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There are certain years that music is just at a premium. 2022 was a great example. That year, we got albums from heavyweights including BeyoncĂ©Â (Renaissance), Kendrick Lamar (Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers), Drake (Honestly, Nevermind AND Her Loss), SZA (SOS), Summer Walker (Still Over It) and Future (I NEVER LIKED YOU). 20 years from now, itâll be hard not to consider 2022 a standout year for music, with a plethora of albums weâll eventually consider classics.
Although this year has mostly been overshadowed by rap beefs, we have still been blessed with a good number of high quality R&B albums. Some of these albums include Tylaâs eponymous album, Kali Uchisâ ORQUĂDEAS, Ariana Grandeâs eternal sunshine, Kyleâs Smyle Again, SiRâs HEAVY, 6LACKâs No More Lonely Nights, Tendaiâs The Rain and most recently, Leon Thomasâ amazing MUTT. An album standing the test of time is not only an indication of how timeless the project is but also how the artist knew their audience and the climate of music. Considering how many solid bodies of work that have been released this year that we expect to age gracefully, we thought it would be cool to go back 20 years and give flowers to some albums that were suitable for the category.
In 2004, the state of music was a bit different. People worldwide were still going to stores and buying their favorite artistâs CDs. Album sales seemed to mean a bit more since everything was organic and there wasnât a real way to âjuice the numbers.â One thing thatâs still the same as back then though is how great music will always live on and be remembered. We got a bevy of music that fit that bill 20 years ago. While Kanye West, Eminem, Ludacris, Nelly and other rap giants showcased their immense talent with highly successful albums, we canât forget about the crooners and their contributions. We had bonafide legends adding to their already crazy catalogs (Prince, Janet Jackson), newer artists making their mark felt for the first time (John Legend, Ciara) and the final showing from a beloved girl group (Destinyâs Child).
The music was so good that some of the albums released that year are still heavy in peopleâs rotations to this day. Some of the albums rank highly among the artistâs discography. No matter where they rank, no one can argue how classic they are. To recognize the greatness of these projects, enjoy a gallery of R&B albums that turn 20 years old this year. Let us know which albums are your favorites and if you think we missed any!