 Bill" from The Great Gatsby soundtrack and of course, "Open Letter," his response to controversy surrounding his visit to Cuba and selling his stake in the Brooklyn Nets franchise. It might be premature to talk about what to expect from the album, but know that when it is time, the music world will shut down and take notice. —Dharmic X