Hip Hop has been in my blood ever since the mid-80s. If you follow me, then you know that my love for the genre is visible through my postings. My featured Throwback Thursday joints have been around 75% hip hop. Nas went on an incredible run where he dropped six albums in a three year span. Afterwards, he encouraged a lot of artists from his era and earlier to drop new music. E-40 has continued to release music while being an entrepreneur. Snoop Dogg is another artist that drops music as evident with his help with the new Dogg Pound album. Spice 1 and Ghostface Killah are two of the veteran MCs to release dope projects. Besides the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef, there hasn’t really been an emphasis on mic skills from today’s artists. Rakim and LL Cool J are two other pioneers that will drop new albums soon.
I’m in agreement with Nas, a lot of our old school artists should continue to drop music because there’s no age limit. Below are 11 old school rappers that should release new music within the next year.
Outkast
We all have wanted this for a very long time. Outkast haven’t dropped a real project together as a duo since the Stankonia album in 2000. Big Boi have gone on to release several projects over the years. We all have wanted a solo Andre 3000 joint over the years. 3 Stacks released an album of him playing the flute. LL Cool J has stated that Andre 3000 need to and can drop an album we want to hear. With the recent passing of Rico Wade, could this be enough for them to drop an album?
Scarface
Scarface is one of my favorite rappers of all time. Not too long ago, Face did his Tiny Disk concert, and it was arguably the best one I’ve seen. The last time we heard him on an official release was back in 2015. Scarface released his Deeply Rooted album, but the Lost Files joint did drop in 2017. We all would love to hear the news of Scarface hitting the studio to work on his 12th studio album. Face did have his fair share of health issues over the years and that could be the reason why there’s no new music.
Ludacris
Ludacris is one of the more underrated spitters to ever pick up the mic. Luda has teased us over the years with new music, but nothing has come about it. It was rumored that he was working with Timbaland on a new album, but that was several years ago. The last album from Ludacris was his Ludaversal joint back in March of 2015. It was the only official release that didn’t go at least gold. Ludacris has been busy with the Fast & Furious franchise so we most likely won’t get that album we want.
Jadakiss
Jadakiss will always be on my list of rappers that should drop an album. Kiss released his last album back in March of 2020. Ignatius was the name of the album, and it was his first solo release since 2015. Jadakiss has said he’s in album mode and he want to do this one correctly. The last thing we remember Kiss doing was doing the Lox against the Dip Set Verzuz.
T.I.
T.I. released his last album back in October of 2020. The L.I.B.R.A. was the name of the album and it was a really good project. T.I. is back on the music scene with the recent single release for an upcoming PSC project. T.I. has said that he will drop one final album. Kill the King is the proposed name and has been talked about for about three years now.
Big Daddy Kane
We now head to rappers who hit the scene back in the 1980s. If LL Cool J and Rakim can release new music so can Big Daddy Kane. Big Daddy Kane hasn’t released an album since all the way back in 1998. Kane has been releasing a series of videos of him just freestyling. My hope is that he’s testing the waters and maybe get in the studio for an album.
Slick Rick
Slick Rick is looked at as one of the illlest storytellers to ever touch the mic. Slick Rick released his classic debut back in 1988 called the Great Adventures of Slick Rick. If Rakim and LL can put out another album then so can Slick Rick. Rick last released an album back in May of 1999 called The Art of Storytelling and it went gold.
Kool G. Rap
Kool G. Rap released his first solo album back in 1989 alongside DJ Polo. Road to the Riches was the name of the album and it was well received. G. Rap along with Kane, Biz Markie, MC Shan, Marley Marl, Masta Ace and others were a part of the legendary Juice Crew. Kool G. Rap did release an album in 2022 called Last of a Dying Breed. The album was great, which is why I’m hoping Kool G. Rap will drop an album within the next year. G. Rap have dropped three albums within the last 10 years.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony makes this list because I’d like one last album with all the members. Last month was the 30th anniversary of the Creepin’ on Ah Come Up album. The big question would be the health of Krayzie Bone? Krayzie Bone had a health scare about a year ago and we don’t know the ramifications from it. If Krayzie Bone is healthy enough to do I’m hoping it gets done.
50 Cent
50 Cent is a busy man these days as he’s caught up in a lot of stuff with TV and movies. Recently, he opened a movie studio in Louisiana where he’s focused on other forms of entertainment. 50 Cent haven’t dropped a new album in a little over 10 years. Throughout the years he has teased new music, but nothing has ever come about it. 50 Cent did do a major tour for the 20th anniversary of the release of Get Rich or Die Trying. We all hope that it will get those creative juices going. Honestly, this is something I’m not envisioning happening, but who knows.
Fabolous
Last and not least is Fabolous on this list. Fabolous has released seven studio albums, the collaborative joint with Jadakiss and a plethora of mixtapes. Fabolous released his last album in November of 2019. We would love an album by him but wouldn’t mind another one of those classic S.O.U.L. Tapes either.
What do you think about my list of old school rappers who need to drop an album? Anyone else would you like to add to the list? How about anyone on the list you wouldn’t want to hear an album from? Leave some feedback below about anything related to the old school rappers we want new music from.
