Ten hip-hop albums to look forward to in 2023

The first half of the year really spoiled us in terms of hip hop albums: Loredana, Apache 207, Kool Savas & Takt32 and Lil Uzi Vert released new records. But what can we look forward to in the second part of 2023? Here is our list of exciting rap releases for July through December 2023.

1. Nicki Minaj – PINK FRIDAY 2

As all Nicki Minaj fans probably know, the US rapper released her debut LP, PINK FRIDAY, in 2010. Not only did it peak at number two on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, but it also included the track “Super Bass,” which gave Minaj her international breakthrough. A song that managed to go viral before it was even official. Because it became a trend to film and post yourself rapping – practically TikTok before the birth of the platform. And even though PINK FRIDAY was her debut, the 40-year-old had already garnered notable guest posts like Rihanna, Drake and will.i.am. 13 years and three studio albums later, a continuation of the record is to come. At the end of 2022, the Queen of Rap announced the work for October and recently postponed it to the November 17th. So far, tracklist and album cover are unknown – so it remains exciting.

2. Badmómzjay – SURVIVAL MODE

The German rapper started her career as a “rap prodigy” after rapping to a Nicki Minaj beat and posting the clip on social media. Her first song in the studio then followed as a guest contribution on Monet192’s single “Papi”. Since then, her debut album has followed in 2021, which was named after her alter ego BADMÓMZ and with which she made it to seventh place in the German charts. Now Badmómzjay’s second album SURVIVAL MODE is to follow. It was originally slated for early this year, but the musician later pushed back the release date to December 31. The 20-year-old has already released the four singles “Tränen”; “Yeah Hoe”; “To the Party” feat. Domiziana and the theme song “Survival Mode”.

3. Travis Scott – UTOPIA

It’s been five years since the release of his last LP ASTROWORLD. His fourth and next album, UTOPIA, is to follow this year. The US rapper had already announced this in 2020, but postponed the release several times. With the album originally slated for release in June, the 32-year-old recently hosted his record’s launch event on Instagram for the July 28th at. Depending on whether he is allowed to do so or not, the release party will take place at one of the seven wonders of the world: at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

4. Casper – ONLY LOVE, ALWAYS

Last year Casper’s fifth solo album ALLES WAR SCHÖN UND NOTS TAT WEH was released and made it to number one in the German charts. Everything from pop to post-rock influences was present on the work. Now his next album NUR LIEBE, IMMER am November 24th come. Casper provided a foretaste with his first two single releases “Emma” and “Sommer” featuring Cro. As in EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING THAT HURT, the native of Bielefeld gives us melancholic vibes times 3000. In “Summer”, for example, the 40-year-old reflects on himself and his life and prompts us to think.

5. Katja Krasavice – A HEART FOR B**CHES

Katja Krasavice has already released her three albums BOSS B**CH, EURE MAMI (2021) and PUSSY POWER (2022) since 2020. With these, the German rapper achieved a hat trick, as she placed at the top of the German album charts three times in a row. In the last season of “Deutschland sucht den Superstar”, the 26-year-old was also on the jury, where there was a heated argument between her and Dieter Bohlen. In her disstrack “Women” she made clear what her position on Bohlen has been since then. The single is also a release from their next LP EIN HERZ FÜR B**CHES, which they will release for the September 1 has announced.

6. Kontra K – HOPE NO ONE STEALS FROM ME

Only in February of this year did Kontra K release the deluxe version of its eleventh studio album FOR THE HEAVEN THROUGH HELL, which came out the year before. Since his debut album DOBERMANN in 2010, the rapper has managed to give his fans a new LP to listen to almost every year. In 2023 he doesn’t seem to be stopping either, because the native of Berlin announced his latest work HOFFNUNG KRAUT ME NIEMAND for the in June November 10th at. And not only that – Kontra K also shared the associated tour dates on Instagram. In February and March next year he will perform in nine German cities.

7. Lil Uzi Vert – LUV IS RAGE 3

PINK TAPE is Lil Uzi Vert’s third studio album, which the rap artist just dropped. Nevertheless, the next work already seems to be in the starting blocks. Because Lil Uzi Vert promised his fans to release the follow-up to LUV IS RAGE 2 (2017) if they manage to catapult PINK TAPE to number one on the US album charts. Now the album actually managed to top the US Billboard 200 and with that Lil Uzi Vert also owes us a LUV IS RAGE 3. In a video filmed by fans, Lil Uzi Vert was asked about the promise and the answer was that the LP in a few months and should follow this year. However, an exact release date is not yet known.

8. LIZ-AMY WINEHOUZE

LIZ’s second album, AMY WINEHOUZE, is due out on Aug October 13th come. The rapper gave a first impression a few days before the record was announced with the track “Main Grau”. In it, the 25-year-old addresses the love-hate relationship with her native city of Frankfurt. Apparently, their LP should also carry a reflective note, because the title is supposed to be a conscious allusion to the singer Amy Winehouse. LIZ would be able to find parallels to herself and the British artist: Both are women in the music industry, which is still male-dominated, and LIZ can also identify with the artist’s fear of failure. Accordingly, it will be interesting how the German rapper reproduces this in her album.

9. Post Malone-AUSTIN

One release not long in coming is Post Malone’s fifth studio album AUSTIN. This is supposed to be on July 28th appear. The LP bears his real name – Austin Richard Post – in the title and is intended to have a more personal touch than his previous albums. The US rapper explained that he played the guitar himself on each of the tracks. With the singles “Chemical” and “Mourning”, Post Malone has already released two tracks from the record.

10. Eko Fresh – EKSCALIBUR

In June, Eko Fresh announced its twelfth studio album EKSCALIBUR and revealed the associated tracklist. A week later, the first single “Mein Revier” followed with guest contributions from Finch and G-Style. EKSCALIBUR is to be am August 25th to be published.