A Twist of JP Lime: What Awaits in 2016

Greetings, Lime Nation, and welcome to a brand new year, rife with possibilities, brimming with all kinds of potential. Here at #JPLMagazine we are especially excited for what promises to be a big year in Hip Hop with Kanyeezy’s SWISH leading the most anticipated list. But 2016 is a BIG year and there are many other topics we’ll be covering so let’s take a look at what’s coming our way in the 17th year of the new millennium.

2016 Fun Fact #1: On July 4th, NASA’s Juno spacecraft, launched in August 2011, is expected to arrive at Jupiter.

In the world of movies and television, what looks to be the single biggest comic book movie year yet has our nerd nerves twitching. Marvel brings us a superhero Civil War in May’s Captain America 3 and something altogether different with Doctor Strange on November 4. We’ll also be getting Deadpool on February 12, Batman v Superman March 25, X-Men: Apocalypse May 27, and Suicide Squad August 5. On the small screen Agents of SHIELD returns March 8 with the second half of a thrilling third season, preceded by the second season of Agent Carter on January 19, while the second season of Daredevil debuts on Netflix March 25. We’ll also be getting Ninja Turtles 2 (with Bebop, Rocksteady, AND Krang), Ghostbusters (3) with the SNL female crew, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a prequel to Episode IV with Felicity Jones and Ben Mendelsohn. What are YOU most excited for?

2016 Fun Fact #2: 2016 is a leap year. The chance of being born on a leap day is one in 1,461 and there are five million leaplings (the term for those born on Leap Day) in the world.

In the larger nonfiction world we collectively find ourselves at the edge of a precipice, with social chasms separating us from one another and an uncertain road ahead. We face a presidential election of great consequence this Fall, with a field of candidates that instills confidence in few. The #BlackLivesMatter movement fights strongly into its second year despite serious opposition on both structural and cultural levels, and the conversation/debate/bloody battle over racial equality in our country, intrinsically tied to the role and abuse of authority, remains in the forefront of our national consciousness. We have a group of armed civilians in Oregon occupying a government birdhouse. Internationally, the wide force that is ISIS continues to grow more dangerous, and there is nary a voice of any side that seems to understand how to defeat them. And while these issues amount to one of the hairiest times in our recent history, perhaps looming larger is the issue of what the character of our candidates and the content of our debates reveal about us as people and as citizens. No one of us is separate from these events, no man is an island, these issues affect the lives of us all. We will certainly be lending our voices to the dialogue here at #JPLMagazine.

2016 Fun Fact #3: There is word that both Mexico and Canada will vote on the recreational use of marijuana in 2016, with the latter’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently affirming his commitment to legalization. Many believe that California will vote and pass legalization in November with Nevada, Missouri, New York, and our own Massachusetts also highly rumored to making a ballot push in 2016.

And in the world of music there is a great deal to look forward to, especially in regards to fresh, new Hip Hop. As mentioned above, Kanye West’s seventh studio album, once called ‘So Help Me God’, now titled SWISH, will drop this year, though no date has yet been announced. Expected to be included on the album are the already-released singles “Only One”, “All Day”, his NYE release “Facts”, and the Rihanna and Paul McCartney assisted “FourFive Seconds”. There are rumors that Yeezus could go the route of the surprise release as well as a TIDAL-exclusive opening.

After a seemingly resistant return in 2015 with his fifth album, Tetsuo & Youth, Lupe Fiasco has announced that 2016 will feature three new releases from him titled ‘Drogas’, ‘Skulls’, and ‘Roy’. His tour also begins next week in Oregon and will be hitting Boston’s Wilbur Theatre on Wednesday February 10. And in answer to your next question, yes, I’d be interested in going, thank you for the invitation.

Hotline Blinging Drizzy Drake’s Views from the 6 will finally make release, even rumored to be making a surprise drop this past Wednesday January 6. For what it’s worth, in my mind Toronto’s 416 area code would more suggest an April release date, rather than the 4th album, 1st month, 6th day theory. Instead, much to fans’ chagrin, he released an Instagram video of him playing ping-pong.

There are plenty of releases to look forward to in 2016 from a variety of different acts, but few with specific dates. A$AP Ferg drops his sophomore album Always Strive and Prosper, Wiz Khalifa takes another hit with Rolling Papers 2: The Weed Album, and formerly-T.I.-now-Tip drops #10 with The Dime Trap. Ghostface-whipping post Action Bronson returns with The Human Highlight Reel, and the questions surrounding Frank Ocean’s second release Boys Don’t Cry roll on into the new year. Similarly, Timbaland’s fourth album now titled Textbook Timb continues to leak singles but lacks a release date, while rumors of the return of Missy Elliott are bolstered by her single “WTF (Where They From)” emerging last Fall. Puff Daddy and the Family return with another new name but a familiar title in No Way Out 2, and Run The Jewels hits us with the third installment of their self-titled series.

Prof will be traveling back to the Summer’s best festival, Bonnaroo in June, whether physically or virtually, the lineup of which has yet to be released but promises some of the year’s top names and an assortment of sonic surprises. And here at home Boston Hip Hop has some serious talent that’s been building over the last half decade primed to hit us with the freshness in 2016. Moe Pope, Arcitype, Esh, Avenue, and Fran-P, along with their various duo iterations such as STL GLD and Bad Rabbits, represent the Bean’s most prolific current label, AR Classic. They open up 2016 with Esh and Arc dropping their Death Doesn’t Want You album January 22. Along with other acts like Cousin Stizz, Latrell James, Stiz Grimey, and Cam Meekins, they are part of a Boston Hip Hop scene that is tighter and more active than it’s perhaps ever been and we’ll certainly be shining a light on it this year. In addition, your very own JP Lime boys are rumored to hitting the studio with a brand new focus, fervor, and flavor so keep your eyes and ears tuned right here to JPLimeProductions.com.

There is a lot going on in 2016, it promises to be a Year of Action, and here at #JPLMagazine we’ll be covering it all… and much more. The Rap Flashback returns for its third season, our partnership with the good folks at Oddball Magazine will be growing only stronger, and our network of talented contributors and collaborators expanding. Our artform is alive and thriving, and at JP Lime we are here to bring a new brand of Hip hop to a new brand of listener. We extend to you, our loyal friends and fans, our deepest gratitude for your continued support and we hope you are as excited about 2016 as we are. Happy New Year, Lime Nation, and Lime On.