More than mere background, the ‘Mo’ Money’ Soundtrack is an audio snapshot of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis developing the sound that would shape ‘90s R&B and pop, and having fun doing it.
Read moreFleetwood Mac’s ‘Mirage’ Turns 40 | Anniversary Retrospective
With peaks stronger than its valleys, ‘Mirage’ returned Fleetwood Mac to rock preeminence after the commercial and critical step back the band took with ‘Tusk’ (1979).
Read moreEn Vogue’s ‘EV3’ Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective
Downsized from the original quartet to a trio in 1997, En Vogue presented their mature and aptly-retitled third studio affair—a scrappy, sharpened Swiss army knife of R&B, pop, and funk.
Read moreMusiq Soulchild’s ‘Juslisen’ Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective
Musiq Soulchild’s second studio affair is an impressively cohesive R&B disc that pairs soul-steeped traditions with hip-hop sensibility and commercial sheen.
Read moreBill Withers’ ‘Still Bill’ Turns 50 | Anniversary Retrospective
With its focused array of offerings ranging from smooth funk to smoky blues and bombastic gospel, ‘Still Bill’ seated the understated Withers at the table of great soul men.
Read moreChaka Khan’s ‘The Woman I Am’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective
‘The Woman I Am’ is a high-gloss declaration of Khan’s identity, expressing a full spectrum of pop, rock, and R&B colors.
Read moreChaka Khan’s ‘Epiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1’ Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective
A look on the bright side and the ‘Epiphany’ collection is a critical juncture of paths that wind through the past of an iconic artist, leading into the future.
Read moreCeCe Peniston’s ‘I’m Movin’ On’ Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective
After early career success like Peniston’s, many artists would rather sell their souls than chance to change the formula, even if they have to create work they don’t love. Peniston refused.
Read moreQueen Latifah’s ‘Nature of a Sista’’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective
Latifah’s second studio affair is a positivity-dominant set of R&B, dance, funk, and reggae that tested the limits of hip-hop while reinforcing the vitality of the female voice in the genre.
Read moreThe Roots’ ‘Game Theory’ Turns 15 | Anniversary Retrospective
The Roots’ seventh studio affair is the disquieted soundtrack to learning you’re in a game engineered for you to lose—a first-person shooter with your weapons removed.
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