The year is drawing to a close and music artists are scrambling to release their albums in time for Christmas. We picked out five artists whose albums hit the stores this month.

By Chris Ong

Leona Lewis: Christmas, With Love
Scheduled release: 3 December

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It wasn’t too long ago when Leona Lewis first arrived on the scene as a contestant on The X Factor. Since winning the singing competition, she has made waves with her powerful vocals and lovely personality. Lewis’ latest album marks her departure from her previous management company and she is now represented by Syco Music headed by Simon Cowell. Fans of Lewis can look forward to Leona’s fifth studio album, which she will start working on next month.

1. One More Sleep
2. Winter Wonderland
3. White Christmas
4. Your Hallelujah
5. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
6. Mr. Right7. O Holy Night
8. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
9. Ave Maria
10. Silent Night

Britney Spears: Britney Jean
Scheduled release: 3 December

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The pop princess makes her return with an eighth studio album to satiate the music crowds. This time, Spears brought on rapper and Black Eyed Peas’ front man will.i.am as executive producer – he even features in one of her tracks. No lazy artist herself, Spears has co-written all the songs in this album and has shown her versatility in venturing into other musical genres and styles. She may not be the innocent young girl she was all those years ago, but we’re thankful she has picked up the pieces of life and is far from the train wreck she was when she buzzed her head.

1. Alien
2. Work B**ch!
3. Perfume
4. It Should Be Easy (feat. will.i.am)
5. Tik Tik Boom (feat. T.I.)
6. Body Ache
7. Til It’s Gone
8. Passenger
9. Chillin’ With You (feat. Jamie Lynn)
10. Don’t Cry
11. Brightest Morning Star
12. Hold On Tight
13. Now That I Found You
14. Perfume (The Dreaming Mix)

Childish Gambino: Because the Internet
Scheduled release: 10 December

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Childish Gambino, whose real name is Donald Glover, has done it all at the age of 30. From being a writer for the hit TV series 30 Rock to starring on Community and performing stand-up comedy, Gambino was even at one point at the center of a viral campaign to play the role of Peter Parker in the Spiderman reboot. Adding to his repertoire of talents is his music ability, evident in his previous album Camp, released two years ago. Look out for this man, he might just spring another surprise on us.

1. The Library (Intro)
2. I. The Crawl
3. II. Worldstar
4. Dial Up
5. I. The worst guys (feat. Chance The Rapper)
6. II. shadows
7. III. telegraph ave. (“Oakland” by Lloyd)
8. IV. sweatpants
9. V. 3005
10. Playing Around Before The Party Starts
11. I. The Party
12. II. no exit
13. Death By Numbers
14. I. Flight of the Navigator
15. II. zealots of stockholm (Free Information)
16. III. urn
17. I. pink toes (feat. Jhene Aiko)
18. II. earth: The oldest computer (The Last Night) (feat. Azealia Banks)
19. III. life: the biggest troll (Andrew Auernheimer)

R. Kelly: Black Panties
Scheduled release: 10 December

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Having been in the music industry for over 20 years, R. Kelly certainly knows how to deliver to the R&B crowd. His latest album is a fine example of that, with tracks that feature Ludacris and Kelly Rowland amongst others. In a recent interview, Kelly admitted to making an upcoming country album, citing that country music told stories and he himself was infatuated with it. We’ll see how that turns out.

1. Legs Shakin (feat. Ludacris)
2. Cookie
3. Throw This Money on You
4. Prelude
5. Marry the Pussy
6. You Deserve Better
7. Genius
8. All the Way (feat. Kelly Rowland)
9. My Story (feat. 2 Chainz)
10. Right Back
11. Spend That (feat. Jeezy)
12. Crazy Sex
13. Shut Up
14. Tear It Up (feat. Future)
15. Show Ya Pussy (feat. Migos & Juicy J)
16. Physical
17. Every Positon

Rick Ross: Mastermind
Scheduled release: 17 December

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The big man returns with a self-professed masterpiece of an album. We certainly hope the rapper delivers as promised and shuts his critics up. Despite his previous feud with 50 Cent, Ross has shrugged it off as “buffoonery” and has put his focus on money-making instead. We hope Ross has wised up, having been embroiled in controversies such as the supposed date rape lyrics on one of his songs which led to him being dropped by Reebok as an ambassador.