NEW YORK — Images of Althea Gibson are everywhere at the U.S. Open, 75 years since she became the first Black player at a major tennis tournament.
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There would be no American music as we know it without the contributions of Black artists. Since the first African music was brought over by people in bondage as early as the 15th century, Black singers and musicians have had a hand in every aspect of American music’s evolution. From country-western, the foundation of which was banjo music from Africa, to rock ‘n’ roll, first played by a Black woman on electric guitar in 1938, each genre of American music has a Black artist (or many) who helped create it.
In addition to establishing new sounds, Black musicians worked to advance civic life, as well. They helped bring about an end to segregation, with the likes of Josephine Baker, Ray Charles, and dozens more refusing to play to segregated crowds, with white allies like The Beatles taking similar stands. They also used their music to advance messages; from Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” to Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.”
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,547
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Glassnote
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,591
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,609
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Tamla Motown
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,646
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Infamous Records/HClass Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,663
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,665
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Top Dawg Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,720
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Brainfeeder
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,740
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Prestige
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,741
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Def Jam Recordings/Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,749
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- LaFace Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,805
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Philips
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,825
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Chess
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,836
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Not Now Music
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,850
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,905
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,928
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,014
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Blue Note
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,091
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Universal
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,150
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Chance The Rapper
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,160
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Rhymesayers Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,171
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Madlib Invazion
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,260
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,310
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 76
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,322
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Warp Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,326
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Curtom/Buddah Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,333
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,337
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Parkwood Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,361
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Odeon
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,419
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Virgin
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,472
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Big Life
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,552
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- London Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,625
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- RCA
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,628
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- 4AD
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,732
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,763
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,764
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,916
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 75
- G.O.O.D. MUSIC/Def Jam Recordings
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,972
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Ruthless Records/Priority Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,988
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Warner Bros. Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,995
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,107
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Elektra
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,197
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,227
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Bad Boy Entertainment/Wondaland
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,276
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,310
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,372
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Interscope Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,384
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Jive
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,438
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,516
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Stones Throw Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,571
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- G.O.O.D. MUSIC/Def Jam Recordings
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,608
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Sony Records/Ruffhouse Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,722
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Westbound Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,999
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,067
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 76
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,086
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- LaFace Records/Arista
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,182
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Mass Appeal
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,187
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Island Records/Tuff Gong
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,305
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Atlantic/Volt
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,379
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,492
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,496
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Blue Note
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,571
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Warp Records/Fool's Gold Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,923
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Geffen Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,941
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Wild Bunch Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,084
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Wichita
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,403
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- LaFace Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,639
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Top Dawg Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,663
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Island Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,693
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Bad Boy Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 7,737
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 7,933
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,178
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 86
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,464
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Reprise Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,467
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Def Jam Recordings
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,539
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Paisley Park
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,787
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,972
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Def Jam Recordings
- Best Ever Albums score: 9,960
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 11,305
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 12,011
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Island Def Jam Music Group
- Best Ever Albums score: 12,094
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Circa/Virgin
- Best Ever Albums score: 13,692
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 14,076
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Boys Don't Cry
- Best Ever Albums score: 14,228
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 14,544
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- RCA
- Best Ever Albums score: 15,225
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 87
- Impulse!
- Best Ever Albums score: 17,116
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 86
- Stones Throw Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 17,917
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Warner Bros. Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 19,350
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 19,379
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 87
- Impulse!
- Best Ever Albums score: 20,525
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 86
- Reprise Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 20,581
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Elektra
- Best Ever Albums score: 20,600
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 86
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 21,149
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 30,433
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 88
- Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 31,010
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 89
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 31,185
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 87
- Track Record
- Best Ever Albums score: 32,779
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 40,130
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 90
- Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
Best albums of all time by Black artists
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Best albums of all time by Black artists
There would be no American music as we know it without the contributions of Black artists. Since the first African music was brought over by people in bondage as early as the 15th century, Black singers and musicians have had a hand in every aspect of American music’s evolution. From country-western, the foundation of which was banjo music from Africa, to rock ‘n’ roll, first played by a Black woman on electric guitar in 1938, each genre of American music has a Black artist (or many) who helped create it.
In addition to establishing new sounds, Black musicians worked to advance civic life, as well. They helped bring about an end to segregation, with the likes of Josephine Baker, Ray Charles, and dozens more refusing to play to segregated crowds, with white allies like The Beatles taking similar stands. They also used their music to advance messages; from Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” to Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.”
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,547
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Glassnote
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,591
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,609
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Tamla Motown
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,646
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Infamous Records/HClass Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,663
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,665
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Top Dawg Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,720
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Brainfeeder
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,740
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Prestige
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,741
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Def Jam Recordings/Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,749
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- LaFace Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,805
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Philips
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,825
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Chess
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,836
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Not Now Music
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,850
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,905
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 2,928
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,014
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Blue Note
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,091
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Universal
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,150
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Chance The Rapper
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,160
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Rhymesayers Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,171
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Madlib Invazion
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,260
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,310
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 76
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,322
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Warp Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,326
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Curtom/Buddah Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,333
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,337
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Parkwood Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,361
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Odeon
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,419
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Virgin
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,472
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Big Life
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,552
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- London Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,625
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- RCA
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,628
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- 4AD
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,732
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,763
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,764
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,916
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 75
- G.O.O.D. MUSIC/Def Jam Recordings
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,972
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Ruthless Records/Priority Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,988
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Warner Bros. Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 3,995
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,107
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 78
- Elektra
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,197
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,227
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Bad Boy Entertainment/Wondaland
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,276
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,310
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,372
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Interscope Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,384
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Jive
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,438
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Atlantic
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,516
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Stones Throw Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,571
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- G.O.O.D. MUSIC/Def Jam Recordings
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,608
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Sony Records/Ruffhouse Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,722
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Westbound Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 4,999
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,067
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 76
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,086
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- LaFace Records/Arista
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,182
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Mass Appeal
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,187
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Island Records/Tuff Gong
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,305
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Atlantic/Volt
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,379
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,492
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 79
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,496
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Blue Note
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,571
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Warp Records/Fool's Gold Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,923
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Geffen Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 5,941
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Wild Bunch Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,084
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Wichita
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,403
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- LaFace Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,639
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Top Dawg Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,663
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Island Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 6,693
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Bad Boy Entertainment
- Best Ever Albums score: 7,737
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 7,933
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,178
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 86
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,464
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Reprise Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,467
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 80
- Def Jam Recordings
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,539
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 81
- Paisley Park
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,787
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 8,972
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 77
- Def Jam Recordings
- Best Ever Albums score: 9,960
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 11,305
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 12,011
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Island Def Jam Music Group
- Best Ever Albums score: 12,094
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Circa/Virgin
- Best Ever Albums score: 13,692
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 14,076
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- Boys Don't Cry
- Best Ever Albums score: 14,228
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 14,544
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 84
- RCA
- Best Ever Albums score: 15,225
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 87
- Impulse!
- Best Ever Albums score: 17,116
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 86
- Stones Throw Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 17,917
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 83
- Warner Bros. Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 19,350
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 82
- Epic
- Best Ever Albums score: 19,379
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 87
- Impulse!
- Best Ever Albums score: 20,525
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 86
- Reprise Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 20,581
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Elektra
- Best Ever Albums score: 20,600
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 86
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 21,149
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Tamla
- Best Ever Albums score: 30,433
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 88
- Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 31,010
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 89
- Columbia
- Best Ever Albums score: 31,185
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 87
- Track Record
- Best Ever Albums score: 32,779
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 85
- Roc-A-Fella Records
- Best Ever Albums score: 40,130
- Best Ever Albums user rating: 90
- Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records

