New Music Releases — June 2014

We’re six months into 2014 and some of hip-hop and R&B’s most valuable players have projects that could very well be on the horizon.

The possible new albums may come from the likes of Rihanna, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj -- who's returning to her hip-hop roots two years removed from the polarizing 'Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.' There's a chance any of these artists could pull a surprise like Beyonce or Pharrell Williams, in releasing their LPs with no advanced notice.

While we wait to find out their next move, we do know the biggest release of June is 50 Cent's 'Animal Ambition' -- his first album since the head-turning announcement of his departure from Interscope Records. Thanks in part to the infamously (intentionally?) bad Mets first pitch, all eyes are on him.

Fif's high-profile release has been making headlines but there's also new efforts from G-Eazy ('These Things Happen'), Trey Songz ('Trigga'), Big Freedia ('Just Be Free'), Ab-Soul ('These Days...') and Open Mike Eagle ('Dark Comedy.') Also, will Canibus' new album completely erase the memory of the freestyle fail from 2012? You'll have to listen to find out.

Check out the June 2014 album releases below.

June 3
50 Cent, 'Animal Ambition'
Sage Francis, 'Copper Gone'
Madlib, 'Pinata Beats'

June 10
Murs & Mayday, 'Mursday'
Canibus, 'Fait Accompli'
Open Mike Eagle, 'Dark Comedy'

June 17
Big Freedia, 'Just Be Free'
Gucci Mane & Migos, 'The Green Album'
Sam Smith, 'In the Lonely Hour'

June 24
G-Eazy, 'These Things Happen'
Buckshot & P-Money, 'BackPack Travels' 
Ab-Soul, 'These Days...'

June 30
Trey Songz, 'Trigga'