Supply: Theo Wargo / Getty
As followers, there are particular years that we’re blessed with a premium of fantastic music. 2022 is a major instance. Final 12 months, we acquired albums from heavyweights akin to Beyoncé (Renaissance), Kendrick Lamar (Mr. Morale & The Large Steppers), Drake (Actually, Nevermind AND Her Loss), SZA (SOS), Summer time Walker (Nonetheless Over It) and Future (I NEVER LIKED YOU). In 20 years once we look again at 2022, it will likely be tough for us to not contemplate it as a standout 12 months for music, with quite a few potential classics. An album standing the take a look at of time shouldn’t be solely a sign of how timeless the mission is but in addition how the artist knew their viewers and the local weather of music.
In 2003, the local weather of music was positively completely different. Folks worldwide had been nonetheless going to shops and shopping for their favourite artist’s CDs. Album gross sales appeared to imply a bit extra since all the things was natural and there wasn’t an actual option to “juice the numbers.” One factor that’s nonetheless the identical as again then although is how nice music will all the time stay on and be remembered. We acquired a bevy of music that match that invoice 20 years in the past. Whereas the likes of Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Ashanti and Mary J. Blige all loved extraordinarily nice years, the rap artists additionally made enormous waves with their albums. We acquired the debut solo album from one of many largest moguls within the sport (50 Cent), noticed some established goats additional cement their legacies (Jay-Z, DMX and Lil Kim) and witnessed a plethora of teams shake up the sport (Outkast, The Diplomats, Ying Yang Twins).
The music was so good that a few of the albums launched that 12 months are nonetheless heavy in folks’s rotations to at the present time. A few of the albums rank very extremely among the many artist’s discography. Irrespective of the place they rank, nobody can argue how basic they’re. To acknowledge the greatness of those tasks, get pleasure from a gallery of rap albums that turned 20 years outdated this 12 months. Tell us which albums are your favorites and in the event you assume we missed any!
1. Freeway – Philadelphia Freeway
Supply:PhillyFreeway
Launch Date: February 25, 2003
Singles: What We Do, Alright, Flipside
First Week Gross sales: 132,000
2. Chingy – Jackpot
Supply:Chingy
Launch Date: July 15, 2003
Singles: Proper Thurr, Vacation In, One Name Away, Proper There (Remix)
First Week Gross sales: 157,000
3. Outkast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Beneath
Supply:Outkast
Launch Date:
Singles: Hey Ya!, The Method You Transfer, Roses, Ghetto Musick/Prototype
First Week Gross sales: 510,000
4. The Diplomats – Diplomatic Immunity
Supply:The Diplomats
Launch Date: March 25, 2003
Singles: Dipset Anthem, Constructed This Metropolis, Bout It Bout It…Half III
First Week Gross sales: 92,000
5. DMX – Grand Champ
Supply:Unearthed Sound
Launch Date: September 16, 2003
Singles: The place The Hood At?, Get It On The Ground
First Week Gross sales: 312,000
6. Ludacris – Hen-N-Beer
Supply:Ludacris
Launch Date: October 7, 2003
Singles: P-Poppin, Stand Up, Blow It Out, Splash Waterfalls, Diamond In The Again
First Week Gross sales: 429,000
7. 50 Cent – Get Wealthy Or Die Tryin’
Supply:50 Cent
Launch Date: February 6, 2003
Singles: In Da Membership, 21 Questions, P.I.M.P., If I Can’t
First Week Gross sales: 872,000
8. David Banner – Mississippi: The Album
Supply:David Banner
Launch Date: Might 22, 2003
Singles: Cadillac on 22’s, Like A Pimp
First Week Gross sales: N/A
9. Jay-Z – The Black Album
Supply:JAY-Z
Launch Date: November 14, 2003
Singles: Change Garments, Grime Off Your Shoulder, 99 Issues
First Week Gross sales: 463,000
10. Lil Kim – La Bella Mafia
Supply:Atlantic Data
Launch Date: March 4, 2003
Singles: The Soar Off, Magic Stick, Thug Luv
First Week Gross sales: 166,000
11. The Neptunes – Clones
Supply:Pharrell Williams
Launch Date: August 19, 2003
Singles: Sizzling Rattling, Frontin, Common Thug, Gentle Your Ass On Hearth, Rock ‘n’ Roll, It Blows My Thoughts
First Week Gross sales: 250,000
12. Fabolous – Avenue Desires
Supply:UPROXX Video
Launch Date: March 4, 2003
Singles: This Is My Get together, Can’t Let You Go, Into You
First Week Gross sales: 185,000
13. T.I. – Lure Muzik
Supply:T.I.
Launch Date: August 19, 2003
Singles: 24’s, Be Simple, Rubber Band Man, Let’s Get Away
First Week Gross sales: 110,000
14. G-Unit – Beg For Mercy
Supply:GUnitVEVO
Launch Date: November 14, 2003
Singles: Stunt 101, Poppin’ Them Thangs, Wanna Get To Know You, Smile
First Week Gross sales: 377,000
15. Ying Yang Twins – Me & My Brother
Supply:Radial by The Orchard
Launch Date: September 16, 2003
Singles: Naggin, Salt Shaker, What’s Happenin!
First Week Gross sales: 62,000
16. Joe Budden – Joe Budden
Supply:JoeBuddenVEVO
Launch Date: June 10, 2003
Singles: Pump It Up, Hearth (Sure, Sure, Y’all)
First Week Gross sales: 95,000
