Many of 2018's hotly anticipated R&B and hip hop albums have already dropped. But, on the international front, there are still several blockbusters to look forward to over coming months — including Florida phenom Denzel Curry's TA13OO, out this week. Wildly, we could have another Beyonce project on the trail of The Carters' EVERYTHING IS LOVE. A British tabloid, The Sun (!), is reporting that the superstar will air a visual album in conjunction with Netflix. Who knows? Maybe even Lil Wayne's Tha Carter V will finally materialise before Christmas.
Previewed by OG Flavas earlier in the year, MNEK's long-touted album, Language, is confirmed for 7 September. R&B fans can also possibly expect debuts from buzz hipster faves like the UK's elusive soulstress Ray BLK (winner of the BBC Music Sound Of 2017 poll) and Canada's Jessie Reyez (who lately shared the trad soul-stirrer Apple Juice). Here are the 10 urban acts whose albums will break the internet — or your heart.
1. nicki minaj
Hip hop's most successful female artist, Nicki Minaj hasn't had an album since 2014's The Pinkprint. As such, Queen, her fourth LP, will be significant when, after an epic roll-out, it shows on 10 August. Over recent months Minaj has bolstered her profile with numerous cameos — some on mega-hits (Migos' MotorSport alongside Cardi B); some on flops (Fergie's You Already Know); and some controversial (Tekashi 6ix9ine's FEFE). Mind, today she has a new rival in Cardi B, which the media is playing up. Ironically, other female rappers continue to be sidelined by their labels (cue: DeJ Loaf).
Minaj has primed her loyal Barbz for Queen by issuing bangers like the trap Chun-Li and trop Bed (with Ariana Grande). Her former label boss Lil Wayne blazes the promo Rich Sex. Nonetheless, Queen won't entail the fierce Barbie Tingz.
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Minaj has divergent facets: she's a rapper, singer, aesthete, actor and entrepreneur. But Minaj is yet to fully express the unique theatricality she exhibited on Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Will she flex her zaniness on Queen?
2. childish Gambino
The very embodiment of the modern polymath, Donald Glover is a comedian, actor, writer, director, rapper, singer and producer. As Childish Gambino, he has dramatically evolved from goofy indie MC into thinkpiece artist. Following two alt-hip hop albums, Glover segued into psychedelic soul on 2016's Awaken, My Love! — which received an astonishing Grammy nomination for 'Album Of The Year' (he took home 'Best Traditional R&B Performance' with the single Redbone). Alas, last year Glover announced at the Governors Ball Music Festival that he'll release one final album as Childish Gambino. Indeed, he now has a burgeoning Hollywood career. Glover created the acclaimed series Atlanta, in which he also stars, winning Emmys and Golden Globes. He just appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
In May, Glover unveiled a standalone single in This Is America — with viral video — examining racism, police brutality and gun violence. The record — bringing together Afro-beat, gospel and trap — represented a musical peak, topping the charts in the US and here in Australia. Glover, who's newly signed to the major RCA Records, is setting up a farewell album with the electro 'n' B jam Summertime Magic. He'll tour Australia again in November.
3. travis scott
The most hyped hip hop album due in 2018 is surely Travis Scott's AstroWorld — named after a demolished theme park in Houston, Texas. Scott has achieved an unprecedented level of celebrity since romancing Kylie Jenner, the pair welcoming a baby, Stormi. But, as an urban gamechanger, he's never been held in higher esteem.
Last year, Scott foreshadowed his third album with the track Butterfly Effect — now US double-platinum. Then, at Christmas, he dropped a joint project with Migos' Quavo, Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho. This May, he tendered AstroWorld's lead single, Watch — spook trap featuring his mentor Kanye West and Lil Uzi Vert. Produced by Pi'erre Bourne, it sounds not unlike Uzi's XO TOUR Llif3.
There is much speculation about AstroWorld's curation. Hopefully, Scott airs the material he's supposedly cut with Tame Impala's Kevin Parker. The post-rapper cited the Aussie in an interview with Numero Homme: "I like Tame Impala's ambient tracks. I always wanted to do that kind of music, but also something that hits hard."
4. rihanna
Rihanna once issued albums almost annually. However, that changed with 2016's ANTI, the Barbadian asserting herself creatively and working to her own dictates. In the past two years RiRi has focussed on expanding her empire, launching Fenty Beauty. She also joined the ensemble female cast of the movie Ocean's 8. Still, Rihanna hasn't disengaged from music. In 2017 she blessed Kendrick Lamar's LOYALTY.
Reportedly, Rihanna is plotting two albums: one reggae and the other pop. Curiously, there is more info circulating about the former — the Pon De Replay singer determined to tap into her Caribbean dancehall roots. Word is that the Jamaican Supa Dups is among the producers. One figure unlikely to appear in the credits is Diplo. The Major Lazer founder (good-naturedly) divulged that Rihanna told him his music sounded like "a reggae song at an airport".
5. chance the rapper
Chicago's Chance The Rapper has enjoyed extraordinary success as an unsigned act, dropping mixtapes. But, having scored multiple Grammys for 2016's exclusively-digital Coloring Book, he's hinted at offering a more conventional (retail) LP. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune published on 16 July, Chano suggested that an album was to be released shortly — only to backtrack on Twitter. The MC also revealed that he's commenced another project with Kanye West. In the interim, Chance has posted four songs on SoundCloud. Typically a cheerful, conscious lyricist, he articulates a new assertive, combative and political perspective on the stand-out I Might Need Security, which samples its "fuck you" from a Jamie Foxx stand-up show. Chance is keeping us guessing.
6. ariana grande
Many a contemporary female vocalist straddles pop and R&B — from Rita Ora to Alessia Cara. But few have the street nous of Ariana Grande — who, at least initially, was routinely compared to Mariah Carey. On 17 August, Grande will present Sweetener — and it's shaping up to be her defining album musically and narratively, the singer heavily involved in the writing.
Grande has endured great tumult since 2016's Dangerous Woman. There was the shocking terrorist attack at her Manchester Arena concert in 2017. Personally, she split from her rapper boyfriend, Mac Miller. Grande is now engaged to Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson.
Helmed by Max Martin, No Tears Left To Cry is one of the year's most memorable singles — its theme of poignant resilience juxtaposed with grooving UK garage beats. The post-trop sequel, God Is A Woman, reaffirms the message of feminist empowerment Grande introduced on her last LP. And she's accompanied by Nicki Minaj on the Pharrell Williams-produced rave, The Light Is Coming. Coolest of all, Missy Elliott guests on Borderline.
7. denzel curry
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One of the seminal cloud rappers to spring from South Florida's hip hop underground, Denzel Curry is still underrated — largely because he's remained independent. But, even on premiering with 2013's Nostalgic 64, he found himself pursued by Eminem's Shady Records. Now Curry — who toured Australia in early 2017 — is back with a bold concept album, TA13OO (Taboo). The LP — which has three acts, Light, Gray and Dark — will be released in instalments. As the title TA13OO indicates, Curry tackles difficult topics such as trauma, depression and the political climate in Trump's US (SIRENS, featuring J Cole's rapper protege JID and Cali electro-popster Billie Eilish). In the searing single CLOUT COBAIN, Curry exposes the toxicity of fan culture and industry machinations. Yet TA13OO is musically disruptive, too, Curry delving into everything from his hardcore-spiked trap to R&B and synth-funk.
8. zayn
In 2016 the enigmatic former One Directioner Zayn Malik (or just ZAYN) delivered a stunning album in Mind Of Mine. Teaming with Frank Ocean producer Malay, he created intimate, and nuanced, avant-soul. Malik has been steadily gearing up for a sequel. Last year's single, Dusk Till Dawn — a duet with Sia produced by Greg Kurstin — signalled a return to the big pop of Pillowtalk. But Malik keeps it soulful on Let Me — an '80s groove-ballad reminiscent of George Michael — and Entertainer. He reunites with Malay for the latest cut, Sour Diesel, a throwback to Princely funk-rock. In the lead-up to Z2, Malik has likewise shared covers of classics by everyone from Beyonce to Elvis Presley to Jhene Aiko. Don't sleep.
9. james blake
Originating as an amorphous post-dubstep musician, producer and vocalist, James Blake today commands cult status in urban circles. The Brit's studio prowess has been solicited by Beyonce, Frank Ocean and OutKast's Andre 3000. After producing for Kendrick Lamar's DAMN., he prestigiously contributed to Black Panther: The Album.
Blake — his last outing 2016's The Colour In Anything — has latterly previewed material live. In January, he circulated the single If The Car Beside You Moves Ahead — hyper-experimental with fragmented, twisted and disembodied vocals over glitchy beats. An album seems tenable. In the meantime, Blake has emerged as an advocate for artists experiencing mental health issues — crucially challenging the media's flippant use of the "sad boy" descriptor.
10. gallant
In 2016, the Columbia, Maryland singer/songwriter Christopher Gallant debuted with Ology — avant 'n' B verging on indie-rock. While some unfairly consider Gallant as a Frank Ocean understudy, fans are catching on (his label is calling him an "R&B iconoclast"). Last year he hit Bluesfest, selling out side-gigs.
In fact, Gallant has showcased his impressive range with a YouTube series, In The Room, centred on live collabs. He notably covered Amy Winehouse's Tears Dry On Their Own with Dua Lipa. Gallant's sophomore is creeping up. In April, he purveyed Gentleman — sensual neo-soul balladry that sounds like D'Angelo fronting The Internet. But the first official single is apparently the wonky funk Doesn't Matter, which comes with a remix featuring Harlem trap lord A$AP Ferg.
