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Life & Arts

Surprises in store with new albums

by Eli Jabbe
The Daily Cougar

Jay-Z sets record for year
Jay-Z's comeback album Kingdom Come is one of the year's most anticipated. The album sold over 850,000 units in its first week of its release. Kingdom Come's first week numbers break the record of band Rascal Flats, which sold 714,000 copies of its album in its first week earlier this year.

What's surprising is the high number of sales when you consider how this year has been a bad year for record sales and the fact that so many fans are downloading albums weeks before they are released. 

However, there were other methods available in order to hear this album before it's release: Jay partnered with several radio stations to create deals that allowed fans to listen to the album on station Web sites in the days preceding the albums' official release. 

The next anticipated album from the Def-Jam stable is Hip-Hop Is Dead, Nas' first release on that label. Last week featured a memorable moment for hip-hop on music show 106 & Park. Jay hosted the show, promoting his album, and then Nas joined to give a live performance of the title track from his album. Jay played the hype-man and performed the words along with Esco. 

A few years ago, fans would never have expected that from the former rivals. Hip-Hop Is Dead features a much anticipated collaboration from the two, who were once involved in one of the biggest conflicts in hip-hop history in 2001.

Mos Def makes return 
Mos Def, one of the most talented contemporary entertainers, is scheduled to return with a new album soon. 

Tru3 Magic is the title of his third solo album, which is scheduled for a December release. 

Fans have been waiting to hear some new material from the skilled lyricist, who has mostly focused on acting in movies and TV shows in the last couple of years. 

A new Mos Def song entitled "Sun, Moon, & The Stars" appeared recently. It features more of the left-field style heard often on Mos' second album The New Danger: Mos doesn't rhyme; he sings on this track. 

Tru3 Magic will feature production from elites such as The Neptunes, Kanye West, as well as Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest. 

Stellar producers who are less popular, such as 9th Wonder, Minneosota, and 88 Keys, who produced several songs on Mos' first album, will also contribute to production.

UGK's latest album Underground Kingz is due for a December release. The double album is the first from the Port Arthur, Texas legends in years. 

It will feature a lot of surprises, such as collaborations with Talib Kweli, among others. 

One of the biggest surprises is the collaboration with New York legends Big Daddy Kane and Kool G. Rap. The song entitled "Up Next" features the two elite lyricists and is produced by another New York legend: Marley Marl. The song lives up to expectations.

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