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The Best R&B Debut Albums of All Time - As they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Frank Ocean certainly didn't squander that one-time opportunity. His incredible studio debut, Channel Orange, which hit stores today (July 17), is already being called one of the best R&B albums in years. In honor of Ocean's gem, BET.com takes a look at the best soul-music debuts of all time — albums that introduced greats, moved crowds and launched legacies. —Alex Gale (Photos from left: Island Def Jam, Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images, Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Mary J. Blige, What's the 411 - Mary J. Blige's 1992 bow was a true trailblazer, launching a new subgenre, hip hop soul, that Mary still reigns over on the strength of some of her signature classics, including "Real Love" and "Reminisce."   (Photo: Courtesy Uptown Records)

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Prince, For You - Though his songwriting skills hadn't yet reached the heavenly, heathenous heights of his 1980s prime, Prince's 1978 debut introduced his emotive falsetto and expert multi-instrumental, multi-genre arrangements, giving a powerful glimpse of the purple revolution on the horizon. (Photo: Courtesy Warner Bros Records)

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Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor - Alicia Keys' hugely successful first album had a huge impact on an increasingly stagnant R&B world in 2001. Though her vocal and songwriting abilities improved significantly in the years ahead, her way-ahead-of-her-years emphasis on understated musicality and classic R&B traditions refreshed the genre and birthed a superstar. (Photo: Courtesy J Records)

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Frank Ocean, Channel Orange - Though one could argue his 2011 "mixtape," Nostalgia, Ultra, was his true first album, Ocean's incredible studio debut, Channel Orange, not only inspired this list, but it's a worthy inclusion. With songs like "Thinkin Bout You" and "Pyramids," it's already safe to say that Frank's one of the best, most introspective, most innovative soul-music lyricists in years. (Photo: Courtesy Island Def Jam Records)

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D'Angelo, Brown Sugar - D'Angelo's 1995 debut is a founding document of neo-soul, shaking up an increasingly predictable post-new-jack-swing R&B with updated takes on classic soul with songs like "Brown Sugar" and "Lady." (Photo: Courtesy EMI Music)

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Beyoncé, Dangerously in Love - After leading Destiny's Child to the top of the charts, Beyoncé emerged as a fully-formed superstar on her cocksure 2003 bow, backed by swaggering crowd-movers ("Crazy in Love") and attagirl anthems ("Me, Myself and I"). (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Records)

Photo By (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Records)

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Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston - Whitney's blockbuster 1985 bow introduced the universe to "The Voice" with joyful pop-funk ("How Will I Know") and powerhouse ballads ("The Greatest Love of All") that laid the blueprint for all pop divas to follow. (Photo: Courtesy Arista Records)

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Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - After propelling the Fugees to diamond-selling heights in 1996, Lauryn Hill effortlessly transitioned from great rapper to amazing singer with her debut two years later, dominating the charts and the Grammys without compromising her polished neo-soul vision one bit. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Records)

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Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey - Behind chart-toppers like "Vision of Love," Mariah's 1990 breakthrough, which skillfully showcased her inhuman vocal range and control, set off her amazing, decade-dominating streak of success and made her a superstar overnight. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Records)

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R. Kelly, 12 Play - After leaving his Public Announcement bandmates behind, R. Kelly delivered his brilliant solo 1993 debut, filled with slinky thug-love classics such as "Bump N Grind" and "It Seems Like You're Ready." (Photo: Courtesy Jive Records) 

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Jill Scott, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 - Jill Scott effortlessly combined her spoken-word background with her powerhouse vocal abilities to perfectly answer the album title's question on hits like "Gettin' in the Way" and "A Long Walk." (Photo: Courtesy Warner Bros Records)

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Sade, Diamond Life - Sade introduced her cold-as-ice mash-up of smooth jazz and quiet storm with fan favorites like "Smooth Operator" and "Your Love Is King" on this 1984 smash. (Photo: Courtesy Epic Records)

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Jodeci, Forever My Lady - Jodeci's dynamite 1991 debut capped off the new-jack-swing era, pointing the way to a new epoch with explosive ballads like "Come and Talk to Me" and the title track. (Photo: Courtesy Uptown Records)

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Donny Hathaway, Everything Is Everything - Donny Hathaway was already known for his piano and arrangement skills, but his solo 1970 debut unveiled his biggest gift of all: his heart-wrenching, one-of-a-kind voice, one equally comfortable taking soul back to its heavenly past ("Thank You Master") or confronting America's earthly ills head-on ("The Ghetto"). (Photo: Courtesy ATCO Records)

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Monica, Miss Thang - Monica's 1995 introduction, propelled by her down-to-earth, down-on-her-luck vocals and Dallas Austin's funky production on "Just One of Those Days" and the title track, was a mid-'90s pop-soul staple. (Photo: Courtesy Arista Records)

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Luther Vandross, Never Too Much - Luther emerged from the backup-singer shadows with this excellent seven-song 1981 opus, helming classic balladry ("A House Is Not a Home"), dance-funk bliss (the title track) and slow-burn soul ("Don't You Know That") with equal grace and vibrancy. (Photo: Courtesy Epic Records)

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The Jackson 5, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 - The best boy band of all time made a big splash with their 1969 bow, taking on Sly Stone-inspired funk-pop ("Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," Sly's own "Stand!") and angelic soul harmonies (Stevie's "My Cherie Amour") with equally precocious skill and feeling. It's a stunning debut even if you ignore their infectious classic "I Want You Back" (which you can't). (Photo: Courtesy Motown Records)

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Diana Ross, Diana Ross - After years of leading the Supremes during their record-breaking run of hits through the 1960s, Diana Ross finally struck out on her own on this 1970 LP, one of her best and most beautiful, propelled by Ashford and Simpson's songwriting powers at their peak.  (Photo: Courtesy Motown Records)

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Minnie Riperton, Come to My Garden - Minnie Riperton's 1970 debut is undoubtedly her most hauntingly beautiful and original. Producer Charles Stephney (Earth Wind and Fire, Rotary Connection) and jazz great Ramsey Lewis' backing band created a mix of jazz, classical music and psychedelica, the perfect backdrop for Minnie's ethereal five-octave instrument.  (Photo: Courtesy Chess Records)

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Teddy Pendergrass, Teddy Pendergrass - After parting ways with Philly-soul greats Melvin & the Blue Notes, Pendergrass began to unveil the full power of his husky, macho voice on his self-titled 1977 debut, with future favorites like "The More I Want, the More I Want" and "I Don't Love You Anymore."  (Photo: Courtesy Philidelphia International Records)

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Earth, Wind and Fire, Earth, Wind and Fire - Blending flawless precise funk musicianship ("Bad Tune"), soaring doo-wop melodies ("This World Today") and an unrelentingly positive social message ("Love Is Life"), Earth, Wind and Fire had already perfected their distinctive, hitmaking formula on their confident 1971 debut. (Photo: Courtesy Warner Bros Records)

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Bill Withers, Just as I Am - Highlighted by "Grandma's Hand" and "Ain't No Sunshine," Bill Wither's first album, released in 1971, is a beautiful, assured collection of intimate blue-collar soul. (Photo: Courtesy Sussex Records)

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Maxwell, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite - Backed by behind-the-scenes greats like producer-singer Leon Ware, guitarist Wah-Wah Watson and Sade multi-instrumentalist-producer Stuart Matthewson, Maxwell's ridiculously debonair 1995 debut is neo-soul at its sexiest. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Records)