Here's A Breakdown Of What Albums We Can Expect From TDE This Year

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Top Dawg, the founder of Top Dawg Entertainment, is always teasing fans on Instagram when it comes to release dates for our favorite TDE artists. Earlier this year, we got the Black Panther: Original Motion Picture Score that was curated by Kendrick Lamar, along with Jay Rock‘s highly anticipated album Redemption, and SiR‘s project November–but 2018 most definitely ain’t over yet.

Now, Top is back on Twitter with fans, giving some very vague information on what other albums we can expect to come before the year ends in 4 months. For those of us who love TDE artists, it’s good news all around–the Los Angeles native put into the universe that we can definitely expect 2 more albums from the label this year, but if everything goes as planned and Top gets what he wants, we just might get 4.

That’s not all of the info we got from the man in charge, though. Getting into specifics, fans started asking more and more questions about which artists we can expect those 2 (or 4) albums from this year, and though we weren’t given any exact dates or promises, we got a little something to work with.

First up, Schoolboy Q. Q himself announced on The Championship Tour that his album was next on the rotation after Jay Rock’s, which would mean he should be the one we’re getting a project from next. Not only that, The South Central native finally revived his Instagram page after a nearly 8-month hiatus, and Q himself said it’s because he’s gearing up to drop the album.

When asked directly about Schoolboy’s status, Top replied, “we close fam.” So it’s safe to say that’s one of the 2 confirmed albums coming up before 2018 ends.

Next up, Isaiah Rashad.

When all of TDE embarked on The Championship Tour together, fans were disappointed to see Lil Sunny left off the lineup. Though he actually ended up making some special appearances at a select few dates, the explanation behind him staying off the tour was supposedly that Rashad was working hard in the studio to finish his next album.

His last project, The Sun’s Tirade, was released in 2016 to great reception–so it’s about time for another piece of music. According to Top, “he’s working on it,” which doesn’t exactly tell us much–but that could mean he’s on the list for possible 2018 releases.

And now, Ab Soul.

His last project was also released in 2016, so just like his labelmate Isaiah, the people are yearning for something new. Though we most definitely didn’t get any definitive answers from Top on this one, we were given something a little more promising than the latter tweet.

Beside the vague, “he’s working,” the TDE founder also gave us the reassurance that Soulo gave him a couple records the night before–which at least lets us know there’s some tangible evidence of a new album in the works.

Onto the newest TDE signee, Reason.

Seeing as the label just signed their newest talent, it’s a no-brainer that he will probably be one of the people to drop in the near future. Once TDE signed their last addition, SiR, it only took a month for an EP to be released–so it wouldn’t be too far off to expect the same from Reason.

As for Top’s answer, we’re given a simple “yea,” to the question of a project anytime soon.

With all of those tiny hints in the mix, Schoolboy Q, Ab Soul, Isaiah Rashad, and Reason seem like pretty good contenders for the 2018 album possibilities–but fans obviously had some other shots in the dark to throw out there.

How about a project from Black Hippy?

People have been begging for a Black Hippy (Kendrick, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab Soul’s group) album relentlessly for years now. Both Top and TDE President Punch have been vocal about the fact that when those four get in the studio together, it’s hard to get them all to focus–so it’s honestly a long shot that it will ever come.

It seems pretty unlikely that 2018 will see a Black Hippy album, especially with the addition of Top’s response: “great question.”

Keep on waiting, y’all.

And lastly, Kendrick Lamar.

It’s only been a little over a year since his latest project DAMN. dropped, and on top of that, he curated the entire Black Panther soundtrack that came out earlier this year. That combined with being on tour for the better part of two years, Lamar seems like the most unlikely to drop any more music in 2018.

The fan who asked about new Kendrick music referred to him as his old moniker “kdot,” which simply receives a “who is kdot?” response from Top.

Could he be playing with us to distract from the fact that Kendrick has another album coming??!?!!? Probably not, but it’s always good to keep hope alive.

And if you’re hoping for another SZA album, it’s safe to say you’re going to have to wait a little longer than a few months.