This past decade has been a memorable one, especially in regards to music. Many songs quickly shot up the charts with their undeniable catchiness, variety and flair. Others became popular because of memes, or maybe they steadily crept their way into your Spotify playlist without you even realizing it. Whatever the case may be, these songs have had a huge impact on the previous years and possibly the entire decade.
With the new year in full swing, there is so much curiosity surrounding which artists will be releasing new music in 2020. Only time will tell, but until then, here’s a list of musicians who are expected to release new music this year.
Billie Eilish
The eighteen-year-old singer has certainly had many hits under her belt including her 2016 debut single “Ocean Eyes” which quickly became a fan-favorite for its ethereal and light sound.
She has received critical acclaim this past year, particularly from her debut album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go.” Songs such as “Bury a Friend,” “Bad Guy” and “When the Party’s Over” had R&B influences with mellow, yet mildly dark undertones that set her apart, making her a four-time Grammy nominee.
Since the release of her debut album, Eilish has dropped a single from her sophomore album, which is rumored to be released this year. She is currently working on writing a new James Bond theme song for the film “No Time to Die” for the movie franchise.
“It feels crazy to be apart of this in every way,” Eilish said in an interview with CNN. “I’m still in shock.”
Frank Ocean
Many fans are awaiting the return of the “Thinking Bout You” singer who has been popping in and out of the public eye since the release of his latest album “Blonde” in 2016. His enigmatic mannerisms and chronic disappearances have made him the subject of piqued curiosity from many people, even from those who don’t proclaim to be fans of Ocean. According to W Magazine, “(he) is always working on music and other things.”
He was also the subject of speculation at Camp Flog Gnaw last year when he was expected to perform as a surprise guest for the festival. When festival-goers realized the surprise guest was Canadian rapper Drake, fans went into a disappointed uproar.
Since then, Ocean has released two singles late last year, “In My Room” and “DHL,” rumored to be from his upcoming album, which is set to be released this year. He is also scheduled to headline Coachella this year, his first live performance since 2017.
Rihanna
This songstress-turned-business mogul has not released any music since the release of her latest album “ANTI” in 2016. Songs like “Needed Me” and “Work” climbed the charts and ruled radio airplay with their edgy, Caribbean style. Since then, she has been featured in other artists’ songs such as “Wild Thoughts” with DJ Khalid, “Loyalty” with Kendrick Lamar and “LEMON” with Pharrel’s music group N.E.R.D in 2017.
In the meantime, she has launched several successful business ventures including Fenty x Puma (a holistic fashion brand), Fenty Beauty (her makeup brand that made waves with its inclusivity in shade ranges), Fenty (her LVMH luxury fashion brand, making her the first woman of color to partner with the esteemed fashion house) and Savage x Fenty (her lingerie line that boasts inclusivity of body types), starred in the movie “Guava Island” with Donald Glover and much more.
Although she has been busy building an empire, she has not forgotten her musical roots and has been teasing the release of her ninth studio album to her fans in a joking manner since last year. The album is supposed to be “reggae-inspired or reggae-infused,” Rihanna said in an interview with Vogue. “It’s in my blood.”
The album was supposed to come out last year, according to Rihanna’s response to a fan on Instagram. Currently, the album is completed and ready to be released, but, according to Rihanna’s Instagram account, she “is listening to R9 by (herself) and (refuses) to release it.”
Lil Uzi Vert
The Philadelphia-born rapper has been pegged by fans to release new material since the release of his latest solo album “Luv is Rage 2” in 2017. Since then, he has collaborated with several different artists throughout 2018 and 2019 including Young Thug, Juice WRLD, Gucci Mane, Tyler the Creator, Lil Baby, Blocboy JB and so many more.
He has also released six singles, posted the promotional shoot on his Instagram and is constantly teasing many snippets for his upcoming album “Eternal Atake,” which is set to release this year. The artwork for the project caused serious controversy due to its stark similarities to the logo of the Heaven’s Gates cult, which was known for the mass suicide of its members in 1997.
In 2018, Uzi said during a concert that he “was finally done with that joint, imma drop that jawn,” but the delay may have been attributed to his former music label, Generation Now, which Uzi had constant discrepancies and disagreements with. He has since broken ties with the label and is now on Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation. The album is supposed to drop “soon, I guess,” Uzi said in a statement. “Yeah, soon.”
J Cole
The “No Role Modelz” rapper has been busy with the artist collective and record label “Dreamville,” which he founded in 2007 with his manager Ibrahim Hamad. They have released the Grammy-nominated album “Revenge of the Dreamers III” and just released the deluxe version of the album “Revenge of the Dreamers III: Director’s Cut.” Cole has not released a solo album since the release of “KOD” in 2018. The upcoming album, which is set to release this year and rumored to be titled “The Fall Off,” is supposed to be a direct response to his previous album. He teased the album during his performance at the Day N Night festival in Las Vegas last year with a parody presidential campaign video that featured Cole. Fans were also offered campaign posters at the concert. “Make your voice heard,” the video said. “Vote for the Fall Off, 2020.”
These artists, and many more, have persistent fan bases just waiting for their next music release. It’s only a matter of time when, or if, they will bring forth their fan’s wishes. In the meantime, we can only dream that their next projects live up to all the others.
