Albums We’re Excited For in May
From Drake’s ‘Iceman’ to the return of Isaiah Rashad and the big delivery from Latto, this month has a wealth of highly anticipated releases.
Photos by Barry Brecheisen, Dia Dipasupil, Simone Joyner. Photo illustration by Jefferson Harris.
May is in bloom and more than just flowers are in season this month. Some big albums are on the way, and you can bet that your playlists are about to be booming with hot new music.
Yes, all eyes are on Drizzy Drake this month, but everyone’s favorite Canadian superstar isn’t the only artist delivering the goods in the merry month of May. Isaiah Rashad makes his return with his third album, and we get new music from Tank and The Bangas.
Latto has everybody waiting for two big deliveries she has on the way, and 6LACK is recentering love on his new project. Of course, Chris Brown fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming 12th album from the controversial R&B star, and the ageless wonder Mya releases her first album in eight years.
These are the albums we’re excited for in May.
Isaiah Rashad - 'IT’S BEEN AWFUL'
Release Date: May 1
His third album is the follow-up to The House is Burning and it’s set to feature contributions from artists like Dominic Pike and SZA. It comes on the heels of the album’s first single “SAME SH!T” which dropped in early April.
Lil TJay - 'THEY JUST AIN’T YOU'
Release Date: May 1
Marking his first album in three years, and it follows the lead single “First Time.” He’s delving into his own history for the rollout and hinting at the album’s themes, highlighting his “Therapy Session” concept, which examines his past and evolution as an artist.
Chris Brown - ‘B.R.O.W.N.’
Release Date: May 8
After 2025’s Grammy-winning 11:11, the superstar’s 12th studio album arrives as he’s set to embark on a world tour alongside Usher. The project is accompanied by the new single "Obvious" and features Breezy in an ultra-personal, emotionally raw place, musically.
DRAKE - ‘ICEMAN’
Release Date: May 15
The 6 God has been building anticipation for this project for what feels like forever, but he’s done a great job with the rollout. Mysteries are soon to be revealed, as fans are practically bursting with anticipation.
Mya - 'RETROSPECT'
Release Date: May 15
Her first full-length studio album in eight years finds the veteran R&B star delving into funk and disco, featuring production by Lamar "MyGuyMars" Edwards and Mike & Keys, with collaborations from 21 Savage, Snoop Dogg, and Too $hort.
Tank and The Bangas - ‘THE LAST BALLOON’
Release Date: May 15
It’s the final installment of their trilogy following Green Balloon and Red Balloon and lead single “No Invite” is a rock banger. Executive-produced by Austin Brown, this 13-track album follows their 2024 Grammy-winning spoken word project, The Heart, The Mind, The Soul.
6Lack - ‘LOVE IS THE NEW GANGSTA’
Release Date: May 22
Following 2023's acclaimed (and Grammy-nominated) Since I Have A Lover is a tall order, but the singer-songwriter out of Atlanta has fans buzzing for a project that looks to be dedicated to love in an era of ego.
French Montana & Max B - ‘WAVE GODS 2’
Release Date: May 22
The reunited duo is on a roll and their upcoming release follows their recent tape, Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos, and fans can catch them live soon, as well: the pair will launch the Wave Gods: Narcos Tour on May 24 in Albany, New York.
Aja Monet - ‘THE COLOR OF RAIN’
Release Date: May 22
Building on her Grammy-winning debut album, the poet/performer out of Brooklyn. The activist has described her upcoming project as “the space between droplets” and a compositional tour de force of poetry, emotion, and resonance.
Latto - ‘BIG MAMA’
Release Date: May 29
If you’re dropping an album called Big Mama – then what better rollout than announcing a pregnancy? The First Lady of Clayton County, GA went public with her baby news, then dropped a new single with GloRilla – and it all drives up the excitement for two big arrivals she has coming.
