20 R&B Albums You Must Own

A true collector's playlist needs these game-changing LPs.

Isaac Hayes – Shaft Soundtrack (1971) - Isaac Hayes's score for the groundbreaking Black film both announced the arrival of the blaxploitation movie era and the soundtrack as a new way to package R&B. The funky, orchestrated "Theme From Shaft" helped land Hayes the first Oscar awarded to a Black musician for a soundtrack.  (Photo: EastWest Records)
Rick James – Street Songs (1981) - In 1981, Rick James took P-Funk's theory of "The One" and merged it with disco and a punk rock attitude to push funk music (or "punk funk" as Rick called it) into the mainstream. While the platinum album spawned dance classics like "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak," it also tackled issues of poverty ("Ghetto Life") and police brutality ("Mr. Police Man"). Via Rick James, MC Hammer would take funk's musical child hip hop to pop heaven, sampling "Super Freak" for the smash hit "Can't Touch This." (Photo: Gordy Records)
Guy – Guy (1988) - The hip hop generation's answer to the Gap Band, Guy broke ground for R&B's new sound and attitude with their self-titled debut album. Teddy Riley's mixture of James Brown-ish funk, hip hop and go-go ushered in the new jack swing era via this double platinum disc, which yielded classics like "Groove Me" and "I Like." Not to mention, lead singer Aaron Hall's vocal style and blunt lyrics paved the path for the arrival of R. Kelly.  (Photo: Uptown Records)
Curtis Mayfield – Superfly Soundtrack (1972) - Aside from being the iconic soundtrack to a classic blaxploitation film, Curtis Mayfield raised the stakes by turning his movie score into a social concept album. While Superfly glorified narcotics hustling and drug-taking on the big screen, Curtis exposed the dark side of that life via funky classics such as the title cut, "Freddie's Dead" and "Pusherman." (Photo: Curtom Records)Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul (1968) - A year after her breakthrough success with the female anthem "Respect," Aretha Franklin became the undeniable queen of soul with the release of this platinum-selling album. With the help of producer Jerry Wexler, Aretha offered up soaring R&B mainstays like "Chain of Fools," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and the emotionally-packed "Ain't No Way."  (Photo: Atlantic Records)

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Rick James – Street Songs (1981) - In 1981, Rick James took P-Funk's theory of "The One" and merged it with disco and a punk rock attitude to push funk music (or "punk funk" as Rick called it) into the mainstream. While the platinum album spawned dance classics like "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak," it also tackled issues of poverty ("Ghetto Life") and police brutality ("Mr. Police Man"). Via Rick James, MC Hammer would take funk's musical child hip hop to pop heaven, sampling "Super Freak" for the smash hit "Can't Touch This." (Photo: Gordy Records)

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