Beyonce
Album Title: Untitled
Everything Beyonce Knowles does is thoughtfully planned out, so it’s a bit surprising that one of pop music’s biggest names has been mum on details of a follow up to ‘I Am…Yours.’ Still, she’s been bubbling under the radar, turning up alongside hubby Jay-Z to perform ‘Forever Young’ and also showing up at one of Kanye West’s ‘Good Friday’ joints over the summer. B also edited and directed her platinum-certified concert DVD. The singer and actress turns 30 this year and given rumors she hit the studio in 2010, we’re hoping she’s planning to celebrate in a big way — with more infectious No. 1 singles.
Chris Brown
Album Title: ‘F.A.M.E.’
It’s clear that Chris Brown is destined to reclaim his position as one of R&B music’s leading men. That could happen if Brown would stop being his own worst enemy. With three 2011 Grammy Award nominations, a notable comeback tribute performance to Michael Jackson on last year’s ‘BET Awards’ and one of 2010′s hottest remixes (‘Deuces’), the Virginia native has fans eagerly anticipating his new album, which is shaping up to be a double disc.
Drake
Album Title: ‘Take Care’
Drake is wasting no time getting his sophomore set to the masses. The Young Money rapper is hoping for a March or April release and has already confirmed that he’s in the studio with 9th Wonder and Q-Tip. Drake is also set to finalize a collaboration project with Lil’ Wayne in 2011.
Willow Smith
Album Title: Untitled
Although being the daughter of superstar actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith would normally be enough to ensure a successful entertainment career, this 10-year-old budding pop starlet has the support of hip-hop mogul Jay-Z, who signed Willow to his Roc Nation label. She also has a hit single, ‘Whip My Hair,’ which she rocked out to on ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.’
D’Angelo
Album Title: Untitled
In 2010, the blogosphere buzzed that the ‘How Does It Feel’ singer was back in the lab and working on a comeback R&B record. Hopefully, the extra time will inspire D’Angelo to get back to his sex symbol physique, which could mean that another hot video is in his future.
Lil Wayne
Album Title: ‘The Carter 4′
‘The Carter 3′ turned Lil Wayne into a household name and earned him critical acclaim. Since being locked up, his Young Money staple of artists, including Drake and Nicki Minaj, have become the hottest acts in the game. And though he’s appeased fans with guest spots since his release, rap’s darling is sure to make 2011 another banner year.
Lauryn Hill
Album Title: Untitled
A headlining slot on 2010′s “Rock the Bells” tour didn’t give this former Fugees front woman a great name. Fans of the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter were disappointed with long waits, her loud band and the re-arrangements of some of her classics, but Hill is keeping a can-do attitude and has hit the road, most notably in New York, for a string of small venue dates that have been getting mixed reviews. We’re hoping that’s enough to inspire some new songs from one of our favorites.
Lupe Fiasco
Album Title: ‘Lasers’
In 2008, Lupe announced that ‘Lasers’ would be his final album, but the project has been delayed so long by his label, Atlantic Records, that we’re hoping he has enough material recorded for a follow-up project. Executives are finally paying attention after fans protested outside of Atlantic’s New York City offices with a petition of 28,000 signatures to show they want the Chicago MC’s Neptunes-produced third album out and soon.
Kanye West & Jay-Z
Album Title: ‘Watch the Throne’
Who can hate on two of today’s biggest rap stars putting out an album of their recent collaborations? Yeezy’s ‘Good Friday’ collabos, to hype his recent album, ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,’ featured big brother, Jay-Z, but the duo decided it was time to put their notable tracks on an EP, which is set to drop in 2011.
Mary J Blige
Album Title: Untitled
The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul decided against releasing an album this holiday season. Instead the Carol’s Daughter spokesperson has been concentrating on her business ventures, including a fragrance and a new line of sunglasses. But don’t expect MJB to stay away from the Billboard charts for too long. She’s busy working with Swizz Beatz on a new project.
HONORABLE MENTION
Maxwell
Album Title: ‘blackSUMMERS’night’
The first offering in Maxwell’s trilogy of new music, 2009′s ‘BLACKsummers’night’ earned the soul singer countless awards and spawned a sold-out tour in 2010. The ‘Pretty Wings’ singer sent music writers and bloggers autographed holiday cards with the new album’s title to let it be known that his follow-up is coming soon.
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