Coming off an amazing year of music, 2014 has a lot to live up to. 2013 gave us one of the most star-studded years of hip-hop in decades with Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, Drake and J. Cole all dropping buzz worthy albums.

With album rollouts being more extensive than ever, it is also important to make a statement with the actual music. Hip-hop is regarded as one of the most competitive genres of music, so it is always interesting to see who starts off the year with a bang. There are quite a bit of high profile albums due in the coming months and here are some off the most anticipated.

Top Dawg Entertainment’s own Schoolboy Q is gearing up for the release of his debut album “Oxymoron.” The album is set to hit shelves Feb. 25. Being on the same label and group as well known rapper Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q definitely has higher expectations for his debut. 

On March 4 two Hip hop albums will be hitting stores.

The first being A$AP Mob’s L.O.R.D, and second being Rick Ross’ Mastermind. A$AP Mob has been prepping the release of the group LP since the group’s front man A$AP Rocky released his debut album LONG. LIVE. A$AP last January to critical acclaim.

The second album being released coming from the self-proclaimed “Biggest boss in the game,” Rick Ross. Having released popular singles “No Games” and “Future and The Devil is a Lie” with Jay-Z, there is no telling where his full body of work will stack up.

Rounding out March at the end of the quarter is rapper YG. He is set for the release of My Krazy Life on March 18. With the bar set so high for music in the first quarter it will be interesting to see what kind of year 2014 will shape up to be for Hip Hop.