LL Cool J’s ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ Turns 35 | Album Anniversary

September 12, 2025 Jesse Ducker

LL Cool J Mama Said Knock You Out Turns 35

Uncle L’s fantastic fourth studio affair reinforced his penchant for bouncing back and giving the people what they want, while never overtly pretending to be something that he’s not.

Marley Marl’s ‘In Control, Volume 1’ Turns 35 | Album Anniversary

September 16, 2023 Jesse Ducker

The first high-profile, producer-driven compilation in hip-hop, ‘In Control, Volume 1’ features an incredulously stunning crop of iconic emcees, all propelled by Marley Marl’s memorable beats.

LEST WE FORGET: Revisiting Intelligent Hoodlum’s Eponymous Debut Album ‘Intelligent Hoodlum’ (1990)

June 23, 2018 Daryl McIntosh

Our recurring ‘Lest We Forget’ series is devoted to celebrating albums that have been unfairly overlooked and warrant revisiting.

Ginuwine’s Debut Album ‘Ginuwine… The Bachelor’ Turns 30 | Album Anniversary

Ginuwine’s breakthrough debut was a remarkable achievement during a very competitive year for R&B albums, amidst notable releases by the likes of Aaliyah, Blackstreet, and Maxwell, among others.

Freestyle Fellowship’s Debut Album ‘To Whom It May Concern…’ Turns 35 | Album Anniversary

Not just an LA underground classic, but a foundational record for a whole generation of emcees, ‘To Whom It May Concern’ continues to influence and inspire the contemporary hip-hop landscape.

Depeche Mode’s Debut Album ‘Speak & Spell’ Turns 45 | Album Anniversary

While their 1981 debut did not augur the stadium tours or multi-platinum LPs to come, it nevertheless offers little pieces of the band they would become.