The Most Anticipated Albums of 2014

Here's what we're looking forward to in the new year.

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Here we are in 2014 and, ho hum. The first two months of the year are traditionally a slow time for the music industry because all the blockbusters come out in time for the December holidays. Then the great bear goes into hibernation. Things usually pick with some spring releases, get hot and popping in the summer, and then, come fourth quarter, go into overdrive all over again. So after spending the end of 2013 drowning in new music (and best-of-the-year lists), we'll take advantage of the quiet to look ahead at the next twelve months. 

What does music have in store for us this year? Well, we've got young rappers like Joey Bada$$ aiming to make a first real mark, while established vets like Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa try to catch a respark. Folks like Pharrell and Pusha T come in riding high and hope to keep it going. Superstars like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna have new material slated after quiet periods that have felt like forever

We compiled 50 albums we're very much looking forward to. And we ranked them (because that's what we do) on the basis of our fiendingness. Check out The Most Anticipated Albums of 2014

 

50. Iggy Azalea, The New Classic

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Label: Island Def Jam

Bold album titles are nothing new in rap. From Get Rich or Die Tryin’ to Watch the Thone, artists have used album titles to make a statement before the statement. In that regard, Australia's Iggy Azalea is pulling no punches with the title to her forthcoming major label debut, The New Classic.

Since “Pu$$y” made the online rounds in 2011, there’s been excitement about the tall blonde rapper's first full-length—a buzz that has grown steadily along the way thanks to signing with T.I.’s Hustle Gang and the release of 2012's Glory EP. The New Classic offers Iggy an opportunity to finally cement a spot in the game. She has claimed that the album is finished, and that Island Def Jam has delayed its release, which is now tentatively scheduled for March. —Adam Fleischer 

RELATED: Iggy Azalea: "The Low End Theory" (2013 Cover Story)

49. Jay Rock, TBD

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48. Raekwon, Fly International Luxurious Art

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Label: Ice H20

Raekwon celebrated New Year's Day 2013 by announcing that he was going to release a new album called F.I.L.A.—an acronym for Fly International Luxurious Art—in the second quarter of the year. However, that time came and went without an album and, for the most part, Rae stayed pretty quiet. (Outside of the Lost Jewlry mixtape that he dropped shortly after announcing the F.I.L.A. album.) He did give us a small taste of what's to come on the new album in November, though, when he dropped the melancholy "A Rainy Day." Based on that, we can't wait to see what else the Chef's got cooking. —Chris Yuscavage

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47. Azealia Banks, Broke with Expensive Taste

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Label: Interscope

2013 was a pretty bad year for female rappers. And one of the main reasons for that was that female rappers simply didn't put out a lot of product. Sure, Angel Haze leaked her own album, Nicki Minaj put out a slew of guest verses, and acts like Rapsody provided some promise for the future. But overall, there was a dearth of the earths.

Azealia Banks is (hopefully!) going to change that in 2014 by dropping her long-awaited debut, which was originally slated for release all the way back in early 2012. Weirdly, she's already started work on her second album, Fantasea II: The Second Wave—so there's a chance that we could get a double dose of the sharp-tongued Harlem rapstress. Before we get too carried away, let's see what she has in store with the first one.—Chris Yuscavage

46. Kat Dahlia, My Garden

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Label: Epic, Vested In Culture 

"Perfection takes time." That's what Kat Dahlia told one of her fans on Twitter back in August 2013 when her debut album was delayed, again. While it's not hard to see why her album has been pushed back so many times now—her songs "Gangsta," "Fireman," and "Clocks" have all resonated well with Internet audiences but have failed to take off on the radio—she does seem to be assembling a strong body of work that could, eventually, help her appeal to a broader audience.

As of today, My Garden is scheduled to drop next month. But even if it gets pushed back again (which seems likely) don't count her out. Rome wasn't built in a day. Like Orson Wells used to say... —Chris Yuscavage

RELATED: Who Is Kat Dahlia?

45. Common, Nobody's Smiling

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44. Fabolous, Loso's Way 2: Rise to Power

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Label: Def Jam, Desert Storm, Street Family

Brooklyn's Fabolous, maybe more than anyone else, was put under pressure by Kendrick Lamar's verse on "Control." A famous tweet the following morning suggested a reply was imminent. And when no song emerged, jokes about a lack of studios in the NYC area ran rampant. Finally, on Christmas, he dropped The S.O.U.L. Tape 3 and addressed the situation on a song called "The Get Back." Better late than never?

Fab fans have likely gotten used to such waiting. His upcoming album, Loso’s Way 2: Rise To Power, was first announced in 2010. Early singles “Ready” featuring Chris Brown and “When I Feel Like It” featuring 2 Chainz have stuck to the radio-friendly formula Fab is famous for—so don't be surprised if he's got another "Throw It in the Bag" up his sleeve for summer. —Elva Aguilar

43. Isaiah Rashad, Cilvia

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42. Sampha, TBD

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41. Wu-Tang Clan, A Better Tomorrow

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40. Solange, TBD

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39. Mobb Deep, The Infamous Mobb Deep

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Label: Infamous Records (distributed by Sony Red)

Any time a hip-hop legend (or legends) releases a new album, it’s an anticipated event. Here, with Mobb Deep, there’s even more to be excited about. The duo hasn't dropped an album as a group since 2006, yet they’ve managed to remain relevant in the eight years since Blood Money, their one and only G-Unit release.

Through the break ups, make ups, EPs and solo releases over that time frame, the Queens twosome has still commanded the respect that they’ve earned over the last two decades. The Infamous Mobb Deep derives half of its name from their 1995 classic, and so it should come as no surprise if this album is loaded with grimey New York tough talk and a sonic chemistry between Havoc and Prodigy that fans came to love. What better way to come back together? —Adam Fleischer

38. Ty Dolla $ign, Beach House EP

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Label: Taylor Gang, Atlantic

Ty Dolla $ign introduced himself to America with the words, “Two of my bitches in the club, and I think they know about each other.” It’s smooth, unapologetic and—most importantly—really, um, sexy. It’s a hit, due in no small part to him working the song so hard, “Paranoid” was first just an Internet release; then it got placed on DJ Mustard’s album Ketchup, then thrown on Beach House 2, and finally has landed on the seven-song Beach House EP (where it’s sequenced next to its new remix, featuring Trey Songz and French Montana).

So, they’re banking on you still loving the song—which you will. But maybe they switch the beat up for the remix? Because that’d be a lot of “Paranoid.” As for what’s to come, “Or Nah” featuring Taylor Gang labelmate Wiz Khalifa seems to be the next single; a quick search reveals a Vine from the video shoot, where two curvy white girls pose in not much. It’s unclear what Ty Dolla’s relation is to those girls, but they seem to know about each other. —Jeff Rosenthal 

RELATED: Who Is Ty Dolla $Ign?

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37. The Lox, We Are the Streets 2

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36. Busta Rhymes, E.L.E.2 (Extinction Level Event 2)

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Label: Cash Money

Recording a rap sequel isn't always a good idea. For every Tha Carter II, there's a The Blueprint 2. But in Busta's case, he needs to do something to recapture the fiery approach to rapping that he had at the start of his career. Because his latest couple of projects, including 2009's Back on My B.S. and 2012's Year of the Dragon, have been scattershot and, at times, lifeless.

So on E.L.E. 2, he's going to attempt to revert back into the Busta of old—the one who made you sit up and pay attention to him. And that shouldn't be too difficult, considering that he's already enlisted everyone from Pharrell and DJ Premier to Q-Tip and Lil Wayne to help him. Plus his single "Thank You" is pretty excellent. Busta should sound every bit as passionate on his tenth album as he did back on his third one. —Chris Yuscavage 

RELATED: Magnum Opus: The Making of Busta Rhymes' "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"

35. Young Jeezy, The Statute of Limitations Is Over With

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Label: CTE/Def Jam

On November 13th, 2013, for two hours, tweets dropped from Young Jeezy’s verified Twitter account like bombs from a plane: "Niggas @ @DefJamRecords keep playing games if you want!" said one. Another: "If Def Jam don't get this right y'all got an early xmas gift #myfans.” He said he’d been perfecting the album for two years; he openly courted LA Reid and Epic Records. (While the fires seem to have calmed, there’s a picture of him and T.I. in the Sony building on his Instagram, and he’s been hashtagging the word #epic fairly often.)

As for the music, while no release date has been announced, Future, Ludacris, and Usher have all been in the studio with him. And it’s an easy assumption to make that he and YG will follow up “My Nigga.” If this is Jeezy’s goodbye to Def Jam, at least he’s going out with a bang. Oh, and the title? It refers to cases he supposedly couldn't talk about until certain statutes of limitations had run up. So, maybe we'll hear some long-awaited BMF talk as well? —Jeff Rosenthal

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34. The Game, TBD

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33. Lily Allen, TBD

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Label: Capitol, Warner Bros, London and Regal

In 2005, Lily Allen posted a few songs on her MySpace page and within a year her combination of ska beats, singsong Cockney rhymes, and street-sharp London wit earned her a No. 1 single in her native UK called "Smile." Her debut album, Alright, Still sold over two million copies worldwide and earned Allen a Grammy nomination.

After her 2009 followup, It's Not Me It's You, debuted at No. 1, she took a hiatus from the music business. "It's Hard Out Here," the first single from her long-awaited third album, dropped last November along with a provocative video that juxtaposes liposuction procedures and twerking video vixens to highlight the unique pressures faced by women in the entertainment industry. If that first single is any indication, her next full-length release should be well worth the wait. —Rob Kenner

RELATED: An Open Letter To Lily Allen

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32. Mike Will Made It, Est. in 1989 Pt. 3 (The Album)

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Label: EarDrummers Entertainment, Interscope Records

Mike Will Made It had a huge 2013. And as we enter the next year, the possibility of the unknown makes his forthcoming major label debut even more exciting. With Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz, the one-time Gucci Mane producer proved he can go full pop, theoretically opening up doors to just about anyone in the industry. Est. in 1983 Pt. 3 might end up being all over the place, with the rap and R&B songs he built his name on intermingling with dance and country records and maybe even some piano ballads. But watching Mike Will push himself to the limit will be a ton of fun—even if he ends up crashing back to Earth. —Jordan Sargent 

RELATED: Mike WiLL Made It: 10 Beats That Changed My Life

31. Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele Presents... Blue & Cream: The Wally Era

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30. YG, My Krazy Life

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Label: CTE, Def Jam

DJ Mustard’s "ratchet" sound has done its part to revitalize rap on both coasts, but now it’s time for the big leagues, as Mustard's friend and frequent collaborator YG readies his major label, make-or-break debut My Krazy Life. The 23-year-old rapper and his preferred producer hit it big in 2013 with the creeping, sinewing “My Nigga” and are reloading with the highly-anticipated Drake verse “Who Do You Love.” Of course, two great singles does not guarantee a great album, but YG and Mustard’s year-old mixtape Just Re’d Up 2 is proof enough that these two are more than just a few stray hits. This one could be billowing out of car stereos for the entire year. —Jordan Sargent 

RELATED: Interview: YG Talks About the New Song He Has With Drake That May Cement His Place in the Mainstream

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29. Wiz Khalifa, Blacc Hollywood

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28. Future, Honest

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Label: A1, Freebandz and Epic

It’s weird how these “most anticipated” lists can turn a gift into a curse. Future rode into 2013 on a wave of expectations swollen by his stellar 2012 debut album, Pluto. It’s follow-up, then titled Future Hendrix, ranked no. 13 on last January’s list. While we waited, the ATLien autotune enthusiast piqued our interest with a single, “Karate Chop,” and even more when he turned an otherwise pedestrian Ace Hood song into one of the year’s smash hits by capturing, in seven short words, all the blurry, thrilling excitement that might come with waking up in a two-million-dollar sports car and not remembering so clearly how you got there. By August, his still as-yet-unreleased album had risen a point in stock.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the future. Another single, “Shit,” made nary a blip on anyone’s radar screen. A bunch of younger, grungier rappers came in and started making noise similar to Future’s heartbroken-cyborg warblings (those that he’d so successfully updated—more successfully than anybody else—from Kanye West’s 2008 808’s & Heartbreak album.) The Kevin Gateses, the Rich Homie Quans, the Young Thugs. Future Hendrix got pushed back, then had its title changed, to Honest. (Presumably something about, “Honest, this album is coming, I swear.”) There was a tiff with tourmate Drake. And suddenly, one day, Future woke up and found himself looking like the past.

So here his second album sits, still unreleased, still anticipated, but more trepidatiously. And here’s hoping, honestly, that it knocks our socks off when it arrives. No doubt it still could. But it has to happen now. Like, in the present. —Dave Bry

27. Big K.R.I.T., Cadillactica

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Label: Def Jam

“Produced by Big K.R.I.T.” It’s a phrase that appears over and over, on the 16 tracks that make up the Mississippian rapper's 2011 debut album, Live from the Underground, again repeated on the 17 from King Remembered in Time. “Produced by Big K.R.I.T.” It’s always been his vision, his sound that squeaks like hydraulics and fills headphones like comfort food. With Cadillactica, the likes of DJ Toomp, Jim Jonsin, Rico Love, Organized Noize, and Chad Hugo are set to break the pattern.

In an interview with XXL, K.R.I.T. said, “I’ll produce a few tracks [but]…for me it’s about really making the best music possible and not just for the sake of producing.” And yet, he sat behind the boards for the first single, “Just Last Week,” teased in April and pushed out at the end of August—sitting on a merry-go-round of a beat, with Future on the hook and bridge. It sounds great! And yet, we're still excited to see how “Produced by Big K.R.I.T.” looks next to the word “with.” —Jeff Rosenthal

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26. Run The Jewels, Run The Jewels 2

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25. T.I., Paperwork: The Motion Picture

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24. Ab-Soul, TBD

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Label: Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope

Like the rest of Top Dawg Entertainment, Ab-Soul had a prosperous year. He was featured on XXL’s 2013 Freshman cover along with his labelmate ScHoolboy Q, he was part of the most talked about cypher at the BET Hip-Hop Awards, and he was randomly recognized by Jay Z via Twitter.

He was also did guest spots for projects by Mac Miller and Chance The Rapper, as well as dropping a few solo gems like “Christopher DRONEr” and “Dub Sac” to give fans a taste for his upcoming project Black Lip Pastor. (Sidebar: Whatever happened to his project with JMSN, Unit 6?) The album doesn’t have an official release date yet, and with the momentum TDE has gained this year, it would be a shame if it got pushed back. —Elva Aguilar

23. Q-Tip, The Last Zulu

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22. Joey Bada$$, B4.Da.$$

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Label: Cinematic Music Group, Pro Era

Is New York back yet? With his upcoming debut album, Joey Bada$$ is out to prove that the answer is a definitive “yes.” The Brooklyn native has earned great praise over the last couple years for his rhyming, his ear for beats, and the general boom-bap rap aura of his music—without feeling outdated. He’ll look to put together all of those elements for his first official album.

To this point, the Cinematic Music Group signee has remained independent and earned his way on mixtapes, guest appearances, and the occasional one-off single. He needs a definitive statement this year to make his case for the Big Apple's glory days. Initially slated for last summer, B4DA$$ should be arriving in the coming months. —Adam Fleischer

21. Lupe Fiasco, Tetsuo & Youth

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Label: 1st & 15th, Atlantic

For as long as he’s been in the public eye, Lupe Fiasco has been a polarizing figure. To some, he’s open and adamant about his beliefs, and is a mesmerizing lyricist. To others, he’s a self-righteous soundbite, and loses listeners with his overly complex rhyme schemes. His fifth solo album, Tetsuo & Youth, may not be so divisive, though.

The Chicago native has said he’s staying away from social and political commentary this time around, and the project—which he’s compared to his first album, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor—is set to feature Chris Brown, Big K.R.I.T. and Rick Ross, among others. Whether or not he truly tones down his commentary (and, honestly, we hope he won’t) a return to F&L form would be nothing to scoff at. —Adam Fleischer

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20. Earl Sweatshirt, Gnossos

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19. Grimes, TBD

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18. Jhene Aiko, Souled Out

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17. Jay Z & Kanye West, Watch The Throne 2

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16. A$AP Mob, Lords

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Label: Polo Grounds and RCA

A$AP Mob had a strong 2013. A$AP Rocky’s debut album, Long. Live. ASAP, debuted at No. 1 and his single “Fuckin’ Problems” has now been nominated for a Grammy. Meanwhile, A$AP Ferg surprised lots of fans with the dynamite Trap Lord, which gave rap one of its best songs of the year in “Shabba." The cherry on top was the A$AP Nast-helmed “Trillmatic,” the first single off the Harlem collective's collaborative album, Lords, which got a great assist from Method Man.

That means everything is on the up and up right? Well, maybe not. The only true creative stumble in the A$AP movement so far was their last group project, 2012’s Lord$ Never Worry, a project so lackluster even A$AP Rocky admitted to not liking it. Still, that tape did help launch A$AP Ferg thanks to his smash "Work." Hopefully, the crew can make up for their mistakes this year around and launch A$AP Nast as their next solo representative at the same time. —Insanul Ahmed

15. Meek Mill, TBD

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14. Action Bronson, TBD

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Label: Vice/Atlantic

Action Bronson might not be a household name across the U.S. yet, but he has the potential to be. Bronsolino made headlines earlier this year for body slamming fans at shows (a phenomenon that, oddly enough, people started volunteering for after a while) as well as christening elderly women at a UK nursing home. But aside from his hilarious online antics and the food porn on his Instagram, there’s no denying that Bronson can deliver musically. Bronson dropped two projects in 2013, his EP Saab Stories and collaborative mixtape with Party Supplies, Blue Chips 2—both critically acclaimed. Bronson’s storytelling raps, old school flow, and soulful production choices have made the anticipation for his major label debut album very real.

The Queens rapper has already confirmed Kool G Rap and Mobb Deep for his project and we’ll very likely see other New York names and current chart toppers on his album. Bronson’s lyrical ability is what’s kept him as a force in rap music, but his talent in balancing the old and new is what has helped him stand out. He’s already got two sold out shows in New York for the new year. And more, for sure, on tap. —Elva Aguilar

13. Rick Ross, Mastermind

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Label: Maybach Music Group/Def Jam

Rick Ross had a tough 2013. Just when the Maybach Music Group looked like an untouchable empire, the biggest bawse stumbled with a boneheaded rap about putting molly in a girls champagne. It cost him a Reebok deal, and he looked awkward and clumsy in issuing a series of apologies. Even still, he had some victories in 2013—guest spots on "Bugatti" and “Columbia (Remix)” and, most of all, “FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt.” But none of that was enough to get Mastermind a release date.

While another Jay Z duet, “The Devil Is a Lie,” was a step in the right direction last month, for most of 2013 it was starting to look like the odds were stacked again Ross. He’s enjoyed so much success over the past few years, surpassed so many expectations, it kinda feels like his winning streak can’t possibly continue. He turns 38 this month.

However, we’ve learned to never count him out. We never thought Ross would ever be more than a Jeezy impersonator, but we were wrong. We never thought he would best 50 Cent in a beef, but we were wrong. And we damn sure thought his career was over when the whole corrections officer thing happened, but we were wrong. We never thought he’d become Rick Ross. But hey, he’s Rick Ross—a master of beating the odds. —Insanul Ahmed 

12. Mac Miller, Pink Slime

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11. Pharrell, TBD

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Label: Star Trax/Columbia Records

Pharrell owned 2013. But not under his own name. He made huge hits with Robin Thicke and Daft Punk, earning himself seven Grammy nominations along the way, including Producer of the Year—but people got to wondering, why not save some for himself? This is why he signed to Columbia Records at the end of 2013 and started working on his second solo album. 

There’s more at stake than just hit songs here. Pharrell has had an undeniably brilliant career, but he still lacks that essential album of his own. He's a creative genius, and famous for it. He can stand in any room with the Kanyes, the Drake's, the Timberlakes, the Jay Zs. But while these stars have ammassed full catalogues of classic solo material, all P has with his name on it is 2006’s In My Mind and four N.E.R.D. albums that could never match the impact of his work with his Neptunes production partner, Chad Hugo. Will 2014 be the year that he finally steps into the spotlight alone? —Insanul Ahmed

RELATED: Pharrell Williams: Gravitational Pull (2013 Cover Story)

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10. Nicki Minaj, TBD

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9. Nas, TBD

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8. Pusha T, King Push

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7. Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence

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6. ScHoolboy Q, Oxymoron

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Label: Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope

Back in May, when Mac Miller, ScHoolboy Q, and Action Bronson had their epic Vine war, Action played the trump card when he made a clip pretending to be Q chanting to himself in the mirror, “Gotta be better than Kendrick. Gotta be better than Kendrick...” Now, 2012's Habits & Contradictions is a great favorite here at Complex offices. But is it possible that Top Dawg Entertainment's second fiddle actually best the classic good kid, m.A.A.d city

We don't know. It kinda feels like ScHoolboy's career hasn’t taken off as well as it should have. He’s put out some great material over the past year, like “Yay Yay” and “Man of The Year,” but his only charting single has been the Kendrick-assisted “Collard Greens”—and that only made it to No. 92 on Billboard's Hot 100. (For what it’s worth, it does have over 10 million YouTube views.) But consider this: Kendrick’s highest-charting single before good kid was the Dr. Dre assisted “The Recipe,” and that only reached No. 103. "Swimming Pools (Drank)" didn’t become a Top 40 hit until after its album was released to so much acclaim. So we're thinking, as we await the long-gestating Oxymoron, that the same thing might happen for ScHoolboy. —Insanul Ahmed

5. Rihanna, TBD

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4. Chance The Rapper, TBD

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3. Frank Ocean, TBD

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2. Kanye West, TBD

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1. Kendrick Lamar, TBD

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