Hip-hop’s last 12 months were so unpredictable. It used to be that you could count on certain heavyweights to carry us through a calendar year, but instead of solo releases from Jay-Z, Eminem, Lil Wayne or Kanye West, we were treated to a host of pleasant surprises in 2012.
2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar and Meek Mill all delivered memorable solo debuts, while veteran MC Nas proved he can still craft classic material. Rick Ross held nothing back on God Forgives, I Don’t, and T.I. got the trap back jumping on Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head.
Now that we have a number of new stars and returning veterans, 2013 could very well go down in the history books.