20 R&B Albums You Must Own

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

20 R&B Albums You Must Own - For the past 70 years, R&B has been the bedrock for American popular music, giving rise to cultural shifting genres from Rock n Roll to Hip Hop. But to know the history of the music is listen to the artists who've shifted the landscape, changed the paradigm and absolutely rewrote the rules. Here's a look at the LPs you should possess to experience the greats who've shaped the sound of rhythm & blues.
Michael Jackson –Thriller (1982) - With the help of producer Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson crafted this genre-defying masterpiece which catapulted him from R&B superstar to ground/record-breaking global phenomenon and absolute King of Pop. From the danceable "Billie Jean" to the rock-influenced "Beat It" to the ghoulish title track, the Gloved One not only scored smash hits, but used the tracks to pioneer the use of music video as a means of visually pushing the interpretation of pop music.  (Photo: Epic Records)
R. Kelly –12 Play (1993) - R. Kelly's solo debut after his stint with the group Public Announcement, this LP marked the post-new jack swing era of the raunchy male soul singer. The six-times platinum album combined rhythmically thick, sultry tracks with brutally forward lyrics for hits like "Bump n' Grind," "Your Body's Callin'" and "Sex Me." While singer Aaron Hall gave birth to Kells, Kelly's 12 Play gave birth to today's hitmakers, from The-Dream to Trey Songz.  (Photo: Jive Records)
Mary J. Blige –What’s The 411? (1992) - Upon the release of her debut LP, Mary J. Blige not only ushered in a new R&B subgenre — hip hop soul — but she instantly became the queen of it. Masterfully weaving smooth hip hop samples into the sweet and unpolished melody of Blige's voice, What's the 411 gave voice to the soul of a girl next door from the PJs, with hits like "You Remind Me" and "Real Love."  (Photo: Uptown, MCA Records)D'Angelo – Brown Sugar (1995) - D'Angelo pulled from influences such as Prince, KRS-One and Marvin Gaye to shape this classic disc that single-handedly gave birth to R&B's neo-soul movement of the mid-'90s. Hazy head-nodding snares and kicks twisted around D's simmering jazz-inflected keyboard work for hits like "Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine" and "S--t, Damn, Motherf----r." (Photo: EMI)

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Michael Jackson –Thriller (1982) - With the help of producer Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson crafted this genre-defying masterpiece which catapulted him from R&B superstar to ground/record-breaking global phenomenon and absolute King of Pop. From the danceable "Billie Jean" to the rock-influenced "Beat It" to the ghoulish title track, the Gloved One not only scored smash hits, but used the tracks to pioneer the use of music video as a means of visually pushing the interpretation of pop music.  (Photo: Epic Records)

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