Contemporary hip-hop groups could and should study the Fat Boys’ legacy to learn how to balance making serious music while not taking themselves too seriously.
Read moreDolly Parton’s ‘Great Balls of Fire’ Turns 45 | Album Anniversary
Parton’s twenty-first solo studio album yet again allowed the singer to cross over from her country roots into something more diverse, a decision that helped solidify her position as a musical pioneer.
Read moreSlick Rick’s ‘The Art of Storytelling’ Turns 25 | Album Anniversary
As evidenced throughout his fourth studio affair, Slick Rick’s ability to step back into the realm of hip-hop after a nearly decade-long absence, as if he never left, is an impressive feat.
Read moreDave Hollister’s Debut Solo Album ‘Ghetto Hymns’ Turns 25 | Album Anniversary
As an initial solo outing, ‘Ghetto Hymns’ affirmed why industry titans like Tupac Shakur, Teddy Riley, and Erick Sermon aligned themselves with Hollister’s flexible tenor.
Read moreDavid Bowie’s ‘Lodger’ Turns 45 | Album Anniversary
Bowie’s thirteenth studio affair is a musical travelogue reflecting its creator’s globetrotting experiences through themes of travel, displacement, and cultural dislocation.
Read moreSeal’s Eponymous Second Studio Album ‘Seal’ (a.k.a. ‘Seal II’) Turns 30 | Album Anniversary
Seal’s second studio affair balances abstract lyricism and bold instrumentation to pack existential crisis into a tidy pop-rock cellophane.
Read moreJeru The Damaja’s Debut Album ‘The Sun Rises In The East’ Turns 30 | Album Anniversary
One of the greatest hip-hop albums of the ‘90s—and arguably of all time—‘The Sun Rises In The East’ showcases Jeru The Damaja & DJ Premier’s symbiotic skills on the mic and mixing boards.
Read moreThe Bangles’ Debut Album ‘All Over the Place’ Turns 40 | Album Anniversary
The excellent songwriting showcased on ‘All Over the Place’ derives from the cohesive nature of the band’s working relationship and their knowledge of each other’s strengths.
Read moreDiana Ross’ ‘The Boss’ Turns 45 | Album Anniversary
While Ashford & Simpson provide solid back-up throughout the record with their own gospel flecked flair, it is Ross who turns in one mesmerizing performance after another on ‘The Boss.’
Read moreChill Rob G’s Debut Album ‘Ride The Rhythm’ Turns 35 | Album Anniversary
Whether it’s straight lyrical braggadocio, surreal storytelling, odes to upliftment and self-improvement, or warnings against street crime, Chill Rob G delivers powerful lyrical exhibitions.
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