The final month of 2024 sparked enthusiasm with various new album releases. An eagerly awaited collaborative album from West Coast icons Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre finally dropped. Similarly, SZA’s SOS Deluxe: LANA was another highly anticipated release. Smino, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, BossMan Dlow, and Dax, among many other artists, also released albums that fans enjoyed.
Keep reading for the full roundup of everything that you may have missed.
Smino – Maybe in Nirvana (Dec 6)
On December 6th, St. Louis native Smino released Maybe in Nirvana. The album includes ten songs featuring guest appearances by Ravyn Lenae, Bun B, Thundercat, and Reggie. Smino is undeniably one of the most consistent independent artists, and his rapidly growing fan base reflects that. His talent for blending rap with melodic flows while telling compelling yet relatable stories continues throughout this project. Smino shared in a Billboard interview that the songs on Maybe In Nirvana were originally recorded during the pandemic. He also noted in his recent Nyla Symone ‘We Need To Talk’ interview that fans should expect more new music from him, likely next year. For fans looking forward to seeing the songs performed live, they can attend his Kountry Kousins Tour, with opener Samara Cyn. The tour will begin next April in Vancouver and end in June in Smino’s hometown, St. Louis, MO.
YoungBoy Never Broke Again – I Just Got A Lot On My Shoulders (Dec 6)
YoungBoy Never Broke Again released I Just Got A Lot On My Shoulders on December 6. Despite the legal challenges he faced this year, he still delivered. This is his second release of 2024, following Compliments of Grave Digger Mountain, which was released in March 2024. I Just Got A Lot On My Shoulders consists of 16 tracks with no guest artist features. Similar to previous YoungBoy albums, this project centers around themes of isolation, substance abuse, disloyalty/mistrust, and overall survival. Although the artist has faced multiple legal challenges, he is notably the youngest artist to receive 100 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023. Almost one week after the release of this project, the artist was sentenced to 2 years in prison.
Dax – From A Man’s Perspective (Dec 6)
From a Man’s Perspective by Dax includes 10 songs with guest features from Tom Macdonald and Darius Rucker. The Canadian artist and songwriter continues to blend country and rap music on this project, as he has done on previous EPs, “Lonely Dirt Road” and “A Place of Peace.” On this project, as the title suggests, Dax explores controversial expectations and traditional standards of masculinity. “A Real Man” captures the central theme of the album—challenging the unrealistic standards placed on men in romantic relationships. It further highlights how these expectations of the provider/protector role can be harmful and hinder emotional connection in the partner role. 2024 has been an explosive year for Black artists in country music. Along with Beyoncé and Shaboozey, Dax is making his mark in the genre and leaving his imprint as well.
Rich Amiri – War Ready (Dec 6)
War Ready is Rich Amiri’s fourth studio album, following Ghetto Fabulous, released in 2023. War Ready includes 18 tracks and features 2 guest artists. Featured artists include OsamaSon on “AMIRI Trendsetter” and “I’M WIT IT,” and Internet Money on “KEEP IT COOL.” Although the feature list is limited, there is no shortage of high-energy beats. Like previous projects, the production on this project meets expectations and generates high replay value. For fans interested in experiencing the energy of the album live, Rich will be going on a North American Tour in 2025 with Swapa. The tour begins in February in Vancouver, BC, and ends in April in Minneapolis, MN.
Zoe Osama – Gangsta Boogie (Dec 6)
South Central Los Angeles native, returned with his most recent album Gangsta Boogie. This album arrives 2 years after, Underrated. This project consists of 11 songs and one feature from Sleep3rd & P1. Since breaking into the rap scene, he has been cosigned by California rap legends including Snoop Dogg and E-40 on his “Underrated Remix.” Standout tracks from the album are “Thug Passion” and “Thinkin of Me.” They showcase a vibrant array of emotions and authenticity, set against melodic beats. For fans interested in seeing the artist perform album hits live, Zoe Osama has a show scheduled in February 2025. The show is titled ‘Zoe Osama and Friends LIVE’ at The Roxy Theatre, in West Hollywood.
Asian Doll – Da Hardest Doll (Dec 7)
Asian Doll released her most recent mixtape, Da Hardest Doll, on Saturday, December 7th. This Saturday release, instead of the traditional Friday release, is because the release date is the artist’s 28th birthday. This mixtape contains 19 songs with no guest artist features, showcasing her lyricism and hardcore delivery, uninterrupted. Asian Doll is the first and only female artist signed to Gucci Mane’s 1017 Records, following the passing of Enchanting earlier this year. This album’s length and boastful lyrical flow cement her status as the label’s sole female lead and presence. Although the range of production is not as diverse as supporters expected, the artist compensates with a heavy dose of southern bravado over Midwest drill beats that fans love.
BossMan Dlow – Dlow Curry (Dec 13)
BossMan Dlow returned with his second album release of 2024. Dlow Curry follows the success of his breakout album, Mr. Beat The Road, released in March 2024. The viral single “Get In With Me” from Mr. Beat The Road landed Bossman his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequently, he was also selected as a member of the XXL 2024 Freshman class. Dlow Curry album rollout included the single “PJ” featuring Lil Baby and the TikTok viral dance song “Shake Dat Ass.” Additional artist features include Ice Spice, French Montana, NoCap, Babyface Ray, and GloRilla. Dlow Curry delivers an extension of the street hustler-themed music wrapped in his signature braggadocious flow and South Florida accent. Based on the momentum of his breakout year, we will likely hear much more from Bossman soon.
Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre – Missionary (Dec 13)
Missionary is Snoop Dogg’s first album since 2004 when he released R&G: The Masterpiece. However, this is not the first time Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre have collaborated on an album; Dr. Dre also produced Snoop Dogg’s debut album, Doggystyle, released in 1993. Missionary consists of 16 tracks and multiple features. Guest artist appearances include BJ The Chicago Kid, Dr. Dre, Jhené Aiko, Method Man, 50 Cent, and Eminem, just to name a few. The album rollout was accompanied by the release of a Missionary short film on YouTube, narrated by Method Man and directed by Dave Meyers. Missionary debuted in the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 upon release and in the Top 10 Billboard R&B/Hip Hop and Rap albums. Album ranking aside, it was satisfying for many longtime fans of the duo and West Coast rap to hear the pair reunited after more than 20 years.
Fat Joe – The World Changed On Me (Dec 13)
Fat Joe returns with his newest solo album in over a decade. Before The World Changed Me, his most recent album was Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 (J.O.S.E 2), released in 2009. The cover art reflects the sentimental tone of the album, showcasing a picture of Fat Joe and his brother Angel Cartagena, who recently passed in November 2024. The World Changed Me includes 11 tracks. Guest artists on the album include Remy Ma, Cool & Dre, DJ Khaled, and Ty Dolla $ign, among others. Standout tracks include “Fresh,” featuring Tony Sunshine, along with “Us,” featuring Chris Rock and Remy Ma. The final song, “They Don’t Love You,” stands out as a poignant tribute to his late brother. Fat Joe’s recent release demonstrates that while new talent in New York is plentiful, veteran rappers still have the lyrical skill to leave their mark on the rap community.
DMX – Let Us Pray: Chapter X (Dec 13)
The most recent posthumous album from DMX arrived in December 2024. Let Us Pray received mixed reviews because all of the prayers recited by DMX on the album were from previous projects. However, as the title suggests, it is rather a sequence of prayers. All of the prayers were remastered with instrumentals and production by Grammy Award-winning producer Warryn Campbell. The album consists of eight tracks, the last four being purely instrumental. Featured guest artists include Killer Mike, Mary Mary, Lecrae, MC Lyte, and Snoop Dogg, to name a few. Although this project does not include new songs from the late artist, the prayers highlight the emotional range and spirituality that DMX, serving as a source of inspiration and encouragement in daily life and during challenges.
Sleepy Hallow – Read This When You Wake Up (Dec 13)
Rising Brooklyn drill artist Sleepy Hallow returns with his most recent album, Read This When You Wake Up. This album arrives one year after his previous album release, Boy Meets World, in 2023. It includes 20 tracks and a lengthy list of guest artist features. Guest features include Babyface Ray, Sheff G, Jay Beezy, B.B. Sofia, Gray Hawken, and Dracondontjam. Upon its release, the visual for the fan-favorite lead single, “She Like (Fashion)” premiered on YouTube. Moreover, “Melatonin” and “Nostalgia” stand out as two of the most transparent tracks on the album, giving listeners insight into the deep inner thoughts the artist grapples with daily. As a result, this work solidifies Sleepy Hallow’s status as a consistently strong contender in the NY Drill music scene. The shift in energy from earlier works showcases an artistic evolution, resonating with listeners immediately and growing richer with each play.
SZA – SOS Deluxe: LANA (Dec 20)
After much anticipation, SZA returns with the deluxe version of her Grammy-nominated album SOS. Significantly, SOS made SZA the most nominated artist at the 2024 Grammys, so fans were thrilled when she announced the deluxe edition. SOS Deluxe: LANA arrived in the early afternoon on Friday, December 20th. The deluxe included an additional 15 songs, exceeding fans’ expectations. Upon release, a visual for “Drive” was released starring Ben Stiller. “Drive” and “30 for 30,” featuring TDE labelmate Kendrick Lamar, quickly became fan favorites over the album release weekend. For fans interested in seeing SZA perform hits from SOS Deluxe: LANA live, there is still an opportunity to purchase tickets to see her on the Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar. The tour kicks off in April in Minneapolis, MN, and ends in June in Landover, MD.
Future Projections
As fans reflect on the music released this month and throughout 2024, there’s plenty to anticipate heading into 2025. Lil Baby plans to release WHAM on January 3rd, with additional albums from The Weeknd and Roddy Ricch set for release later that month. Moreover, fans also expect Mac Miller’s second posthumous album to release in January 2025. Music enthusiasts can look forward to a strong start to the new year.
