Paying Homage
A verified registry of the people building, making, and shaping what shows up on black.wiki. Over time, verified entries will receive plaques, certificates, and contributor cards — a durable record of who put in the work.
A Tribe Called Quest — The Low End Theory
Musicians
Tribe's 1991 sophomore album that perfected jazz-meets-hip-hop.
Aretha Franklin — Amazing Grace
Musicians
1972 live gospel album recorded at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts.
Aretha Franklin — Respect
Musicians
Aretha Franklin's 1967 version of Otis Redding's "Respect" that became the song of the civil-rights and women's liberation movements.
Beyoncé — Black Is King
Musicians
2020 visual album film accompanying The Lion King: The Gift.
Beyoncé — Cowboy Carter
Musicians
2024 Beyoncé album reclaiming the Black roots of American country music.
Beyoncé — Lemonade
Musicians
2016 visual album rooted in Houston, New Orleans, and the Black Southern Gothic tradition.
Beyoncé — Renaissance
Musicians
2022 Beyoncé album celebrating Black house music history.
Boyz II Men — II
Musicians
Boyz II Men's 1994 album that produced "I'll Make Love to You" and "On Bended Knee."
Childish Gambino — Atavista
Musicians
Donald Glover's 2024 reissue of 3.15.20 with new tracks under the Childish Gambino name.
Childish Gambino — Awaken My Love
Musicians
2016 album that pivoted Donald Glover from rap into psychedelic-funk territory.
Childish Gambino — This Is America
Musicians
2018 song and video by Donald Glover that became the year's most-debated piece of American pop art.
Curtis Mayfield — Super Fly
Musicians
1972 soundtrack album that was simultaneously a critique and a hit.
D'Angelo — Voodoo
Musicians
2000 D'Angelo album that re-set R&B production.
De La Soul — 3 Feet High and Rising
Musicians
1989 De La Soul debut album — a bright counterweight to NWA's gangsta rap.
Dolly Parton — Tennessee Mountain Home (cover by Linda Martell)
Musicians
Linda Martell — the first Black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry — paved the way for Mickey Guyton and beyond.
Dr. Dre — The Chronic
Musicians
Dr. Dre's 1992 solo debut that introduced Snoop Dogg and reshaped West Coast hip-hop.
Erykah Badu — Baduizm
Musicians
1997 Erykah Badu's debut — the founding text of neo-soul.
Erykah Badu — Mama's Gun
Musicians
2000 Erykah Badu album that defined neo-soul's mature phase.
Frank Ocean — Blonde
Musicians
2016 Frank Ocean album that re-set the contemporary R&B aesthetic.
Goodie Mob — Soul Food
Musicians
1995 Atlanta album that introduced the term "Dirty South" into hip-hop vocabulary.
Ice Cube — AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Musicians
Ice Cube's 1990 solo debut after leaving NWA.
Janelle Monáe — Dirty Computer
Musicians
2018 album and emotion picture that exploded sci-fi, Afrofuturism, and queer Black identity.
Janet Jackson — janet.
Musicians
Janet Jackson's 1993 album — the lowercase title was a statement of intimacy.
Janet Jackson — The Velvet Rope
Musicians
1997 album that opened up Black female vulnerability in the public-facing mainstream.