Rap Release Dates: Necro, Young Jeezy, Rap-A-Lot Records, Tyga

by Kathy Iandoli

Date announced for Amy Winehouse's posthumous album featuring Nas, as Young Jeezy holds firm to a December release, Trey Songz goes from mixtapes to EP and Rap-A-Lot Records celebrates 25 years.

Year-end is near, and with it comes the influx of albums to seal off 2011 before 2012 starts with the First Quarter. All of that album business takes a back seat though to fans just wanting to hear their favorite artists' albums. Well, we're one week deep into November, and the fun is just starting. Last week, Wale won big time with Ambition. The MMG middle manager came very correct and was met with a warm response (check out the review). Wale may be working for Miami's Bawse, but it's obvious he hasn't lost that DC swag we came to admire him for when he first stepped on the scene.
This week Pusha T finally drops Fear of God II: Let Us Pray (check out the review). While Pusha's "real" project is still in the works, Fear Of God II continues to lay the foundation Pusha started with Fear Of God (listen here , review here). Also, Mac Miller releases Blue Slide Park. 2011 was definitely Mac's year, as the Wiz Khalifa-cosigned young buck made Pittsburgh proud by making Hip Hop for the new generation. Young Miller showed his gratitude a few months back by dropping his "I Love Life, Thank You" mixtape. Now the real deal is here. Tech N9ne brings his gang of Strangemen with Welcome To Strangeland; last week another song circulated called "Kocky" . As Tech continues to bring the realness, could we ask for anything more?

After Trey Songz brought "2 for the price of none" mixtape releases with "#Lemmeholdatbeat" and "Anticipation II," Mr. Steal Yo Girl announed a new EP called Inevitable dropping November 29th. Whether this will be a combo of singing and rhyming like the aforementioned or strictly one or the other remains to be seen. Other R&B releases include Robin Thicke's Love After War on December 6th, and Monica's New Life on February 21st of next year.

Last week we received an unusual surprise with the song "Like Smoke" from Amy Winehouse and Nas. The Salaam Remi produced song is from 2008 and will appear on Winehouse's posthumous Lioness: Hidden Treasures on December 5th. While Amy's loss was devastating, she is taking the cue of fallen rappers and still releasing albums in the afterlife.

Finally, Young Jeezy is still intending to drop TM103 on December 20th. The new news on that? A track with Jay-Z and Andre3000 will appear on the project. That news will maintain the motivation to hear the album for another month and a half for sure.
Check HipHopDX's Release Dates page for all your Hip Hop album needs.
November 8Tech N9ne – Welcome To Strangeland
Mac Miller – Blue Slide Park
Pusha T – Fear of God Part 2: Let Us Pray
Pac Div – The DiV

November 11Donny Goines – Success Served Cold
Tyga – Careless World Rise of the Last King

November 15Drake – Take Care
Childish Gambino – Camp
Eligh & Amp Live – Therapy At 3
El Da Sensei – The Nu World Remix EP
Young Jeezy & USDA – The After Party
Locksmith – Embedded

November 21Mary J. Blige – My Life II: The Journey Continues
Yelawolf – Radioactive
Rihanna – Talk That Talk

November 22Kidz In the Hall – Occasion
Doomtree – No Kings
Maino – The Day After Tomorrow
Snowgoons & MOP – Sparta
Statik Selektah x Action Bronson – Well Done
Krayzie Bone – Under the Influence

November 25Mobb Deep – Black Cocaine EP

November 29Curren$y – Jet Life: Jet World Order
Rashad & Confidence – The Element of Surprise
Trey Songz – Inevitable EP

December 5Amy Winehouse – Lioness: Hidden Treasures

December 6The Roots – UNDUN
Bow Wow – Underrated
Naughty by Nature – Anthem, Inc.
DJ Envy – Audio Uprising Vol. 1
T-Pain – rEVOLVEr
Robin Thicke – Love After War
Rap-A-Lot Records – 25th Anniversary Collection

December 10Masspike Miles – Say Hello To Forever

December 13Rick Ross – God Forgives, I Don’t
Roc ‘C’ – Stoned Genius
Tonedeff x Kno (Cunninlynguists) – Chico and the Man
yU – The Earn

December 20Tha Joker – The Phenom
Young Jeezy – Thug Motivation 103
January 17, 2012Ja Rule – Pain Is Love 2
Necro – The Murder Murder Kill EP

February 21, 2012Monica – New Life