ROC4LIFE

2011 was a great year for pop and hip-hop music. But now that we have entered 2012, it is time for a change. R&B has lost some serious momentum in the last five years and this is the perfect time for genre revival, as people are ready for a break from the redundancy of on the radio.

As such, our list of 7 Highly Anticipated Albums in 2012 is dominated by R&B acts with the potential to bring the genre back to the top of the charts. Hey, Mary J. Blige’s My Life II: The Journey Continues (Act 1) didn’t have the impact that we had hoped, so let’s see if these artists could achieve a win!

7. Usher, TBA

Usher already stated that his next album will introduce a new genre called “revolutionary pop,” but that doesn’t mean we can’t hope that the record entails a tribute to his R&B past. Indeed, his last record, Raymond vs Raymond, had a healthy mix of sounds. Perhaps he’ll follow that pattern again.

6. Alicia Keys, TBA

Alicia Keys’ Element of Freedom was a bit of a disappointment when compared to her earlier releases, but it still produced the huge urban hit “Unthinkable (Ft. Drake).” Could she create another masterpiece like that song? With her skills, anything is possible.

5. T.I., Trouble Man

Yes, we said we wanted to hear more R&B this year but we can’t ignore T.I. He has promised to return to his urban roots and since most of us are still blasting “24′s,” we can’t help but get excited about Trouble Man.

4. Lil Kim, TBA

Another hip-hop act that made our list was Lil Kim. Somehow, despite her obsession with Nicki Minaj and her weak rhymes on that Black Friday mixtape, we still have hope that she will deliver a solid album. Maybe we’re just a bit nostalgic, but we really do miss the pre-Asian Kim.

3. Brandy, TBA

Who could forget about Brandy? She has not released an album since 2008 and the buzz for her new record is intense. Frank Ocean, Sean Garrett and several others have already joined the lineup of contributors, so this album could be her best work yet.

2. Maxwell, TBA

Maxwell always finds a way to sneak onto the charts, score a huge hit and sweep the Grammy Awards when we least expect it. All of his albums were great and he has yet to flop so if we judge his track record, he is definitely due for another hit.

1. Mariah Carey, TBA

Yes, I, Trent, am a huge Mariah Carey fan but can you really blame me? She gave us The Emancipation of Mimi, Butterfly, Emotions and Daydream, so how could I not be a fan? You may not want to admit it in public but you know she gives you a strange feeling every time she hits that high note!

(Photos via WireiMage/Mariah Daily/Zimbio)

- Trent