Azealia Banks, Snoop Lion, and the 5 Most Anticipated Albums of 2013

Culture

A number of artists are making their major label debuts in 2013. These rebirths will be the most exciting musical moments to occur this year.

One of the most interesting happenings in music culture is seeing how these artists react to success and/or failure. Some artists succeed, others retreat back to the EP and mix tape game, others try again determined. We'll see how 2013’s new artists do.Here are a few albums to look forward to this year.

It has been foretold that the Harlem Pretty Boy will be the new guiding voice in hip hop. He is not the strongest lyricist, but he has a very good sense of sound and style. His music is visceral and sensual. It’s luxurious, dark, trippy and polished. A$AP Rocky is poised to take the crown. “Goldie” was the best rap single to drop last year, and the video for the title track “Long Live A$AP” was intriguing and intriguing as well.

Azealia Banks is riding a wave of magazine praise and successful mix tapes, as she prepares to drop her major label debut, Broke With Expensive Taste, February 12. We have no hints as to what the album will sound like, because the first single had sample clearance issues and was removed from the album. We don’t know whether she will be rapping or singing. Banks said in a recent interview that rapping is “tacky” and “unladylike” and that one day she knows she’ll get tired of it. Yet, her snide, double-time, “I’m a rude bitch” raps on songs like “Liquorice” and "212" are what launched her into the spotlight in the first place. That, her cutting edge stylish dress, and her infectious dance beats. Azealia Banks will most likely be rapping on Broke With Expensive Taste, and the album will most likely bang.

Beyoncé’s little sis, Solange, will be dropping her third studio album this year. She released an EP last November entitled True that she said was be a preview to the sound of her upcoming studio album. The songs on the True were catchy and the effort was critically acclaimed. The single “Losing You” was a somber 80’s Madonna ballad sung over over a playful and dancy afrobeat — an interesting mix of styles. Solange’s upcoming studio full-length has no title as of yet, but it in likelihood be worth a worth a few listens.

Diplo will also be coming out with his own Major Lazer album in February, Free The Universe. The lead single, entitled “Get Free,” is uplifting and beautiful and features Amber Coffman of The Dirty Projectors.

Both albums will undoubtedly be entertaining releases.

Earl Sweatshirt’s debut has been a long time coming. The boy turned heads with his slow, clever, infinitely internally-rhyming flows on his first mix tape, Earl, which came out in 2010. Those 10 tracks essentially ignited the wildfire fascination with Odd Future. However, before he could revel in any of the group’s success, 16-year-old Sweatshirt had to turn away from music. He spent nearly two years at a school for at-risk boys in Samoa, while his Odd Future brothers toured the world. Earl is back now and has released the first single, “Chum,” that will appear on an upcoming album, Doris. The boy can still rap. He hasn’t lost a thing. If anything, he’s matured and his talents have grown. He no longer raps about rape and mindless hooligan violence. Sweatshirt’s unique flow has won him a lot of admirers, including Pharrell and The Neptunes, Flying Lotus, Frank Ocean, and The Alchemist. They’ll be working with him on his album. We’ll see if the music was worth the wait.