Discogs picked 25 records that turn 25 this year, including The Avalanches’s Since I Left You, D’Angelo’s Voodoo, OutKast’s Stankonia, Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun, and Slum Village’s Fantastic Vol. II (below):
Assembled in J Dilla’s Detroit basement, Fantastic Vol. II stands as an early testament to his genius as one of the most influential sonic architects of our time. The album showcases the foundation of the house that Dilla built: dusty, off-kilter drums, lush, soulful samples, and an unparalleled ability to create compositions that feel both effortlessly organic and meticulously crafted.
With rappers T3 and Baatin weaving smooth, understated verses through Dilla’s textured beats, the album exudes a laid-back cool that redefined the sound of underground hip-hop. Collaborations with luminaries like Q-Tip, Common, D’Angelo, and Busta Rhymes only underscore the reverence Dilla commanded even in these formative years. It serves as the origin story of a master craftsman whose influence continues to ripple across genres.
Dilla was a common denominator in most of those albums showing how prolific he was in 2000. Also: Dart Adams, if you’re reading this, feel free to let me or Discogs know if any of these dates are incorrect.