We've been treated to a number of quality albums so far in 2017, and that will only increase with the summertime, a season typically reserved for major releases.
Some artists are returning after a lengthy musical hiatus (Haim), some are moving into position to own the year with anthems (DJ Khaled), while others are looking to show what they're truly capable of through a debut album (Camila Cabello, SZA).
To give you an idea of what's in store, we've put together a list of projects you can expect to get in the coming months. From Calvin Harris to Jay Z, these are the most anticipated albums of summer '17.
SZA, 'Ctrl'
2 Chainz, 'Pretty Girls Like Trap Music'
Vince Staples, 'Big Fish Theory'
Release Date: June 23
Long Beach rapper and Complex cover star Vince Staples recently revealed to Beats 1’s Zane Lowe that his follow-up to Summertime ‘06 is on the way. Previous release “BagBak,” as well as his newest single "Big Fish” will be on the album, and it also sounds like he locked in an eclectic guest list. After Staples' Beats 1 appearance, Lowe took to Twitter to ominously list artists among the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Bon Iver, Flume, and ASAP Rocky for possible features on Big Fish Theory.
It’s unclear whether these features will come to be, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility.
Staples’ strength lies in his gifted storytelling through hard-hitting raps, and no matter what direction he chooses to take on this new project, it’s likely he has the insight to produce an album that’s as lyrically stimulating as it is fresh and compelling. —Nora-Grayce Orosz