Atlanta hip hop stars have dominated the airwaves over the last few years and they could do it again in 2020. The new decade promises to begin with new music from such residents as Cardi B, Migos and Lil Baby, to name a few.
Forbes released its list of the most highly-anticipated releases from hip hop acts this year. Below are some of those stars with Atlanta connections who are readying new projects.
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Cardi B
Although the “Press” performer recently bought an Atlanta-area mansion with her Migos-member husband Offset, 2020 may see Cardi B hit the road again. She’s set to drop her second album, “Tiger Woods,” after confirming no more new tunes would drop last year.
Cardi, whose first LP "Invasion of Privacy" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, is aware of the excitement surrounding her next release. She said on Instagram Live that the title reflects the doubters Woods had before he mounted a comeback to win his 15th Master's Tournament in April 2019.
Migos
Quavo, Takeoff and Offset will release their follow-up to 2018's "Culture II" this year. The third installment in the series, "Culture III," does not have an exact release date. But Quavo told Business Insider that "Culture III," which may have a different title by the time it drops, will show a new side of Migos.
“I feel like it's more about Migos that y'all don't know yet,” he said. “And I feel like this album is going to be prolific. I feel like this album is going to be the album to do it. And I think it's ‘Culture III,’ but I don't know. I think we may change the chapter.”
Whatever the title, the third LP has big shoes to fill. “Culture” and “Culture II” each landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart.
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Young Thug
Atlanta-born Young Thug released his debut album, "So Much Fun," in August 2019. But he was already talking about dropping his sophomore effort days later. Initially telling Fader "Punk" would be released in October 2019, it's now due in February.
“It's most definitely touching music,” he said. “It's music that the world is going to embrace. [Punk] means brave, not self centered, conscious. Very, very neglected, very misunderstood. Very patient, very authentic.”
“So Much Fun,” which was executive produced by J. Cole, was released after several mixtapes and debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200.
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Run The Jewels
After a four-year hiatus, Run The Jewels promised fans they're releasing their fourth studio album in 2020. The announcement came in a newsletter that members Killer Mike and El-P sent in June.
The duo, who had been recording at producer Rick Ruben’s Los Angeles studio, promised “RTJ4” is going to “burn everything in its path” adding they believe it will be “our best record yet.”
The effort follows other self-titled efforts released in 2013, 2014 and 2016 respectively.
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Lil Baby
Following 2019’s mixtapes “Drip Harder” and “Street Gossip,” it looked as if rapper Lil Baby was going to drop a third effort before the end of the year. He tweeted in August that a new album was on the way.
But it's 2020 and nothing materialized before the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve. On New Year's Day, however, he unveiled the cover art to his album "My Turn," confirming it'll drop this year.
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