Damian Marley has made a name for himself just like his great father. Photo courtesy of bbc.co.uk.

Recently, I’ve gotten sick of my music. Even though Lil’ Boosie’s “Smoking on Purple” is still a revelation on the 400th listening, it’s time for me to update my library. But herein lies the problem: there’s no worthwhile music to download, and listening to the radio is roughly equivalent to repeatedly punching myself in the testes.

It’s in this spirit that I compiled a list of five albums that are certainly worth waiting for.

5) “Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dust”— Big Boi (March 23, 2010)

Big Boi, one half of OutKast along with Andre 3000, has yet to release a debut album in 15 years of rapping. Like most of the albums on this list, Big Boi’s debut has been long-rumored and repeatedly delayed. A single, “Royal Flush,” appeared online in 2008, and featured Andre 3000 and Wu-Tang’s Raekwon. Big Boi brings some of the southern style OutKast first earned fame for, and, with guest appearances from big names like Gucci Mane (the smartest rapper alive), his debut promises to be both a critical and commercial success (unsurprising when you look over OutKast’s long and distinguished body of work).

4) “Detox”— Dr. Dre (2011?)

“Detox” is Dr. Dre’s long anticipated follow up to his sophomore effort “2001,” which, like its predecessor “The Chronic,” was absolutely huge. This album has probably been the most talked-about project in rap over the past decade, amazing when you consider that Dre has released just two albums over the last 18 years and yet continues to be one of rap’s biggest names. If you’re like me, you have faith that “Detox” will live up to all the hype. How could it not, considering that almost every song on “The Chronic” and “2001” are memorable and continue to be popular? Dre has been so influential-“The Chronic” created the G-Funk sound that ruled rap in the first half of the 90s and “2001” spawned massive hits like “Next Episode” and “Still D.R.E.”—that Detox couldn’t possibly not be huge.

3) “Wu Massacre”— Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon (March 30, 2010)

A long-anticipated collaboration between three of Wu-Tang’s biggest and best names. The Clan’s major impact on rap today is in solo efforts like these, and while it’s been a while since they released a solid studio album, last year’s “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II” reminded everyone that the Clan is still legit. They’ve already released the track list, and with songs like “Meth vs Chef” (a new version of an old track with the same name that appeared on Method Man’s debut “Tical”) and “Criminology 2.5” (a throwback to two previous songs on Raekwon’s “Cuban Linx” series) this album promises to revive the old glory of the Clan.

2) “Distant Relatives”— Nas and Damian Marley (April 2010)

We’ve been hearing about a Nas and Damian Marley collaboration album since the two started headlining last year’s Rock the Bells tour. Recently, two full songs from the album leaked online—“Strong Will Continue” and “As We Enter.” On “Strong Will Continue,” Marley sings the chorus in patois (Jamaican slang) and Nas contributes the rhymes. Nas’ final verse, in which he addresses staying relevant after almost two decades of rapping, is particularly good. I prefer the other leaked single, “As We Enter,” though. Nas and Marley go back and forth over a funky jazz beat sampled from famed African musician Mulatu Astatqé, and Marley has no trouble keeping up with Nasty Nas’ word play and lyrical tricks. The track really promotes the whole “Queens to Kingston” idea; a sound that I think will work really well when executed by quite possibly the greatest rapper ever (or at the very least the most consistent) and the second greatest Marley ever.

1) “Deltron Event II”— Deltron 3030 (??)

Who knows when this will be released? Deltron 3030—a collaboration among DJ’s Dan the Automator, Kid Koala and rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien—released their debut album, also named “Deltron 3030,” in 2000 to critical acclaim. It’s more of a rap-Opera than a traditional rap album, much in the same way Del is a poet more than a traditional rapper. Dan the Automator and Kid Koala provide futuristic beats that have a more electronic than hip-hop sound, while Del showcases his amazing rhyming and story-telling skills. The group’s debut was (and still is) one of the most interesting rap albums ever, and when (or if) the sequel comes, it will certainly have some surprises. You may end up waiting quite some time for this, because unfortunately, news of any progress has been mostly speculation. It’s certainly worth the wait, though.