"Gotta Cop Dat List" (Summer '07)...

Billboard just released a list of upcoming albums list and ranked them, I guess, according to their level of anticipation (whose level? I'm not sure)....however, Billboard's idea of highly anticipated albums is not necessarily the general public's view of highly anticipated music. So, I've decided to post my "Top 5 Gotta Cop Dat List"...

5. Kelly Rowland- "Miss Kelly" (July 2nd) First single, "Like This" featuring Eve has been blowing up radio with two remixes with all new beats hitting radio in coming weeks. Second single is rumored to be "Comeback" which is appropriatly titled because I definitely think Kelly knows this album is make or break for her solo career.

4. Rihanna- "Good Girl Gone Bad" (June 5th) Rihanna's third album marks her third year in the industry, and she continues to evolve into an artist that never gives you what you think she's going to give you. A modern day Madonna (hence the new edgy pop haircut a la Madonna 1980's). First single, "Umbrella" feat. Jay-Z is burning up the charts and follow-up single "Shut Up and Drive" is just as infectious as "SOS".

3. Chris Brown- "Exclusive" (September-my bet is sooner) I add Chris Brown to the list of upcoming anticipated albums because one day Chris Brown stops by Hot 97 to preview a track, "Wall to Wall", for the station and the next its all over the country increasing spins by the second. First single, "Wall to Wall" is catchy, fast-hitting, and sounds like "Run It!" without sounding like "Run It!".

2. Eve- "Here I Am" (August 7th) Eve has been MIA for a looonnnggg minute, but she's back in a big way. First she reemerged on Kelly Rowland's "Like This", then she dropped her first single, "Tambourine". This song is the hottest track in the clubs and on the track Eve sounds like she's hungry again for success on the charts. Swizz Beats at the helm on production...I'm definitely going to have to holla at this one.

1. R. Kelly "Double Up" (May 29th) I have to give the number one spot to R. Kelly because he has put out more tracks in the past few months then some artist have in their whole careers. First, R. Kelly appeared on Snoop Dogg's "That's That", then with Young Jeezy on "Go Getta". A few weeks later, a bonus cut from Bow Wow's album leaked to radio aka "I'm a Flirt". That's when R. Kelly when into full promotional blitz and released "I'm a Flirt (remix)" featuring T-Pain & TI, "It's Me Snitches (remix)" by Swizz Beat" , and "Same Girl" featuring Usher almost simultaneously. If that wasn't enough, R. Kelly then penned an inspirational song for the family and friends of the victims of the Virginia Tech Shooting called "Rise Up". Now, R. Kelly is wasting no time releasing the highly anticipated soon to be platinum "Double Up"....Whew! Back up....give the man some room...let him breath....oh and go buy the album...