There are not too many albums coming out in the very near future for me to get excited about, I am concerned by this.
Talib Kweli (Ear Drum), Mos Def (Tru3 Magic) and Common (Finding Forever) were all scheduled for an Autumn release but it seems that Common's album, the only one I was really expecting much from, won't be out until 2007. I never was expecting a '06 release for it anyway, but this does leave the next few months pretty bare.
So many of the albums that I expected to make 2006 great have been pushed back to '07. One of the most frustrating being Brother Ali's The Undisputed Truth which has had more different release dates than the flying cars of the future. Spring next year is the latest mentioned. I'm sure it will be worth the wait though.
2007 will hopefully see a onslaught of releases from the mighty Def Jux with new releases from El-P, Cage, Aesop Rock and Cannibal Ox among others planned. The long awaited and much hyped album collaboration between Ghostface Killah and MF Doom has been pushed back to a February release and it is looking almost certain that we will have to wait into the New Year for Doom and Madlib's sequel to Madvillainy.
What are we left with for this year then? Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor has had makeover since *that* leak and will finally be released on September 19th. That and GZA's October slated release look to me, the two brightest moments left this year. Nas has Hip Hop is Dead... The N coming out in a few months, but that has already been described as Nas trying to crossover and make the most of any "pop" appeal he thinks he has.
Jedi Mind Tricks have a new album out soon and while I'm sure Stoupe will once again provide some incredible beats, Vinnie Paz' voice becomes harder to tolerate with every album. Jay-Z could well have his album out before December 31st, surely in some way an attempt to save Def Jam's year. Fishscale, 4:21 and Game Theory are all great albums Jay and we appreciate it but can Def Jam take so many albums selling so badly by a major label's standards?
Another blow to 2006 has been so many artists putting out releases not up to their usual high standards. RJD2 did this twice with well below average efforts first with Aceyalone and then with Blueprint as Soul Position. DJ Shadow may have been doing what he wanted and I respect that and he may owe us nothing, but him releasing The Outsider still contributes to this poor year for hip hop in a negative way. Jurassic 5 were another, with Feedback plagued with tracks trying to hard to be radio friendly and lacking Cut Chemist.
So, compared to the last couple of years, hip hop hasn't really produced much but, i know i said this last year, next year is looking really promising.
The Roots have released a 3 in 1 video to promote their new album Game Theory. The video features In The Music, Here I Come and first single Don't Feel Right.
El-P has started a blog which he will use to document the final stages of the creation of his upcoming album I'll Sleep When You're Dead which will be released in 2007 on (surpisingly enough) Def Jux Records.
Talib Kweli has a new album in the works entitled Eardrum and it is currently slated for a October 10th release.
After his last two releases which disappointed many of his fans, new single Listen should offer them hope that Eardrum could see a real return to form for this half of Blackstar.
Below is the video for Listen, complete with flashy effects and a real hip hop vibe.
