The 20 Most Anticipated Summer Albums
Music we can't wait to bang this season.
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The 20 Most Anticipated Summer Albums - They don't call them "winter bangers," do they? Summer has always been a time for the best music, and this year is looking even more enticing than usual. There are several promising, hyped-up rap rookies finally unveiling their debut full-lengths, a few out-of-favor vets looking to resurrect their legacies, a handful of pop-n-B superstars taking important next steps and more. Some will succeed, some will fail, but either way, your ears are going to have a busy season. Click on for BET.com's countdown of Summer 2012's 20 most anticipated albums. —Alex Gale (Photos: John Ricard/BET; Arnold Turner/Getty Images; Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
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Juvenile, ReJuvenation (June 19) - Juvie reportedly reunited with his old cohort Mannie Fresh for the majority of ReJuvenation — the same tag team that delivered classics like "Back Dat Azz Up." And if the LP sounds anything like the Rick Ross–assisted lead single "Power," we're in for a treat.(Photo: Courtesy Rap-A-Lot Records)
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Slaughterhouse, Welcome to: Our House (June 12) - After years of being overlooked and underrated, this supergroup of high-powered spitters is poised to break through on their sophomore effort by aligning with Emimen's Shady Records. If you saw their show-stealing appearance at the BET Hip Hop Awards, you already know what to expect: bars upon bars upon bars.(Photo: Chris McKay/Getty Images)
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DMX, Undisputed (June 26) - It's been six years since X last dropped a true album — six years filled with jail time, drug abuse and downright crazy behavior. As you may have seen on VH1's Couples Therapy, the fallen superstar has a lot to get off his chest, and his long-delayed new album is the perfect place to do so.(Photo: John Ricard/BET)
Photo By John Ricard/BET
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50 Cent, TBA (July 2) - After several delays, 50's newest album finally has a release date — though the lack of an official title still makes us a bit skeptical. But with last year's unexpectedly awesome The Big 10 mixtape plus a highly touted Gangsta Grillz project dropping later this month, Fif seems like he's finally regaining some of his early-2000s hunger and buzz, and just at the right time. (Photo: dpa/Landov)
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Lil Wayne, I Am Not a Human Being II - Baby has been insisting in interviews that Weezy is dropping this sequel to his 2010 album this summer. Though the last edition was below his usual bar for mixtapes or Tha Carter, Weezy is perhaps hip hop's most dynamic MC, even when he's resting on his laurels somewhat.(Photo: John Ricard/BET)
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Usher, Looking for Myself (June 12) - Usher's already dropped three singles from his new album, and it's obvious that even after almost two decades in the industry, he's more focused than ever. He made some unexpected choices by reaching out to alt-dance gurus like Swedish House Mafia and Diplo for production, but he's also reportedly reuniting with the Neptunes — all great things. (Photo: Courtesy RCA)
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French Montana, Excuse My French (July 17) - With a guest spot on the mega-hit "Stay Schemin'" and a standout, bear-skinned appearance on XXL's Freshmen cover, Frenchie has his ducks in a row leading up to the release of his debut album. Bad Boy's the label, Rick Ross is executive-producing and Lex Luger is contributing behind the boards — expect big things.(Photo: John Ricard/BET)
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Justin Bieber, Believe (June 19) - Will Justin Bieber be yet another tween sensation who can't make the transition to long-term, all-grown-up superstardom? Considering his new LP's high-powered lineup of collaborators — Timbaland, Drake, the Neptunes, Kanye — we'd say he's playing with house money.(Photo: EPA/ADE JOHNSON/Landov)
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Big K.R.I.T., Live From the Underground (June 5) - K.R.I.T.'s last three mixtapes have been nothing less than astonishing, raising the bar for other free releases with album-level quality. With that consistent track record, we don't see how the Mississippi rapper-producer could disappoint on his heavily hyped Def Jam debut. (Photo: Courtesy Def Jam)
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Waka Flocka Flame, Triple F Life: Friends, Fans and Family (June 12) - After a hard-up 2011 that saw him contemplating retirement, getting into brawls and suffering the senseless murder of his friend Slim Dunkin, Waka is poised to take out his frustrations on the mic with his second album, even if he is branching out and growing up a bit. (Photo: Courtesy Warner Bros.)
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T.I., Trouble Man - After his second prison sentence in as many years, T.I. has a whole lot to say and a whole lot to prove with his new album. And his recent F--k Da City Up mixtape showed that the King of the South isn't ready to give up his throne just yet. (Photo: Courtesy Atlantic Records)
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Meek Mill, Dreams and Nightmares (August 28) - Meek Mill's "I'ma Boss" pretty much ran things last summer, and his just-dropped Dreamchasers II literally crashed the popular mixtape website DatPiff. But with Rick Ross overseeing things, the Philly spitter's years-in-the-making debut could very well exceed sky-high expectations.(Photo: Courtesy Maybach Music Group)
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Nas, Life Is Good (July 17) - Nas is one of rap's all-time greats, so all of his albums come with a certain degree of hype. But his forthcoming album Life Is Good feels different. He's already released two fresh singles, "Nasty" and "The Don," that feature the Queensbridge MC in top-notch vintage form over dusty, throwback Salaam Remi beats — a good combination by any measure.(Photo: Rob Loud/Getty Images for Bacardi)
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Maybach Music Group, Self Made Vol. 2 (June 26) - Last year's Vol. 1 made Maybach Music one of the hottest brands in hip hop, finally establishing Meek Mill and Wale as stars in their own right. With those two reaching their potential and Ross as consistent as ever, Vol. 2 could be the exclamation point on another huge year for the Bawse and company.(Photo: Courtesy Maybach Music Group)
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A$AP Rocky, LongLiveA$AP (Summer) - With the reported $3 million dollar deal Rocky signed with RCA in the wake of his acclaimed LiveLoveA$AP mixtape last year, he certainly has some big expectations — and bank accounts — to fill. But if the first single from his major label debut, the Hit-Boy–produced banger “Goldie,” is any indication, A$AP's rising to the occasion.(Photo: Courtesy Polo Grounds Records)
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Chris Brown, Fortune (July 3) - Released in the face of widespread media scrutiny, 2011's F.A.M.E. nabbed CB his first No. 1 album and his first Grammy. How will he respond to this unexpected success? You don't have to be one of his rabid Team Breezy fans to want to find out.(Photo: Courtesy RCA)
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2 Chainz, Based on a T.R.U. Story (August 14) - With two kick-ass mixtapes last year and a bevy of pitch-perfect features, including Nicki Minaj's "Beez in the Trap," 2 Chainz is batting a thousand. After resurrecting himself from record-industry limbo, we don't see him striking out now. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)
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Rick Ross, God Forgives, I Don't (July 31) - Hip hop's most consistent superstar, Ross' January mixtape, Rich Forever, showed a master at the top of his craft. And now, after delaying his fifth album in the wake of health problems, he's had even more time to perfect his product. (Photo: Courtesy Maybach Music Group)
