The Top 5 All Time Albums That Will Never Go Out of Style

Recently, I was doing my normal nightly routine, since the NBA playoffs are here, watching the pre-game tunnel walkthrough before the actual game. Since I’m passionate about menswear, it’s a ritual for me to get to the television to see what the current trend is for players and which players are going to debut an edgier style. What caught my attention was what Lebron recently wore; a shirt that could simply be based around top albums of ’96 or what his top 5 albums were at that time. It led me to share the top 5 albums that impacted me and caused me to become a “music head.”

50 Cent - ​Get Rich or Die Tryin’​ 

 Released 02/06/2003 

50 had hype surrounding this album, from the marketing of this album to the beef being addressed on this album, regarding Ja Rule and Murder Inc. Honestly, 50 Cent was our version of 6ix9ine when it comes to beefing to market himself, without the outlandish antics you see on social media today. I was in middle school and I remember, day-to-day, when we were listening to music, everyone saying “Who’s this guy from New York that came out of nowhere?” 50 came on the scene with his hit single, “What Up Gangsta”. I was 12 years old, rapping word-for-word, not knowing this is a song targeted at his enemies from Southside Jamaica Queens. What’s funny is when you’re young and rapping these lyrics, you don’t know the actual meaning behind them. You’re just thinking it’s a dope song. There were multiple singles, including “Many Men”, “In Da Club”, “P.I.M.P.”, “21 Questions”, and “Wanksta”. This album had no skips in my opinion.

Jay-Z - ​The Black Album​ -

Released 11/14/2003 

Again, I was in middle school and my ear for music was beginning to develop. I was so heavily into music that I even joined my school band. My sister always says, I thought I was Louis Armstrong with my trumpet. I remember this was when I first began having a love for fashion and hearing Jay-Z’s single, “Dirt Off Your Shoulder”. Every day, I was listening to this track and “Change Clothes” as I was getting dressed for school.

 I remember my first time listening to this album from beginning to end when I was on a band trip to Virginia. We had a band competition at ​Busch Gardens​ and we all rode the charter bus to perform there. The ride was long and I remember sitting next to my friend at the time, Olen. This was when we had actual CDs and CD players. I feel old saying that. I remember I had a couple of CDs and told him “I got this Jay album and now is the right time to actually listen to it.” I played the album from start to finish at least twice to Virginia. I played it so much, Olen told me to switch out CDs with him. I don’t remember if he gave me an actual album or a mix CD, but when I played his CD it was Afroman’s “Because I Got High”. I let him listen to ​The Black Album​ from start to finish, but I had to get my CD back. I don’t know ​what​ his music taste was after hearing Afroman.

I remember when this album was released and “99 Problems” being his hit single. (Interesting how there’s an excerpt from that track that relates to the current social climate.) I remember Jay-Z rapping, “I heard, ‘Son, do you know what I'm stopping you for?’ ‘Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hat's real low. Do I look like a mind reader, sir? I don't know.’ ” I know what everyone will say. “Jay has other albums that are dope though.” I know Jay-Z has a lengthy catalog from Reasonable Doubt​ to ​The Blueprint​ series, but ​The Black Album​ is what got me in tune with Jay-Z, and I’ve been a fan of his since. My favorite track on the album is “December 4th”. This is another album I can play from start to finish with no skips.

Fugees - ​The Score​

Released 02/13/1996 

I was only 6 at the time, but I remember seeing their videos being played on MTV, daily. I remember turning to MTV in the morning and BET afterschool and seeing Fugees in the camera, rapping in the submarine... Lauryn Hill and Wyclef vibing... and I’m singing along with them. As I type this, I’m reminiscing how hip hop used to sound... actual rapping and not just mumbling over an 808. As soon as you press play on the album, Fugees got right into it. After “Red Intro”, I feel like there were no skips. I mean... you have their hit singles at the time; “Ready or Not”, “Fu-Gee-La”, and everyone’s favorite and a classic, “Killing Me Softly With His Song”. At the time, I wasn’t aware of how well this album would age and how now, at the age of thirty, I would revert to listening to music I was raised on.

Outkast - ​ATLiens​

Released 08/27/1996 

My top 5 albums may be biased. It can be based on age, race, regional upbringing... other demographics. I was born and raised below the Mason-Dixon line. In the 90s, New York dominated hip hop at the time while Los Angeles had their own sound and finally was placed on the map. While the East and West were fighting, the South was just working. We all remember the infamous ​1996 Source Awards​ speech from Andre 3000, “The South got something to say.” From there on out, the South came full speed ahead. That’s when everyone decided to take Southern rap seriously.

As you can see from the album cover, Outkast was a unique duo. Big Boi had the persona of a street hustler, while Andre was more like a hippie playboy. Big Boi was a “keep it real” type, while Andre was unapologetically flamboyant. Organized Noize was the production team responsible for most of Outkast’s hits. Organized Noize made their beats through live instrumentation, which was influenced by Southern soul and funk. The Roots set the standard for the organic and jazzy side of hip hop while I feel Outkast added the grimy sound to it. I feel this album was the foundation for hip hop in the South with my two favorite tracks, “ATLiens” and “Elevators (Me & You)”. We are all fans of Outkast. They pushed boundaries with their look and sound. I feel with their catalog and what they were doing, at a time when it wasn’t popular, is what makes this album a classic and Outkast legendary, in my eyes.

The Notorious B.I.G. ​Life After Death​

Released 03/25/1997

I would express how I feel about this album, but we all know what this album means to everyone and how well it aged. This album will forever continue to be played from generation to generation. I’m just going to sit this album here. Continue to rest in peace, B.I.G.