All put out GOOD to GREAT albums in 2026. Any of them would have been forgiven or just glossed over if they dropped some forgettable, mid shit. Hell, they've all done it before!
1. "i think this trend really started in 2024 and picked up steam from there..." In response to Reply # 0 Tue Jul-21-26 02:55 PM by PROMO
in that time, we've got new albums that were good to great from these legacy artists who we hadn't heard from in a long time:
LL Cool J Slick Rick Ghostface Mobb Deep Clipse Memphis Bleek De La Soul The Dogg Pound Pete Rock & Common Wu Tang Clan Bun B Chance The Rapper
I'm SURE I'm forgetting some names...plus the ones you mentioned from this year (that Rick Ross album surprised me how good it is - if you're someone who likes him you should definitely peep).
I hope the trend continues.
Glad you made this post cuz it made me run this Memphis Bleek back, which I had been meaning to do. People SLEPT. One of the best produced albums of the last couple years.
2. "I think Nas led the way with those 6 albums from 2020-23" In response to Reply # 1 Tue Jul-21-26 02:59 PM by DJR
and then of course his role in those 7 albums that Mass Appeal put out in 2025. And yeah, 2024 was when everyone else started putting out albums again.
Some others off the top: Redman Smif N Wessun Dre/Snoop - obviously Snoop puts out a lot of projects, but not with Dre Nas/Premo Raekwon
7. "yeah, these were the mid ones to me too." In response to Reply # 3 Tue Jul-21-26 03:26 PM by PROMO
like i said, i made the Redman dope (to me) but it was bloated as released.
the Nas/Preemo would next best to me but it was too hit and miss for me where it didn't have any staying power with me. but, since Nas been pretty active before that anyways, i didn't really have to consider it on the list i made.
6. "RE: yeah i was gonna put Nas on my list due to Light-Years..." In response to Reply # 4
>but didn't because of all them albums you mentioned. > >also, salute to you cuz after i get thru this Memph Bleek >album i'm throwing on MY version of Muddy Waters Too, which is >FIRE. > >i posted about it at the time, but i cut it down a little of >the bloat into something really dope (imo). > >link if anyone cares: >https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2JqQX9aJScyTPmNAHpmyuU?si=f01146010ca6454e
Yeah, there’s definitely a very strong album in there IMO.
I'm speaking to the general trend of the last few years, including the list PROMO shared, not just the list in the original post:
LL Cool J Slick Rick Ghostface Mobb Deep Clipse Memphis Bleek De La Soul The Dogg Pound Pete Rock & Common Wu Tang Clan Bun B Chance The Rapper
but I think some of these "returns" are just folks who, like any artist, have had ups and downs -- or folks who just don't put out as much as we would like.
Common never left. I wasn't wild about his last two rounds of work but it wasn't bad by any stretch.
We're only calling Chance a return because of his audaciously large flop. But he'd been releasing loosies since like, a year after that Big Day album that were fire.
De La isn't a return to form, just a return to releasing something. "Anonymous" isn't for everyone but it's still an amazing project.
Even the Nas projects... like, his whole career is one of starts and stops. He was due for a good run.
We definitely have seen more older vets chiming in, and that's awesome. But that's 5+ years in the making, not a 2026 phenomenon.
The question for me is: who haven't we heard from that we want to hear?
I'd love a well-produced, short and sweet GZA album.
>The question for me is: who haven't we heard from that we want >to hear? > >I'd love a well-produced, short and sweet GZA album. > >Q-Tip, Q-Tip, Q-Tip > >Who else? >
The Roots Jay-Z Lauryn (we at least got to hear a great verse on the Nas album) EPMD (also on KD2) Mos Def Phonte
10. "i understand your point, but to me, those are still all "returns"..." In response to Reply # 8 Thu Jul-23-26 09:34 AM by PROMO
like, if you haven't put out a ALBUM in 5 years or more, which almost all of the people I mentioned hadn't, it's a return in my book.
Also, when I say "return" I'm also talking about a return to form, which, regardless of how much stuff people had put out, this was a return to form for some of them.
Anyhow, to your question, i'd echo some that DJR mentioned:
Mos Def Roots Phonte
and I'd toss in:
Rakim (a proper Rakim album not these guest filled EPs he's put out) Outkast (let me dream!) Goodie Mob (i SAID let me dream!)
12. "I know this one is a solo track, but ..." In response to Reply # 11
... I'm pretty sure it's either a lead in to, or a solo track on, the upcoming Rakim/Kurupt/Masta Ace album.
That's the way it's been told to me at least.
>I joke, but as I say it, Rakim just dropped a dope new single >on Friday called "A Different Kind." > >I pray this is the first single off a forthcoming LP.
16. "I'd throw this new Inspectah Deck into this arena." In response to Reply # 0
It does have a lot of features, so the amount of Deck you get isn't as high as it COULD be, but nearly everyone that features does their part, and the production is solid.
If you're looking for something to scratch that boom bap/underground itch, this is definitely worth a listen.
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