There are certain years that music is just at a premium. 2022 was a great example. That year, we got albums from heavyweights including Beyoncé (Renaissance), Kendrick Lamar (Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers), Drake (Honestly, Nevermind AND Her Loss), SZA (SOS), Summer Walker (Still Over It) and Future (I NEVER LIKED YOU). 20 years from now, it’ll be hard not to consider 2022 a standout year for music, with a plethora of albums we’ll eventually consider classics.

Although this year has mostly been overshadowed by rap beefs, we have still been blessed with a good number of high quality R&B albums. Some of these albums include Tyla’s eponymous album, Kali Uchis’ ORQUÍDEAS, Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine, Kyle’s Smyle Again, SiR’s HEAVY, 6LACK’s No More Lonely Nights and many more. An album standing the test of time is not only an indication of how timeless the project is but also how the artist knew their audience and the climate of music. Considering how many solid bodies of work that have been released this year that we expect to age gracefully, we thought it would be cool to go back 20 years and give flowers to some albums that were suitable for the category.

In 2004, the state of music was a bit different. People worldwide were still going to stores and buying their favorite artist’s CDs. Album sales seemed to mean a bit more since everything was organic and there wasn’t a real way to “juice the numbers.” One thing that’s still the same as back then though is how great music will always live on and be remembered. We got a bevy of music that fit that bill 20 years ago. While Kanye West, Eminem, Ludacris, Nelly and other rap giants showcased their immense talent with highly successful albums, we can’t forget about the crooners and their contributions. We had bonafide legends adding to their already crazy catalogs (Prince, Janet Jackson), newer artists making their mark felt for the first time (John Legend, Ciara) and the final showing from a beloved girl group (Destiny’s Child).

The music was so good that some of the albums released that year are still heavy in people’s rotations to this day. Some of the albums rank highly among the artist’s discography. No matter where they rank, no one can argue how classic they are. To recognize the greatness of these projects, enjoy a gallery of R&B albums that turn 20 years old this year. Let us know which albums are your favorites and if you think we missed any!