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New Album Rumor Mill: OutKast Solo LPs, Radiohead’s Next One, D12

andre 3000, outkast, thom yorke, radiohead

Earlier this month, SPIN shared its list of 50 Albums You Gotta Hear in 2014, an in-depth rundown detailing this year’s must-hear LPs. Now, it looks as though a few other high-profile full-lengths are also on the way, including solo albums by André 3000 and Big Boi.

Revolt reports that while the reunited OutKast rappers have been recording in their Atlanta headquarters of Stankonia Studios, they’re not working on a follow-up to 2006’s Idlewild, as Queen Latifah recently claimed (and quickly retracted). Instead, the ATLiens are putting together their own respective records, according to longtime OutKast producer Mr. DJ.

DJ claims that André 3000 has recorded a ton of material for his long-awaited solo album, which is likely to be out sometime this year. Big Boi, meanwhile, is busy with the successor to 2012’s Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors, says Mr. DJ, who was reportedly laying down tracks with Big Boi in Stankonia Studios earlier this month. Revolt speculates that after OutKast finish their extensive festival tour, the two solo records will be released, and then a proper OutKast record will follow.

“I get the feeling that the energy and camaraderie from the tour will bring everything full circle,” Mr. DJ told Revolt. “We may make it back in for an album following that.”

Another major rap project we can all look forward to? Whatever Eminem is planning with D12. As Fact points out, the “Rap God” is collaborating with the long-dormant Detroit group on some new songs. While checking in on Em collaborator Mark Bass, the Detroit Free Press notes that the producer has been mixing fresh material by D12, “including three [tracks] with Eminem.”

If a new D12 album is coming, it would be the crew’s follow-up to their 2004 sophomore effort, D12 World, and their first full-length since the 2006 shooting death of Proof, one of the unit’s key members.

An album with a future that’s less certain is the next Radiohead effort. Speaking with Drowned in Sound (via the NME), bassist Colin Greenwood said that plans for the band’s ninth LP are “up in the air at the minute.”

“Thom [Yorke]’s just come back from touring Atoms for Peace and he’s having some quiet time,” Greenwood explained. “I’m sorry to be vague but we’re all just taking it easy at the moment. Just enjoying being at home and hanging out really. But at the same time, the vibe is very much Oxford and all good!” 

Last year, Greenwood said that Radiohead would begin crafting the follow-up to 2011’s King of Limbs near the end of summer 2013. Now that timeline looks to have shifted.

“I wish I could say we were going to start work and put something out then spend 12 months on the road touring but we’re just enjoying being at home right now,” Greenwood reiterated. “We had the best time when we spent the last two years touring The King of Limbs. We all really enjoyed that. It was a really positive time. We definitely want to do it all again but we’ve just got to give it some time for the dust to settle. What I’m trying to say is everyone’s very happy and positive and looking forward to the next adventure.”