The BIG List: VIBE's 50 Most Anticipated People, Events & Things For 2011
50) Rihanna's Next Wacky Hairstyle
Why We’re Antsy: Pink, purple, blue, green, red....and that's just gonna be before the first of February. What's next? Really, Rihanna's not just her hair, so we're also looking forward to her next romance and a new rude girl anthem to body the dancefloors.
50) 2011 Anticipated Rihanna
49) 2011 Anticipated T.I.'s Re-Release
49) T.I. Re-Release From Prison
When: September 2011
Why We’re Antsy: King uncaged? Not so much. After releasing a super solid album in No Mercy and not being able to enjoy the fruits of his labor, Tip is gone til September after catching another case in September 2010, just a few months after he finished serving a year-long bid on federal gun charges. For his sake, let's hope it's the last time he walks through prison's revolving doors.
48) 2011 Anticipated Lil Kim
48) Where Lil' Kim Goes From Here
Why We’re Antsy: Okay, Kim, we'll bite: Dropping your Nicki Minaj diss track "Black Friday" just in time for Black Friday produced some intrigue. Now, can you release a dope song before the next Black Friday? Kim claims she's ramping up for a major 2011, but we'll see if the Queen Bee is still the biggest boss b*tch we've seen thus far. She's already threatened to erase Keyshia Cole's security number. Gonna be a cold winter.
47) 2011 Anticipated Jumping the Broom
47) Jumping the Broom
When: May 6, 2011
Why We’re Antsy: Directed by Salim Akil (who directed several episodes of Girlfriends and is now co-helming The Game on BET), this romantic comedy revolves around two very different African-American families who meet up on Martha's Vineyard for a wedding. And after peeping the trailer for it, we're married to the idea already. Plus, Paula Patton.
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46) 2011 Anticipated Dates
46) 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/11/11, And 11/1/11
Why We’re Antsy: Because we’re all big kids inside.
45) 2011 Anticipated Prince William
45) Prince Williams' and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding
When: April 29, 2011
Why We’re Antsy: No offense to all the rappers out there, but this is what we call a movie.
44) 2011 Anticipated Kanye New Girl Toy
44) Kanye’s New Girl Toy
Why We’re Antsy: It seems like Kanye’s spilled his feelings about any chick who’s meant something to him, from his mom to his ex-fiancee Alexis to Amber Rose (Deuces!). Who’s next to feel his passion, pain and pleasure?
43) 2011 Anticipated Brett Favre
43) Brett Favre's Retirement
Why We’re Antsy: After 11 Pro Bowls, 10,000 pass attempts, 508 touchdowns, 71,000 passing yards, 297 straight starts, three fake retirements and one sex scandal, Brett The Jet is hanging it up for good. Awww, man....already?
42) 2011 Anticipated Justin Timberlake
42) New Justin Timerlake Music
Why We’re Antsy: Sure, Justin Timberlake hasn’t confirmed that he’s dropping an official project and the most he’ll tell us (via Entertainment Weekly) is, “I don’t know what else to tell you, except that I just don’t know [in] what capacity I want to be involved [in music] anymore.” But that's besides the point. Talks of JT’s being in the studio are promising. Last month, his song “Take Me Down” (no Chris Brown) leaked and he did a cover of Drake’s “Over,” so even though JT might be content with his acting career, we’re expecting some sort of 2011 musical return. Or rather just trying to speak it into existence.
**UPDATE: "Take Me Down" is in fact NOT Justin Timberlake but a Danish fella named Rasmus Thude. Go figure. We'll keep dreaming.
41) 2011 Anticipated Kendrick Lamar
41) More Of Kendrick Lamar
Why We’re Antsy: No offense to Dr. Dre, but his cosign of Kendrick isn't the reason we're excited to hear more from the Cali-bred MC (word to Stat Quo, Hittman, Bishop Lamont and every other rapper Dre cosigned and then ditched). What does have us excited is the Kendrick Lamar EP, the Overly Dedicated mixtape and every other piece of music Kendrick dropped in 2010. Keep it coming straight outta Compton.
40) 2011 Anticipated Mad Men
40) The Return Of Mad Men
When: TBA
Why We’re Antsy: When we left off, Don Draper had proposed to his secretary, Megan, whom he’d been dating for all of 45 minutes and played the sensible woman, Grace. The genius ad man's complexity is the reason we all tune in, and season 5 promises more drama and confusion. We’re also anxious to see if Naturi Naughton’ reprises her role as Draper's business partner's love interest with a case of jungle fever.
39) 2011 Anticipated Michael Jackson
39) Michael Jackson Mania
Why We’re Antsy: Oh, so you thought Michael was the last you'd hear from the King of Pop? Guess again. Thanks to the three million copies that flew off the shelves internationally in its first week in stores, there's another posthumous album and an MJ-inspired Cirque du Soleil tour on the way in 2011. Hope you saved some of that Christmas cash, kiddies.
38) 2011 Anticipated Sex Scandal
38) The Next Celebrity Sex Scandal
Why We’re Antsy: This shouldn't take too long. A Nicki Minaj sex tape, scantily clad flicks of one of the Simmons sisters, the next Kat Stacks... someone's bound to eff up their resolution sooner than later.
37) 2011 Anticipated Saigon
37) Saigon's Greatest Story, At Last
When: February 15, 2011
Why We’re Antsy: Saigon's debut (that sounds weird), The Greatest Story Never Told will finally be available to the masses come February. Pull up a chair and listen, or get your e-readers out. We’ve heard it and yes, it is great.
36) 2011 Anticipated Blackberry Playbook
36) The BlackBerry PlayBook
When: Q1
Why We’re Antsy: BlackBerry's last gasp (face it, guys: BBM isn't going to keep you competitive forever) or a true iPad competitor? RIM's got a Hail Mary play set up. Now it's time to see if it actually works.
35) 2011 Anticipated Carmelo Anthony
35) Carmelo Anthony Leaving the Denver Nuggets
Why We’re Antsy: New York? New Jersey? Houston? Some other city that's not even on our radar yet? We're not sure where 'Melo will end up between now and the end of NBA season but, now that he's made it clear he won't resign with the Nuggets next year, we do know where he won't: Denver. Anybody free to help him move?
34) 2011 Anticipated Marvel Films
34) Marvel Comics Spring/Summer Flicks
When: Thor (May 6); X-Men First Class (June 3); Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22)
Why We’re Antsy: Just in case you thought the reign of the comic book-inspired movie was over (it's not! Peep The Green Hornet in January), Marvel returns with the fifth installment of their X-Men movies, a prequel to their first three X-Men flicks. And with two other Marvel staples, Thor and Captain America, finally hitting theaters, Stan Lee's superhero franchise is raking in the dough.
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33) 2011 Anticipated Hangover 2
33) The Hangover: Part II
When: May 26, 2011
Why We’re Antsy: No Mel Gibson? No problem. Everybody's favorite celebrity bigot (relax, we're kidding!) won't be making a surprise cameo in the sequel to the funniest flick we've seen in the last five years as previously reported. But that doesn't mean you're not gonna LMFAO all the way home after you see this over Memorial Day Weekend. Featuring the original cast and scriptwriters—plus a cameo from former President Bill Clinton—we fully expect it to be every bit as LOL-worthy as the first Hangover. Start assembling your wolfpack now.
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32) 2011 Anticipated 3D Everything
32) All 3D Everything
Why We’re Antsy: From Justin Bieber: Never Say Never and Kung Fu Panda 2 to The Green Lantern and, most importantly, The Smurfs, everything you want to see in theaters this year will be in 3D. It might finally be time to invest in a pair of your own specs.
31) 2011 Anticipated Amber Rose
31) Amber Rose's Reality Show, Behind Her Shades
When: TBA on VH1
Why We’re Antsy: Because we're not sure how many more times your girl is gonna let you rewind Fab's "You Be Killin' Em" video... We had some ideas for this.
30) 2011 Anticipated Mountaintop
30) Halle Berry’s Broadway Debut in The Mountaintop
When: TBA
Why We’re Antsy: Ever since Halle grabbed that golden Oscar, her career’s been like a dying patient’s heart monitor. With director Lee Daniels at the helm of this two-character play about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his maid (it takes place in the hotel room where King was shot), the ops for intense scenes and dialogue are plentiful. Samuel L. Jackson co-stars. Read: lots of screaming.
29) 2011 Anticipated NBA Playoffs
29) The 2011 NBA Playoffs
When: May-June 2011
Why We’re Antsy: The Eastern Conference Finals will be nothing short of epic if Bron Bron goes head to head with Paul Pierce and the reigning Celts, especially after Paul's tweet following a November victory against the Heat ("It's been a pleasure to bring my talents to south beach now on to Memphis.") Zing! Should the Heat advance to the Finals, however, get ready for the return of the LeBron and Kobe puppets. Hopefully, they're talking trash during more than just a bunch of commercials this year. And if the Heat make it to the promised land, folks will have to finally admit they were wrong about the Big Three.
28) 2011 Anticipated Flying Car
28) A F#@!ing Flying Car
When: TBA
Why We’re Antsy: Um, it’s a flying car! Actually, the Terrafugia is a Roadside Light Aerocraft that MIT engineers have been tinkering on since 2006. Whatever, it's a flying car! And if reports are accurate some rich folks will be testing it out as soon as this year. They’ll be able to “land at the airport, fold up your wings and drive home." Or better yet, off to Spacely Sprockets!
27) 2011 Anticipated Amy Winehouse
27) Amy Winehouse’s Comeback
Why We’re Antsy: The U.K.’s grittiest voice has been away for far too long, letting her fuckery get the best of her. Lately, though, there’ve been rumblings of her working on new material, plus the troubled songstress appeared on a remake of "It's My Party" on Quincy Jones’s covers album, Soul Bossa Nostra, released in November. A glorious drug-free comeback is long overdue.
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26) 2011 Anticipated Swizz Beatz Aston Martin
26) Swizz Beatz’s Custom Designed 2012 Aston Martin
When: TBA
Why We’re Antsy: This auto collaboration is kind of a big deal for Swizz Beatz, who unveiled a preview of Rick Ross’ other favorite luxury whip not named Maybach. While most of us probably can’t afford to hop behind the wheels of this four-door beaut, we can still dream.
25) 2011 Anticipated Black Sitcoms
25) A New Crop Of Black Sitcoms
When: Starting January 2011
Why We’re Antsy: Tyler Perry’s House of Payne finally has some company. Besides the ignorant reality show stars, Black faces on TV have been scant. Then we had Undercovers. And then we didn’t. With scripted shows like BET’s Let’s Stay Together, Ice Cube’s Are We There Yet? Love That Girl and VH1’s Single Ladies, plus The Game returning, the TV landscape is getting colorized. Let’s hope it stays that way.
24) 2011 Anticipated Dipset Reunion
24) The Dipset Reunion Album
When: TBA
Why We’re Antsy: With Jim Jones’ solo album The Capo dropping and a much buzzed about reunion concert shutting down the Big Apple, the Diplomats are prepping for another movement to move with. While Cam'ron, Freakey Zekey and gang can do no wrong in the minds of New York rap heads, can they reclaim their glory days? We’re ready… we’re ready…!
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23) 2011 Anticipated Nicki Minaj
23) A Freak-Filled Nicki Minaj Tour
When: TBA
Why We're Antsy: Soon, Nicki should be announcing a tour in support of her debut album, Pink Friday, which was met with either mass indifference or Stan-like love. Antics are bound to ensue—Keyshia Cole hinted at a possible stage union between the two—so cop your tickets early. The costume changes alone should be epic.
22) 2011 Anticipated iPad Newspaper
22) Rupert Murdoch’s iPad Newspaper, The Daily
When: Reportedly January 17
The first of its kind, News Corp's' daily digital newspaper will be a real test of whether folks are ready to consume news the lazy way--wirelessly on a hard glass tablet (for 99 cents a week)--instead of the traditional way--good old recyclable paper. If successful, The Daily could start a newspaper revolution.
21) 2011 Anticipated Lupe Fiasco
21) Lupe Fiasco’s L.A.S.E.R.S.
When: March 8, 2011?
Why We’re Antsy: Amidst his label struggles and Che Guevara-worthy fan uprisings, Lupe is still one of the best rapping ass rappers alive. We haven’t heard album material from the Chitown spitter since the heavily (a little too heavily) concept-y The Cool. But all the mixtapes, cameos (B.o.B., Kanye), sick verses (“Building Minds Faster”) and random singles (“The Show Goes On,” “Go To Sleep,” “I’m Beamin”) unleashed in 2010 are leading up to something called Lasers. Beam us up, son.
20) 2011 Anticipated The Game
20) The Return Of The Game, On BET
When: January 11, 2011
Why We’re Antsy: After surviving cancellation thanks to an outcry from fans, the show everyone loves to love returns to the network people sort of don’t like. Melanie and Derwin are now married, but Derwin’s baby’s mama is still in the picture. Expect friction. Jason and Brittany are still on the rocks, and Tasha and Rick Fox are almost as entertaining to watch as Pam and Kyle. Welcome back.
19) 2011 Anticipated Detox
19) Detox, Finally…
When: Reportedly First Quarter 2011
Why We’re Antsy: Do you believe in fairytales? Dre’s Akon-assisted single "Kush" hit the atmosphere, along with an accompanying music video. And Diesel Dre has actually been, like, out in public. Clearly, the once reclusive producer isn’t just pushing headphones and HP laptops these days. Interscope is prepping for a big push, so the chances of this album actually dropping have graduated from slim-to-none to yeah, maybe!
18) 2011 Anticipated Frankie And Alice
18) Halle Berry In Frankie & Alice
When: February 4, 2011
Why We’re Antsy: Halle Berry plays a woman struggling to manage her multiple personalities (one of them racist) before it drives her over the edge. It’s like Dave Chappelle’s Clayton Bigsby but more serious. But can Halle repeat her Best Actress Oscar win?
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17) 2011 Anticipated True Blood
17) A Summer Of True Blood
When: Summer 2011
Why We're Antsy: Zombies might be the new black (See: The Walking Dead), but vampires are still lurking in the background. HBO’s sleeper cult hit, which won over critics with its passion, venom and lots of steamy sex scenes, returns for a bloody fourth season this summer.
16) 2011 Anticipated Chris Brown
16) Chris Brown’s Resurgence
Why We’re Antsy: For everyone not hypnotized by the swirling synths of “OMG,” Chris Brown’s “Deuces” was the biggest R&B song of 2010. Quietly, VIBE’s relaunch issue cover boy mounted a comeback with a ringtone-worthy breakup anthem, a pair of savvy mixtapes and a tearful, killer tribute to Michael Jackson at the 2010 BET Awards. If the Twitter shenanigans and apologins don’t weight him down, the Virginia pretty boy, with his new album Fame, could win back the hearts of music fans. Bad boys move in silence.
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15) 2011 Anticipated Prodigy
15) Prodigy Getting Released From Prison
When: Reportedly February 2011
Why We’re Antsy: One of Queens' finest has been locked up for roughly three years and he's dropping a memoir soon after his release. But this is important for one reason and one reason only: Twitter. Let the all-capped rants and @KanyeWest replies commence.
14) 2011 Anticipated Diggy Simmons
14) Diggy’s First Official Single/Album
When: TBA
Why We’re Antsy: The mixtapes, the fresh style, the fresher freestyles… Diggy definitely has “it” and Atlantic Records was smart to pounce on him early on. Now it's time for a good push. Rev Run’s young one has already whet our appetites lyrically, but can he make a song? An album? We’re ready for something official.
13) 2011 Anticipated J Cole
13) J. Cole's Debut Album
When: TBA
Why We’re Antsy: Everyday a star is born. And following a handful of stellar mixtapes, guest appearances alongside everyone from Miguel to Keri Hilson and a successful 2010 street single, "Who Dat," Jay-Z's handpicked protege will finally get his time to shine. Cole world!
12) 2011 Anticipated Beyonce
12) Beyoncé Killing Off These Hoes (Figuratively)
When: ASAP
Why We’re Antsy: Even when Beyonce takes a musical hiatus, she's ever present whether it's vacaying with Hov or hawking 3D TVs and perfumes. While R&B’s other songstresses flail with their record sales and their actual records, Bey rarely lets us down. Note to Stans: Bey is feverishly at work on new music that she calls a mix of… everything. When everyone else says that, we die inside but when Beyonce says it we’re intrigued. Inspirations? She told MTV: "Definitely Fela Kuti, the Stylistics. How random, right? So many people ... Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, of course, Michael Jackson's Off the Wall ... all of those things I'm kind of mixing together."
11) 2011 Anticipated iPad 2
11) Apple iPad2 (Now With Camera!?)
When: Reportedly January or March 2011
Why We’re Antsy: Supposedly shipping by spring, the second generation of Apple’s giant iPhone / Jesus tablet is set to get a few upgrades, including (according to rumored reports) a camera (get ready for Facetime enlarged), a size downgrade, USB port and Apple's revolutionary Retina display. It’s also coming to Verizon. Slashed prices would make for an even sweeter deal.
10) 2011 Anticipated Jay Electronica
10) An Album, Mixtape, Song, Snippet, Teaser… Anything From Jay Electronica
When: Exactly
Why We’re Antsy: The chances of Mr. Badu Detoxing the music world are high—Jay takes his sweet time when it comes to recording—but the most buzzed about new real lyricist now has Jay-Z’s Roc Nation imprint behind him. He’s got the juice now. Drop some heat.
9) 2011 Anticipated Oprah Winfrey
9) Oprah Winfrey’s Reinvention
When: Starting January 2011
Why We’re Antsy: The Queen of All Media gets to prove whether she can do it all over from scratch and on a much larger scale (no pun). Surely, the over-40 housewives set will be tuning in to Oprah’s OWN network to see how to can upgrade their lives, but can she still inspire a nation? Let’s ask Jay-Z.
8) 2011 Anticipated Eminem
8) Eminem’s Grammy Takeover
When: February 13, 2011
Why We're Antsy: Last year, Eminem was a shining example of How to Complete a Successful Comeback 101, dropping a critically acclaimed Recovery, one of the best selling albums of the year, and effectively reclaiming his throne without compromising his rapness. Multiple Grammy wins could be rap’s biggest moment since Outkast won Album of the Year. That is, if Em shows up.
7) 2011 Anticipated Jersey Shore
7) The Third Season of Jersey Shore
When: January 6, 2011
Why We’re Antsy: After a quick Miami hit-it-then-quit-it, the boys and girls of summer return to their Jersey Shore stomping grounds for a third round of grenades, Jacuzzi baths and Situation sayings, with new castmember Deena (Snooki's friend). Are Ronnie and Sammie still smooshing? We’ve got our fist pump stance and tan kits ready 'cause it’s Tt-shirt tiiime!
6) 2011 Anticipated Willow Smith
6) Willow Smith’s Next Single
Why We’re Antsy: Tired of the “Whip my Hair" headlines yet? Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s prodigy child already proved she can make a hit single, and with her one-of-a-kind fly style, wit and personality (and some Jay-Z-helmed Roc Nation support), Willow can really corner the kiddie Rih Rih market.
5) 2011 Anticipated Drake
5) Drake’s Sophomore Album
Why We’re Antsy: Drake is more than on the brink of influential. He's already crafting Thank Me Later's follow-up, Take Care, which might feature less "I betta find yo love" and more "last name ever, first name greatest." As Boi 1da told VIBE: “A lot of people had criticized him for singing, but I think he’s just coming back to show people why they fell in love with him, like ‘did you forget about me?.’ And it’s really coming out in his raps. It’s something I can’t even really explain it.”
4) 2011 Anticipated iPhone Verizon
4) The Apple iPhone Coming to Verizon
When: Rumored January or March 2011
Why We’re Antsy: It’s what we all been waiting for, ain’t it? Well, some of us. Steve Jobs’ Jesus phone is finally (reportedly) set to hit America’s Best Network as a CDMA version at the top of the year, and the bars on our AT&T iPhones just bumped in anticipation. Can we say goodbye to dropped calls and can-you-hear-me-now service? Verizon will cost you, but if we learned anything in economics class, it’s that variety is a win for consumers. Jordan fist pump.
3) 2011 Anticipated Lil Wayne Rebirth
3) Lil Wayne’s Real Rebirth
When: All Year
Why We’re Antsy: The best rapper alive came out the (jail) gate swinging with his first sober comeback single, "6’7’" featuring Cory Gunz and its bar after bar of insane metaphors, analogies, one-liners and one hell of a "silent G" simile. We’re still digesting it, and that’s just one song. With Carter IV scheduled to drop first quarter and his Young Money crew stacked with talent, Weezy’s still ravenous and disproving the dreaded post-jail slump.
2) 2011 Anticipated Lady Gaga
2) Lady Gaga’s Born This Way
When: May 23, 2011
Why We’re Antsy: Whatever Gaga does, it's big, bold and weird. The quirk queen has already prematurely declared Born This Way the album of the decade, word to Kanye. Musically, she hasn’t let us down yet, and given the overwhelming success of Fame and Fame Monster (2010's best selling album), we’re inclined to believe her.
1) 2011 Anticipated JayZ Kanye West
1) Jay-Z’s & Kanye West’s Collaboration
When: March 2011
Why We’re Antsy: We're waiting with baited breaths, because Watch The Throne could either be pretty great or eh. We’re banking on the former, since Kanye’s music and douchebaggery are on a hundred, thousand... you know, and Jay-Z still drops killer bars whenever he feels obliged (See: "Free Mason," "So Appalled"). If all goes according to plan, R. Kelly will be one jealous man.
