Here we are in 2014 and, ho hum. The first two months of the year are traditionally a slow time for the music industry because all the blockbusters come out in time for the December holidays. Then the great bear goes into hibernation. Things usually pick with some spring releases, get hot and popping in the summer, and then, come fourth quarter, go into overdrive all over again. So after spending the end of 2013 drowning in new music (and best-of-the-year lists), we'll take advantage of the quiet to look ahead at the next twelve months.

What does music have in store for us this year? Well, we've got young rappers like Joey Bada$$ aiming to make a first real mark, while established vets like Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa try to catch a respark. Folks like Pharrell and Pusha T come in riding high and hope to keep it going. Superstars like Nicki Minaj and Rihanna have new material slated after quiet periods that have felt like forever.

We compiled 50 albums we're very much looking forward to. And we ranked them (because that's what we do) on the basis of our fiendingness. Check out The Most Anticipated Albums of 2014.

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