Offerings from Drake, Coldplay, Rick Ross, U2, Jay-Z and Kanye West and more also make our list of LPs to watch for this year. By Gil Kaufman Britney Spears Photo: Jive 2010 went out with a bang thanks to blockbuster albums by Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Nicki Minaj , but 2011 looks to top that flurry of releases with an avalanche of fresh product from some of your favorite artists. While its release is still unconfirmed, one of the most anticipated discs of the year could drop as early as next week . That’s when Jay-Z and Kanye’s collabo album, Watch the Throne, hits shelves if comments made by Yeezy on New Year’s Eve are to be believed. Here’s a breakdown of some other important albums on tap for 2011. Hip-Hop The Jigga/’Ye hookup promises to be the first of many major rap events in the first half of the year, which is also expected to bring the long-awaited new disc from Lupe Fiasco, Lasers ; the full-length debut from Wiz Khalifa; as well as not-yet-titled new sets from Nas and 50 Cent. In addition to Rick Ross’ God Forgives, I Don’t and a possible Dipset reunion effort, fans are also awaiting release dates for Drake’s sophomore CD, Take Care, and the debut from buzzbomb MC/producer Jay Electronica , who holds the seal of approval from Roc Nation head Jay-Z. And after a delay caused by MCA’s (a.k.a. Adam Yauch) cancer scare, the Beastie Boys are planning a return with their eighth studio album, The Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2, in the spring. All of that could just be an appetizer, though, for the main event: the release of Lil Wayne’s first post-prison album, the hotly tipped Tha Carter IV, which has not yet received a street date. And there is, of course, the always tantalizing proposition of Dr. Dre finally dropping his years-in-the-making rap follow-up Detox, on which Eminem has recently said he’s been working with his mentor. Pop Since “Whip My Hair” became a viral sensation, fans have been hyped for the still-untitled debut from tween star Willow Smith , who has hinted she might remake one of dad Will’s signature hits. But it’s the next move from the queen of R&B, Beyonc
