Rap Release Dates: Nicki Minaj, Crooked I, Roscoe Dash, Strong Arm Steady & Statik Selektah

by Kathy Iandoli

Nicki Minaj re-emerges as Roman Zolanski for some Valentine's Day terror, while the Roots drop their 5-rated album today.

Right around now, people start saying things like, "This year flew by!" right up until they start making their New Years' resolutions. It sounds cliche every time it's said, but in the music world, this year really did fly by. We're now one foot into December, and we're already seeing some signs of new music for 2012. Just when we thought no new albums were going to see the light of day, plenty of music is here to shine.
This week is a big one. The Roots drop their concept album UNDUN. We at DX loved this album, and you can check out the perfect 5-star rating here. The Roots have worked super hard at being one of the most consistent bands in Hip Hop, and that word continues to pay off. Friend of the family, the late Amy Winehouse, drops the posthumous Lionesss: Hidden Treasures today as well. Last week we got another glimpse into the project with the track "Halftime" featuring ?uestlove on the drums. We also get T-Pain's rEVOLVEr today and a few others, including Mo Dangerfield affiliate Hasan Salaam with his Music Is My Weapon EP. Check out a free stream here .
Next week is equally exciting. Snoop and Wiz Khalifa drop their THC-laced soundtrack Mac + Dev Go To High School in anticipation of the upcoming film (listen to some snippets here ). While both are too old for school, neither appear to be too old to be high. Crooked I will also drop his In None We Trust EP. The Slaughterhouse rep dropped a "Rack City" freestyle called "Beach City Bitch" just last week. In other EP news, a week later Roscoe Dash brings the J.U.I.C.E. EP. Roscoe just dropped a track called "Sidity" with Big Sean.
Last month Statik Selektah aligned with Action Bronson for the project Well Done (peep the review here). On January 2nd, Statik will join forces with Strong Arm Steady for a project titled StereoType. We got a teaser last week with a cut called "Classic." While 2011 was definitely Statik's year, he is continuing that momentum straight into 2012. It will be cool to see what else this producer has in store for Hip Hop.
Last but certainly not least, Nicki Minaj is back. Wait, that's not entirely accurate. Roman Zolanski is back. If we're playing along with HB's little fantasy world, then the story goes like this: Roman was sent to boarding school by his mother Martha after the track "Roman's Revenge" with Eminem. Well, now Roman has been released; we found him freezing in "Roman In Moscow." Anyway, on Valentine's Day another Pink Friday will arrive, titled Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Can't wait to see what Nicki and all of her personalities have up their sleeves this time.
Check HipHopDX's Release Dates page for all your Hip Hop album needs.
December 6
The Roots – UNDUN
Amy Winehouse – Lioness: Hidden Treasures
Mistah F.A.B. – I Found My Backpack 2: The Lost Notebook
Bow Wow – Underrated
Kooley High – David Thompson
DJ Envy – Audio Uprising Vol. 1
T-Pain – rEVOLVEr
Robin Thicke – Love After War
Rap-A-Lot Records – 25th Anniversary Collection
Hasan Salaam – Music Is My Weapon

December 13
Juvenile – Rejuvenation
Snoop Dogg x Wiz Khalifa – Mac + Devin Go To High School
Roc ‘C’ – Stoned Genius
Tonedeff x Kno (Cunninlynguists) – Chico and the Man
yU – The Earn
Naughty by Nature – Anthem, Inc.
Crooked I – In None We Trust EP

December 20
Common – The Dreamer, The Believer
The Internet (Syd the Kyd of OFWGKTA) – Purple Naked Ladies
Tha Joker – The Phenom
Young Jeezy – Thug Motivation 103
Roscoe Dash – J.U.I.C.E. EP

December 31
Waka Flocka Flame – Triple F: Friends, Fans, & Family

January 2, 2012
Strong Arm Steady x Statik Selektah – StereoType

January 12, 2012
Sha Stimuli – The Calling

January 17, 2012
Ja Rule – Pain Is Love 2
Necro – The Murder Murder Kill Kill EP

January 30, 2012
Kid Cudi x Dot Da Genius – W Z R D

February 14, 2012
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

February 21, 2012
Monica – New Life

March 2012
T.I. – Trouble Man
Chris Brown – Fortune