12 Most Anticipated Albums of 2012

Our eardrums are looking forward to the next 12 months.

12 Most Anticipated Albums of 2012 - 2011 is so last year. The next 12 months promise to be even bigger and better, at least if the following releases live up to our sky-high expectations. Click on to see the albums we're looking forward to most in 2012. —Alex Gale

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12 Most Anticipated Albums of 2012 - 2011 is so last year. The next 12 months promise to be even bigger and better, at least if the following releases live up to our sky-high expectations. Click on to see the albums we're looking forward to most in 2012. —Alex Gale

Rick Ross (@rickyrozay) - TWEET: "new mixtape #richforever drops 3:05pm fridayyy. @livemixtapes"Rozay announces his upcoming mixtape.(Photo: John Ricard/BET)

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Rick Ross, God Forgives, I Don't - Don't look now: Rawse has not-so-quietly become hip hop's most consistently dope artist and entrepreneur in the past few years. Even with the health scare that postponed this album, which was originally slated to drop last month, we don't expect that to change with God Forgives, I Don't. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

Photo By Photo: John Ricard/BET

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G.O.O.D. Music, TBA - With John Legend, Common, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Pusha T and more on board, and Kanye West in the captain's seat, this compilation album from one of rap's most power-packed labels is too big to fail. (Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for VEVO)

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Frank Ocean, TBA - Frank Ocean's amazing mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra, had Italian mag L'uomo Vogue crowning him the "best R&B lyricist since Prince," influenced established mega-stars like Beyoncé and Brandy and helped him land several guest spots on the album of the year, Jay-Z and Kanye's Watch the Throne. As a result, his 2012 album, by all reports in the finishing stages, will no doubt be one of the most anticipated R&B debuts in recent memory. (Photo: Island Def Jam)

Dr. Dre, Detox - Seven years passed between Dre's first two solo albums, Chronic and 2001, so we knew we'd have to wait a while for the notorious perfectionist's third set. But after 11 years, multiple leaks, rumors and an all-star collaborator list, many people are convinced that Detox won't ever see the light of day.UPDATE: Detox still never came, but Compton did. In 2015, almost 16 years since 2001, Dr. Dre released the critically acclaimed album that landed on the No. 2 spot on the Billboard chart and is already Gold certified.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Dr. Dre, Detox - Could it be? Is Detox really dropping in 2012? With the huge success of its single "I Need a Doctor," it appears all systems are go. Whether this is another Dre classic or rap's biggest disappointment ever won't matter — we can't wait to love it, hate it and above all, actually just listen to it. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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"Addresses" - T.I. recovers from "Cruisin'" by going to war on "Addresses." He's said in interviews that this song is a diss, though he refused to say who it's addressing. Whoever the target is, best believe they're smarting — Tip lands some major body blows here.    (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

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T.I., Trouble Man - T.I. promises his new album, slated for a February release, will be a return to the grimy trap music that first helped him break through. Sounds damn promising. And with his 10-month prison sentence, it's not like he won't have plenty of material to fuel the fire. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for AXE)

"Black Boy Fly" - This track alone justifies the extra three dollars for the deluxe edition of the album. Kendrick Lamar is at his introspective best, breaking down crabs-in-a-barrel jealousy and poignantly name-dropping Compton heroes the Game and Arron Afflalo over mournful Rhodes chords.   (Photo: Solomon Scott / BET)

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Kendrick Lamar, TBA - Dr. Dre, Game and Snoop Dogg "passed the torch" to Compton upstart Kendrick Lamar at a show in August, and with his stunningly beautiful Section.80, one of the best albums of 2011, it's easy to see why. With their co-sign and the West Coast behind him, Kendrick looks poised to go big on his next release. (Photo: Solomon Scott / BET)

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Tyler, the Creator, Wolf - Odd Future front man Tyler, the Creator's out-the-blue success was one of music's biggest stories last year. As one of the most unpredictable and overall weird rappers to emerge in some time, he's sure to shock and awe yet again when this album drops in May 2012. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)

Nas, Life Is Good - If Nas' 10th studio album, Life Is Good, sounds anything like the ice-grilling throwback lead single, "Nasty," fans of grimy, golden-age East Coast hip hop are in for a real treat.    (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Nas, Life Is Good - If Nas' 10th studio album, Life Is Good, sounds anything like the ice-grilling throwback lead single, "Nasty," fans of grimy, golden-age East Coast hip hop are in for a real treat.  (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Janelle Monae - Janelle Monae delivered a lively performance of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” during his 2010 BET Awards tribute.(Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

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Janelle Monae, TBA - R&B up-and-comer Janelle Monae has vowed to release not just one, but two, albums in 2012. Her last release, The ArchAndroid, was one of the most expansive, other-wordly R&B albums in years; we can't wait to see what universes she'll take us to this time around. (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)

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Big K.R.I.T., Live From the Underground - This Mississippi MC-producer's two mixtapes, K.R.I.T. Wuz Here and Return of 4Eva, were better crafted and more thoughtful than most recent rap albums. As long as K.R.I.T. doesn't stray too far from his soulful, Dungeon Family 2.0 sound, we expect his major label debut to be even better. (Photo: Def Jam)

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Big K.R.I.T., Live From the Underground - This Mississippi MC-producer's two mixtapes, K.R.I.T. Wuz Here and Return of 4Eva, were better crafted and more thoughtful than most recent rap albums. As long as K.R.I.T. doesn't stray too far from his soulful, Dungeon Family 2.0 sound, we expect his major label debut to be even better. (Photo: Def Jam)

50 Cent, TBA - Fif's upcoming album has been delayed for months amid accusations from the rapper that his label isn't pushing it correctly. That's an ominous sign, but his latest mixtape, The Big 10, contained some of 50's  best music in years, and definitely has us looking forward to whatever the G Unit general does next.   (Photo: John Ricard / BET)

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50 Cent, TBA - Fif's upcoming album has been delayed for months amid accusations from the rapper that his label isn't pushing it correctly. That's an ominous sign, but his latest mixtape, The Big 10, contained some of 50's  best music in years, and definitely has us looking forward to whatever the G Unit general does next. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)