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My Goodness! Ten Delayed Albums That Should Have Come Out A Long Time Ago
Published by Justin Joseph on Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 6:00 am.
Once upon a time, hearing a recording artist say “I’m in the studio” meant that he or she was actually creating musical magic (or at least trying to). But in recent years—thanks to a changed music business and listening audience—that statement carries a subtext that is generally one of or a combination of the following: “I don’t have a record deal,” “I’m not a priority at my label,” “I’m not doing anything, but I can’t let my fans know that,” “I’m being lazy,” or “The singles we released from the project didn’t hit, so we are re-recording.” Whatever the underlying meaning may be, there are certain artists who have made “being in the studio” an extended engagement that has lasted upwards of ten years.
Enter: The Ten Delayed Albums That Should Have Come Out A Long Time Ago.
10. Swizz Beatz – Haute Living
Swizz Beatz’s sonic prints are all over the music industry. His production talents appeared on some of the most highly regarded albums of 2012, including rapper Nas’ much anticipated release Life Is Good and wife Alicia Keys’ recent release, Girl On Fire, but fans are ready to hear more from Mr. Showtime, himself. His 2007 One Man Band Man debut studio effort ruled the New York club scene with bangers like “Money In The Bank” and “It’s Me B*tches.” His sophomore album, Haute Living, was supposed to drop in 2011, but somewhere between then and now its been living on the shelf.
9. Cassie – Electro Love
It’s been nearly seven years since this model-turned-singer released her debut self-titled album, and fans have been waiting patiently for the long awaited follow-up. She’s managed to stay relevant, showing off her stunning looks and physique for various magazines ( Her spread in GQ Magazine’s October 2012 issue, anyone?), some major music features (Nicki Minaj’s “The Boys”), and one off singles (“King of Hearts,” “Balcony,”) that have gotten co-signs from the likes of Beyonce and Kanye West.
8. Dr. Dre – DETOX
After over 13 years of waiting, promotion and mentions; Dr. Dre’s HIGHLY anticipated third album, DETOX, is fast becoming the album that probably won’t be. And if it does surface through an official release, it will be met with a high level of public and critical scrutiny. Two singles have been released, “Kush” featuring Snoop Dogg and Akon, and the Billboard hit, “I Need A Doctor” featuring Eminem and Skylar Grey. However, a set release date is still ”to be determined.” Oh, but he brought the heat on his protege Kendrick Lamar’s album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.
7. Lauryn Hill - Untitled
Never in music history, has a solo artist been able to hold musical reverence with only one album. After leaving The Fugees, Hill released her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998. The project would go on to sell 8 million copies in the United States alone, and garnered the singer/songwriter nine Grammy Award nominations—five of which she won. Four years later, In 2002, she released MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, a collection of songs showcasing her journey. But the raspy—and at times, barely there—voice featured on the release was met with very mixed reviews. Hill began work on a true follow up to Miseducation in 2004, with her label, Columbia Records spending a reported $2.5 million on the project. A music video was shot, and a release date of November 2005 was given. But that date has come and gone.
6. Lil Kim – Untitled
In the seven years since the release of her last project (2005’s The Naked Truth), it seems the Queen has spent more time focusing on other projects—one of them being a year long public beef with Nicki Minaj—rather than working on a follow-up album. While reported “contractual issues” held her back from recording an actual studio album, she somehow managed to record a few features, and a 2011 mixtape, Black Friday—the latter of which was recorded as a F-You to Nicki Minaj. But she’s been relatively ghost since then. Guess we know who won the battle [insert: Nicki Minaj blink]
5. Teedra Moses - Lioness
Why Teedra Moses dropped off the face of the music industry back in 2004, is as puzzling as her debut album title Complex Simplicity, But the sonic impressions Moses has left on music critics and dedicated fans, has kept her name on the list of comebacks we want to see. In March 2011, Moses signed to Maybach Music Group, a label imprint founded by rapper Rick Ross. She subsequently released a mix tape titled “Luxurious Undergrind” in the months that immediately followed, and received applause all over the dot com for it’s tight production and meaningful content. However, Lioness, her debut studio album under the new label, has yet to receive an official release date of it’s own. Hopefully, fans will be able to hear more from this soul-siren in 2013.
4. Maxwell – BLACKsummers’night (Part II and III)
As if the eight year wait for the first installment of the BLACKsummers’night trilogy wasn’t enough, it seems Maxwell has reneged on his promise of releasing the trilogy of albums in a timely fashion. The first of the series, released in 2009, featured a slew of hits including, “Pretty Wings,” “Bad Habit,” and “Fistful of Tears.” But two years later, there is still no part two or three
3. Missy Elliott - Block Party
The release of this project would mark the Grammy Award winning rapper/singer/songwriter/producer’s seventh album and her first project since 2005’s The Cookbook. While health issues have played a major role in the delay, it didn’t stop her from producing hits for the likes of Jazmine Sullivan, Monica and Keyshia Cole. She recently released two singles (“9th Inning” and “Triple Threat”) in September 2012, but a release date for the album is still unknown.
2. Tweet - Love, Tweet
Internet leaks, and label issues have kept Love, Tweet, from seeing an official release. The album, which would serve as the follow-up to 2005’s highly underrated, It’s Me Again, was supposed to be released in November 2011. Just when we thought her Tweet Tuesdays—she released a free track every Tuesday this past Summer—were a sign of an upcoming release date, that hasn’t been the case.
1. D’Angelo – James River
Although he managed to pump out a string of successful live performances this past summer, fact remains It’s been 12 years since D’angelo impacted the world with his [abs and] 2000 sophomore album, Voodoo, which featured the hit tune, “How Does It Feel.” Since the success of that album, drug abuse and a series of legal issues have halted production of his third album. However, according to Questlove, one of the album’s producers, this album is finally near completion. “The album is pretty much 97% done. He’s just finishing his lyrics now. He needs somebody to smack him and take the record away from him because it’s pretty much finished,” he told Pitchfork.com…last year!
