Over the last year and a half of the pandemic, many artists have held back on releasing music but with vaccinations improving and restrictions being lifted, lots of new music is now being released.
We experienced a bit of a music lull over the last year and a half, but things are finally beginning to pick up again. Artists were reluctant to release music during the pandemic without being able to tour but things are starting to change. In the last week, we have seen two huge album releases with Kanye West’s Donda and Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. There are a few artists from who we have been waiting quite some time for an album from and we are hoping we see one soon.
Photo Credit: Pitchfork
We can start this list out strong with Rihanna. The newly named billionaire, Rihanna has not released an album since the release of Anti in 2016. Rumours have been swirling around since the beginning of 2021 that she would release an album, but Rihanna has stayed quiet on the matter. The only comment she has made is that she wants to love what she is doing and that everything in the world is heavy currently and she wants to just enjoy life.
Photo Credit: Pitchfork
Next on the list is Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick has not released an album since 2017 when he put out DAMN. At the beginning of 2020 when music publications ran their “Most Anticipated Albums of the Year”, Kendrick’s name appeared on many of those lists but there was no formal confirmation of a new album. Here we are now four months away from 2022 and we are still waiting on a new album from him.
Photo Credit: Pitchfork
Lastly, we have Frank Ocean. An artist that many people have been wishing for an album from for years. We have not seen an album since he released Blonde in 2016. Frank Ocean has not been rumoured to be releasing any new music, but he has signed on to headline at Coachella in 2023. Here’s hoping this scheduled performance will bring on a new album. We certainly have been waiting for it!
What artists are you dying to see a new album from? Do you think we will finally get a new Rihanna, Kendrick, or Frank Ocean album? Fingers crossed that Kanye and Drake started a trend of releasing music; we could all use it!
Published by HOLR Magazine.