New Year, New music
By Leah Smith
In 2024 we received several album releases which are still topping the charts. The two most popular are Kendrick Lamar’s twelve song album GNX which was free to stream on November 22, 2024 with two songs (“gloria” and “luther”) featuring SZA, who, with a late release, dropped the deluxe edition of her hit album SOS, previously released December 20th of 2022. SOS Deluxe: Lana was supposed to be released December 20th, midnight EST, but was pushed back to 3 pm that day due to last minute changes. This album has one listed feature by Kendrick Lamar on the song 30 for 30. These two admired artists recently announced their Grand National Tour which sold out within minutes. Fans have been busy speculating what songs will be included on the setlist, most guesses include widely beloved songs such as “Doves in the Wind,” “All of the Stars,” “Luther,” “Babylon,” and more. Although those albums and others carried over into 2025, we will soon be treated to several drops by some of the world's favorite artists.
The Weeknd will be releasing his 6th studio album, titled Hurry up, Tomorrow on January 24th. This album is supported by three pre-released singles: “Timeless (ft. Playboi Carti),” “Dancing in the Flames,” and “São Paulo (ft. Anitta),” which will be accompanied by a psychological thriller movie under the same name. This album is anticipated to have several features, including another from Carti and Anitta.
Another early 2025 album is Balloonerism, by beloved singer Mac Miller. Is he back from the dead? No. Balloonerism is a posthumous album, meaning Miller pre-recorded this album, it is speculated sometime in March of 2014, four years before his tragic death in September of 2018. This is Mac Miller's second posthumous album, the first being Circles, made public in January of 2020. We will be free to stream Balloonerism on January 17th of this year.
For a change of genre, Lana Del Rey is rumoured to be switching up and releasing a “classic country american album” titled The Right Person Will Stay. This is her tenth studio album, and other albums Chemtrails over the Country Club, and Blue Banisters, had some country elements, but this is the first album to be advertised as a fully classical country album. We are reportedly getting this album, along with its lead single dubbed “Henry,” on May 21st.
If you’re in the mood for another talented female artist, Canadian pop singer Tate Mcrae is dropping an album labeled So Close to What on February 21st, followed by the beginning of her 50-date world tour; the Miss Possessive Tour, beginning in March in Mexico City, making her way through South America and Europe, and just one quick stop in Canada, before arriving in the United States accompanied by opener Zara Larasson. In anticipation of the album, a single with the name of “2 Hands" was put out on November 14th of 2024 to raise excitement for the album and tour. After Tate’s rapid rise to fame over the past two years, prices for tickets to this pop star’s tour were more expensive than they've ever been, with the most expensive being around $2,000. To some artists, this might not sound that impressive, but two years ago tickets were sold for $30, which is a stark comparison.
Some other artists that have had the spotlight in past years are also releasing slightly less anticipated albums, such as Kesha, Central Cee, Miley Cyrus, Cardi B, and Roddy Rich.
Past the end of May we don't know much about more album drops, but there is a date TBA album that is guaranteed to raise some excitement. A$AP Rocky is releasing an album called Don’t be Dumb which was preceded by several singles, like “Highjack (ft. Jessica Pratt),” “Ruby Rosary (ft. J Cole),” and more. Rocky’s album is said to be accompanied by possible guest appearances by big name artists such as Rihanna, J Cole and Playboi Carti.
With all this work on other albums, who knows if Carti will ever drop his supposed album I AM MUSIC, that he’s been leaking snippets of through his alternate instagram account. Fans are hopeful, and some are checking every day for another “hint” about a possible release, but come up with false news. Will his fans ever get their album? Or will Carti continue to lead them on?
