Everyone needs a rest day--a day when you can just kick your feet up, enjoy the moment, and listen to some good music!
That being said, I have just the right music for your throwback playlist. So why not take this opportunity and relive its memorable release date and just bask an hour or so of good Hip-hop music.
The first is Kanye West’s Graduation. This is the third studio album released under Roc-A-Fella Records, and debuted September 11th, 2007. Produced for the most part by Kanye himself, the project features collaborations from Mos Def, Dwele, T-Pain, Lil Wayme, DJ Premier, and even Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Onto the music, you’ll find yourself nodding to a refreshing indie vibe, with a hint of Chicago House into the mix. The album also presented a step away from Kanye’s familiar soul-based sound, and into a more dynamic, anthem-esque, and electronic style.
The album scored a good amount of applause, including its debut in the US Billboard 200’s #1, grossing over 957,000 in its first week, and boasted Kanye’s second album inducted in the Billboard 200.
Oh, did I mention the album’s got some sweet artwork as well? Fans who get a hold of the vinyl are rocking some contemporary Japanese art, crafted by Takashi Murakami, who’s been known for his “surrealistic visual art [which] is characterized by cartoonish creatures”.
Moving down 6 years beforehand, Jay-Z released his sixth studio record, The Blueprint. Same as West, the album released under Roc-A-Fella, with this one featuring contributions from Just Blaze, Bink, Timbaland, Trackmasters, and Eminem, all of which synthesizing soulful beats, which were inspired by Kanye himself.
Many fans and critics would argue this as Jay-Z’s most memorable work, which stands right beside his debut album. The album ranked “universal acclaim” and received praise for containing “a unique and balanced blend of soulful samples that had both street credibility and mainstream appeal, thereby garnering praise from all quarters of the Hip-hop community”.
There you have it folks—like I said, I highly recommend checking these out, and adding them to your throwback playlist. Whether you’re familiar or unfamiliar, the songs featured by these iconic artists are well-acclaimed toplisters, and definitely songs you must listen to!
By Jods Arboleda for RAPStation.com
