New Albums of 2010

Who is schedule to drop albums this year? Rap-Up.com did a list of 10 Most Anticipated Albums of 2010. I picked a few out of their list to inform you all about.

Usher – Raymond vs. Raymond
Usher is back to claim his throne with his first album since 2008’s Here I Stand. Audiophiles have been able to sample the R&B crooner’s sixth album with the leak of several tracks including “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home),” “In My Bag,” “Little Freak,” and the buzz single “Papers,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Songwriter Rico Love has already called the album “classic” and Ester Dean compared it to the biggest success of his career, 2004’s multi-platinum Confessions.

The-Dream – Love King
The man with the Midas touch’s sophomore album Love vs. Money landed on many critics’ best of 2009 lists and he assaulted the charts once again by penning hits for Beyoncé and Rihanna. Yet The-Dream still hasn’t received his props as an artist. Will the Radio Killa, who wed Christina Milian last year, be able to change that with his third album, Love King?

Lupe Fiasco – Lasers
It wasn’t too long ago that Lupe Fiasco told Rap-Up.com, “I just don’t really feel like rapping anymore.” But thankfully the Grammy winner has changed his mind. Last year he fed our appetites with his mixtape Enemy of the State: A Love Story and leaked songs “Shining Down” and “I’m Beaming.” Now hip-hop heads eagerly await the Chicago MC’s first album in over two years, Lasers (Love Always Shines Every time Remember 2 Smile).

Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh
Ms. Badu picks up where she left off on 2008’s stellar New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War with New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh, due February 23. The soul sister enlists The Roots’ ?uestlove (“Window Seat”) and samples Biggie (“Get Money”) on her fifth studio album, which features contributions from James Poyser, 9th Wonder, Sa-Ra, and Madlib.


Ciara – Untitled
Although her latest album Fantasy Ride was recently released in May, Ciara is already in the final stages of recording her fourth as-yet-untitled LP. Hitmaking duo Tricky Stewart and The-Dream take up executive-producing duties this time around. While she has remained mum about details, Tricky hinted at the project’s direction. “It’s just her returning back to her strongest form,” he told Rap-Up.com. “It’s gonna be Ciara at her best. It’s gonna be indicative of how much people love that first album [Goodies] and how people love ‘Promise’ and other records when she’s had those really serious connections.” Tracks include “Gifted” and “Speechless” featuring The-Dream.

Lupe Fiasco: "We are not losers. We're lasers"

Get excited for Lupe Fiasco's third album! Lasers is the upcoming release and here is the album trailer.

The first single, “Shining Down” featuring Matthew Santos, will be available on iTunes this Tuesday.

Lupe Fiasco Can't Stay Away From The Spotlight

Lupe Fiasco said he would retire and now those plans are on the back burner. The 4 time Grammy nominee has taken to his blog saying that his once final album LupE.N.D. has been “canceled until further notice.” Instead, he’s planning to release three albums over the next year and a half.

“Due to circumstances beyond my control…the album roll out has changed radically…LUPE.N.D. has been postponed indefinitely!!! As a matter of fact consider it cancelled until further notice!!!” he wrote on Friday.

Lupe also revealed that his third album, The Great American Rap Album, will arrive in June. “See ya’ll in June and again in December and again next June. LupE.N.D. right after that…when the liberation comes!!!”

LupE.N.D. was supose to be a three disc set, maybe he owes albums to his record label.

Photo:Current.com

Lil Wayne Leads Grammys With 8 Nominations

Lil Wayne leads the nominations for the 51st annual GRAMMY Awards with eight nominations, it was announced Wednesday in Los Angeles. Coldplay earned seven nominations; Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, and Kanye West have six apiece; Jazmine Sullivan scored five nods; T.I., Lupe Fiasco, Jennifer Hudson, and Adele garnered four each.
Coldplay’s Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III, Ne-Yo’s Year of the Gentleman, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand, and Radiohead’s In Rainbows will vie for Album of the Year.
Record of the Year includes Adele’s “Chasing Pavements,” Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love,” M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes,” and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’ “Please Read the Letter.”
The Best Rap Album nominees are Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III, T.I.’s Paper Trail, Jay-Z’s American Gangster, Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, and Nas’ Untitled.


Winners will be announced on February 8, 2009 during the live ceremony held at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Click here to see the full list of nominees.

Who’s Quitting The Rap Game?

Lupe Fiasco spoke to Rap-Up.com after performing at the VMAs about his 3rd ad possibly last album. LUPN is due to hit stores at the end of 2009. “I just don’t really feel like rapping anymore. I’m going to write a book and put out other artists’ albums like Matthew Santos.” Lupe admitted.

Here is Dumb It Down