Jay Electronica
Slightly more of a speculative pick here. After dropping one of the hottest tracks of the decade back in 2009 in the form of Just Blaze collaboration Exhibit C, the question of a full-length record from Jay Electronica has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue. And we’ve been pretty patient up and till now. In the mean time, 2013 brought guest spots from Jay on both Mac Miller and Rapsody‘s albums, plus a slightly overshadowed verse on the most talked about Hip-Hop track of the year that saw Kendrick Lamar lay his claim on the Hip-Hop throne. Yet it does seem as though the winds have changed. An interview with Just Blaze surfaced back in September confirming that the album is now finished and awaiting Jay’s approval for release. We can only hope that this year brings what everyone is waiting for.
Jhené Aiko
L.A. born RnB soulstress Jhené Aiko released her debut mixtape Sailing Soul(s) back in 2011, though it seems only in the last year has she started to receive some major attention. Her appearance back in September on the track From Time off Drake’s album Nothing Was The Same acted as a springboard for her own EP release, Sail Out, featuring verses from Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Vince Staplesc and Childish Gambino. The EP debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 and Jhené is now set to drop her debut album, Souled Out, through Def Jam sometime this year. A very exciting talent for the RnB game in 2014.
Mssingno
A big name in the recent Grime resurgence that’s been bubbling for a while now, London-based producer Mssingno has been making some beautiful noises via a debut solo EP out on the rising Goon Club Allstars label. The dangerously colourful track XE2 made Fact Magazine’s #1 song of 2013 and for good reason too. Kind of like reinventing the wheel, Mssingno has managed to center tracks around pitched-up RnB vocals in a way that comes off as refreshing and unique. We’re not quite sure what the elusive producer has to offer us in 2014, but whatever it is we’re certainly looking forward it.
Polyenso
Hailing from St. Petersburg, Florida, 5-piece experimental jazz-funk-soul-indie-rock band have been making music that sits somewhere between Radiohead and Broken Social Scene. Their 2013 debut album, One Big Particular Loop, made big waves in the alt-rock scene for its diverse musicality and experimental themes. Whatever they are set to release in 2014 we will certainly be keeping our eye on.
