Black Music Month

Black Music Month

We can all agree that every day is the perfect time to celebrate the musical contributions of African-Americans, but in June we go extra hard since it is officially Black Music Month.

 

Listen: These Iconic Hip-Hop Albums Turn 20 In 2024

Lil Jon, Lil Wayne, Kanye West & MF DOOM

Photo: TVT Records/Cash Money Records/Def Jam/Stones Throw Records

"Go DJ, that's my DJ!" Those five words alone will transport any loyal Hip-Hop fan back in time to the beginning of Lil Wayne's iconic album series.

Weezy spent most of Spring 2004 preparing for the release of his fourth studio LP Tha Carter featuring hits like "Go DJ," "Bring It Back," "The Heat" and "Shine." Wayne's album arrived in June and set the tone for the rest of the year. The Hollygrove native was one of several notable MC's from the South who stood out with a groundbreaking project that would be remembered for generations to come.

Lil Wayne's iconic LP is one of numerous classic albums that turn 20 this year. Throughout 2024, rap fans have celebrated the 20th anniversary of several timeless projects like Kanye West's debut LP The College Dropout, Trillville & Lil Scrappy's The King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present: Trillville & Lil Scrappy and most recently, Ghostface Killah's The Pretty Toney Album.

Relive more classic rap albums that turn 20 in 2024 below.

Twista, Kamikaze (Jan. 27)

Kamikaze

Photo: Atlantic Records

Kanye West, The College Dropout (Feb. 10)

The College Dropout

Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records/Def Jam Recordings

Madvillain, Madvillainy (March 23)

Madvillainy

Photo: Stones Throw Records

Lil Flip, U Gotta Feel Me (March 30)

U Gotta Feel Me

Photo: Columbia Records

Ghostface Killah, The Pretty Toney Album (Apr. 20)

The Pretty Toney Album

Photo: Def Jam Recordings

D12, D12 World (Apr. 27)

D12 World

Photo: Shady Records/Interscope Records

Jadakiss, Kiss of Death (June 22)

Kiss of Death

Photo: Ruff Ryders/Interscope Records

Slum Village, Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit) (June 29)

Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit)

Photo: Capitol Records

Lloyd Banks, The Hunger For More (June 29)

The Hunger For More

Photo: G-Unit Records

Lil Wayne, Tha Carter (June 29)

Tha Carter

Photo: Cash Money Records

The Alchemist, 1st Infantry (June 29)

1st Infantry

Photo: Koch Records

Mobb Deep, Amerikaz Nightmare (Aug. 10)

Amerikaz Nightmare

Photo: Jive Records

Jim Jones, On My Way to Church (Aug. 24)

On My Way To Church

Photo: Diplomats/Koch Records

Ma$e, Welcome Back (Aug. 24)

Welcome Back

Photo: Bad Boy Entertainment

LL Cool J, The DEFinition (Aug. 31)

The DEFinition

Photo: Island Def Jam Records

Nelly, Sweat/Suit (Sept. 14)

Sweat

Photo: Derrty Entertainment/Universal Records

Suit

Photo: Derrty Entertainment/Universal Records

Talib Kweli, The Beautiful Struggle (Sept. 28)

The Beautiful Struggle

Photo: Rawkus Records

De La Soul, The Grind Date (Oct. 5)

The Grind Date

Photo: AOI Records

Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets

Photo: Slip N Slide/Atlantic Records

Fabolous, Real Talk (Nov. 9)

Real Talk

Photo: Desert Storm Records/Elektra Records

Ja Rule, R.U.L.E. (Nov. 9)

R.U.L.E.

Photo: Murder Inc. Records/Def Jam Recordings

Eminem, Encore (Nov. 12)

Encore

Photo: Shady Records/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records

Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Crunk Juice (Nov. 16)

Crunk Juice

Photo: BME Recordings/TVT Records

MF Doom, Mm..Food (Nov. 16)

Mm.. Food

Photo: Rhymesayers Entertainment

Snoop Dogg, R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (Nov. 16)

R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece

Photo: Doggystyle Records/Star Trak Entertainment/Geffen Records

The Diplomats, Diplomatic Immunity 2 (Nov. 23)

Diplomatic Immunity 2

Photo: Diplomat Records/Koch Records

Nas, Street's Disciple (Nov. 30)

Street's Disciple

Photo: Columbia Records

T.I., Urban Legend (Nov. 30)

Urban Legend

Photo: Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records

Cam'ron, Purple Haze (Dec. 7)

Purple Haze

Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records/Diplomat Records/Def Jam Recordings

Ludacris, The Red Light District (Dec. 7)

The Red Light District

Photo: Disturbing tha Peace/Def Jam Recordings

2Pac, Loyal to the Game (Dec. 14)

Loyal to the Game

Photo: Amaru Entertainmen/Interscope Records


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