Edd’s 25 Favorite Albums

There are two things blog readers love: lists and grainy videos of ghetto people fighting.

I have no tolerance for the latter but I too love the former.

If you frequent Complex.com, you know they have a running column that features artists sharing their 25 favorite albums. I just stumbled upon Alicia Keys’ favorites and they’re pretty good.

But I can do better.

Allow me to share my 25 favorite albums. Honestly, the bottom half of the list probably could rotate depending on my mood. But the top 5 are definitely set in stone.

Oh, and before the Haterade drinkers assault my inbox and the comments section fussing about so-and-so not making the list, keep these things in mind:

– This is a list of my favorite albums, not what I consider the best albums, so don’t freak when Thriller or Illmatic aren’t sitting at the top. Whether these albums were the soundtrack to campus life or part of my wedding, I have a personal connection to every track. Yeah, most are far from perfect but that’s part of their charm.

– I didn’t start purchasing albums until the early ’90s, which is pretty apparent when you view the list. Some ’80s stars were shut out.

Sorry, Flav.

So take a peek into my musical psyche. And if you’d like to share your list too, feel free. I’ll publish them here.

25. Janelle Monae, The ArchAndroid (2010) – Soul In Stereo review

Singles: “Come Alive (War of the Roses),” “Tightrope,” “Cold War”

24. Lupe Fiasco, Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor (2006)

Singles: “Kick, Push,” “I Gotcha,” “Daydreaming”

23. Keith Sweat, Get Up On It (1994)

Singles: “How Do You Like It?,” “When I Give My Love,” “Get Up On It”

22. Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)

Singles: “SexyBack,” “My Love,” “What Goes Around…Comes Around,” “LoveStoned,” “Until The End of Time”

21. Nas, Life Is Good (2012) – Soul In Stereo review

Singles: “Nasty,” “The Don,” “Daughters,” “Cherry Wine,” “A Queens Story”

20. Erykah Badu, Baduizm (1997)

Singles: “On & On,” “Next Lifetime,” “Otherside of the Game,” “Appletree”

19. Nas, Illmatic (1994)

Singles: “Halftime,” “It Ain’t Hard to Tell,” “The World Is Yours,” “Life’s a B****,” “One Love”

18. OutKast, Aquemini (1998)

Singles: “Rosa Parks,” “Skew It on the Bar-B,” “Da Art of Storytellin’ (Part 1)”

17. Mary J. Blige, Share My World (1997)

Singles: “Love Is All We Need,” “I Can Love You,” “Everything,” “Missing You,” “Seven Days”

16. Foxy Brown, Ill Na Na (1997)

Singles: “Get Me Home,” “I’ll Be”

15. Faith Evans, Faith (1995)

Singles: “You Used to Love Me,” “Soon As I Get Home,” “Ain’t Nobody,” “Come Over”

14. Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982)

Singles: “The Girl Is Mine,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Something,” “Human Nature,” “PYT,” “Thriller”

13. Keith Sweat, Make It Last Forever (1987)

Singles: “I Want Her,” “Something Just Ain’t Right,” “Make It Last Forever,” “Don’t Stop Your Love”

12. The Wu-Tang Clan, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

Singles: “Protect Ya Neck,” “Method Man,” “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’,” C.R.E.A.M.,” “Can It Be All So Simple,” “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin’ ta F’ Wit”

11. Jay-Z, Vol. 2 … Hard Knock Life (1998)

Singles: “Can I Get A…,” “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” “Money, Cash, Hoes,” “N**** What, N**** Who (Originators ’99)”

10. Kanye West, The College Dropout (2004)

Singles: “Through The Wire,” “All Falls Down,” “Jesus Walks,” “The New Workout Plan”

9. Nas, I Am (1999)

Singles: “Nas Is Like,” “Hate Me Now”

8. Nicole Wray, Make It Hot (1998)

Singles: “Make It Hot,” “I Can’t See,” “Eyes Better Not Wander”

7. Missy Elliott, Supa Dupa Fly (1997)

Singles: “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” “Sock It 2 Me,” “Beep Me 911,” “Hit ‘Em Wit Da Hee (Remix)”

6. DMX, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998)

Singles: “Get At Me Dog,” “Stop Being Greedy,” “How’s It Goin’ Down (Remix),” “Ruff Ryders Anthem”

5.  Jay-Z, Reasonable Doubt (1996)

Singles: “Dead Presidents,” “Ain’t No N****,” “Can’t Knock The Hustle,” “Feelin’ It”

4. Keith Sweat, Keith Sweat (1997)

Singles: “Twisted,” “Nobody,” “Just A Touch,” “Come With Me”

3. Patti LaBelle, This Christmas (1990)

Singles: “T’was Love”

2. The Notorious B.I.G., Life After Death (1997)

Singles: “Hypnotize,” Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems,” “Sky’s The Limit”

1. Kelly Price, Soul of a Woman (1998)

Singles: “Friend of Mine,” “Friend of Mine Remix,” “Secret Love,” “Secret Love Remix,” “Soul of a Woman”

Would you like to share your favorite albums too? Simply email your list to edward@soulinstereo.com, tweet me @etbowser or drop ’em off in the comments. Your albums will be featured in a future column.