Latest news with #TopDawgEntertainment
Hypebeast
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Top Dawg Entertainment Deliver Spring 2025 Racing Collection
Summary Top Dawg Entertainment(TDE) is hitting the gas with its Spring 2025 Racing Collection. An homage to Los Angeles' racing culture, the capsule is led by a long-sleeve motocross jersey with bright TDE logos. Tops include a black contrast stitch T-shirt with yellow branding, a graphic tee with a driving plate motif and a white baby tee. Closing out the collection are a duo of racing-inspired caps, as well as a driving plate keychain. The release arrives just asSZAandKendrick Lamarbring their co-headlining 'Grand National Tour' home to Los Angeles on May 23 and May 24. Check out the collection above. The TDE Spring 2025 Racing Collection is available for a limited time only starting May 23 at 12 p.m. EST via theTDE webstore.
Black America Web
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
The Top 10 SiR Collaborations You Need to Hear
Source: Frank Hoensch / Getty In an era where R&B continues to evolve and blur genres, SiR has carved out a lane that's uniquely his own. Hailing from Inglewood, California, and signed to the iconic Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), SiR blends classic soul sensibilities with modern production and deeply personal storytelling. His voice is velvet but grounded, tender but never soft — a reminder that R&B can still be emotional without losing its edge. Whether he's singing about love, loss, or growth, SiR has a way of making you feel like he's having a one-on-one conversation with your heart. What truly sets SiR apart, however, is his collaborative spirit. He doesn't just work with artists — he builds moments with them. Whether it's teaming up with hip-hop giants like Kendrick Lamar or trading bars with introspective lyricists like D Smoke, SiR has consistently shown that he knows how to complement, elevate, and merge with any artist he's paired with. His collaborations aren't just features — they're seamless integrations of sound, emotion, and perspective. From soulful duets to West Coast anthems, SiR's catalog is full of hidden gems and genre-bending collabs that highlight his versatility and musical ear. These moments showcase not just his technical skill, but his ability to connect — across sounds, styles, and stories. If you're just diving into SiR's work or looking to revisit the brilliance of his partnerships, this list is a curated journey through his top 10 collaborations that capture the magic when SiR steps into the booth with someone else. RELATED: SIR THE STEP INTO THE LIGHT: TOUR SETLIST The Top 10 SiR Collaborations You Need to Hear was originally published on Album: Chasing Summer (2019) A hypnotic, bass-driven groove with a subtle flex. SiR's velvet tone glides over the beat while Kendrick delivers one of his most lowkey but potent verses. This is West Coast soul at its finest. Single (2020) A powerful reimagining of an already emotive track. SiR's tribute to heartbreak gains even more depth with poetic contributions from his brother D Smoke, the ever-introspective Boogie, and the legendary Jill Scott. Album: November (2018) Cool, jazzy, and mature — this is what sipping red wine in silk sounds like. ScHoolboy Q's laid-back verse contrasts SiR's smooth melodies for Album: Chasing Summer (2019) This track is dreamy and celestial, with SiR and Kadhja floating across a sonic sky. Her ethereal vocals complement his grounded delivery, creating an experience that feels spiritual and healing. Album: Chasing Summer (2019) A mellow vibe full of nostalgia and temptation, this song finds SiR at his most chill and Boogie in a vulnerable groove. It feels like a late-night smoke session with emotions creeping in. Unofficial Remix Anderson .Paak blesses this already smooth track with his raspy charm and funky bounce. It's two West Coast heavyweights vibing over a soulfully sampled beat that never gets old. Live Performance / Fan Favorite Though unofficially released, their live version of 'You Can't Save Me' became a fan-favorite — sultry, tragic, and vocally rich. The blend of their tones makes this a performance to revisit over and over. New York City legend @AliciaKeys graces the COLORS stage with an exclusive rendition of 'Three Hour Drive' featuring SiR; which is taken from her newly released self-titled album 'Alicia'. Lance Skiiiwalker ft. SiR 'Peso' Directed/Created by: Matthew Freiheit Produced by: FRGN-SPCMN Additional Production: Amaire Johnson Flute/Saxophone: Henry Solomon SiR – Chasing Summer out now!: Production Company: TDE Films X AJR Films Directed by Mez for Heirs Executive Producer: Anthony 'Top Dawg' Tiffith Producers Roberto 'retOne' Reyes, Edgar Moreno, & Angel J Rosa DP David Bolen Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
New York Post
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kendrick Lamar and SZA, pop's hottest pair, double up at MetLife Stadium on co-headlining tour: concert review
It's hard to come in on more of a roll than Kendrick Lamar and SZA did when they brought their Grand National Tour to MetLIfe Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Thursday night. After all, their slow-jam joint 'Luther' has spent 11 weeks and counting at No. 1, becoming the longest-running chart-topper for both artists. Both are also touring behind hot albums — his 'GNX' and her 'Lana' reissue of 'SOS' — that were released late last year. Advertisement 6 Kendrick Lamar and SZA intersperse their solo material and collaborations during their Grand National Tour. Cassidy Meyers And of course, Lamar —fresh off of winning the Record and Song of the Year Grammys for his epic Drake diss track 'Not Like Us' — headlined the Super Bowl, with SZA appearing as his special guest. You might have expected that Lamar would headline again on this tour, with the 'Kill Bill' singer essentially serving as a opening act for the Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper. But this was a true co-headlining show in which the two performers alternated in separate acts, while also teaming up for some of their most notable collaborations, in a seamless flow of power-flexing. Advertisement But as much as neither of them hardly needs to sit down and be humble, there were no egos. Just two stars sharing the spotlight, shining bright in the night. Lamar hit the stage first to the 'GNX' opener 'Wacced Out Murals' and quickly turned things up with 'Squabble Up' and the 'To Pimp a Butterfly' banger 'King Kunta,' which was G-funkier than ever. It was good to hear K-Dot dig into his earlier catalog with tracks that feel like classics now, which were missed during his Super Bowl set. 6 Kendrick Lamar showcased tracks from his latest album 'GNX' on the Grand National Tour. Greg Noire Advertisement In fact, some of Lamar's best moments came from his 2012 breakthrough 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.' 'Backseat Freestyle' got the stadium rocking old-school style, and 'M.A.A.D City' was smoothed out with the quiet-storm soul of Anita Baker's 'Sweet Love.' And the sequence of 'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe,' 'Money Trees' and 'Poetic Justice' — minus Drake's verse, of course—was a gangsta throwback for the O.G.'s. Then there was 'Alright,' Lamar's Black Loves Matter anthem that had the crowd raising their fists in the air, regardless of their race. It was powerful to witness on a stadium magnitude. Concertgoers might think it would be hard for SZA to keep up with Lamar. She doesn't have one 'Alright' or 'Not Like Us' in her catalog. But the Jersey girl more than held her own in her home state. 6 SZA performed songs from the 'Lana' reissue of her 'SOS' album on the Grand National Tour. Cassidy Meyers Advertisement Since the last time these two hit the road together — as Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates on 2018's The Championship Tour — SZA has come a long way as a live performer. She leveled up to new heights on her 'SOS' Tour in 2023. Her singing — which has never sounded better than on Thursday night — and dancing have developed into a cool, confident style that is all her own. She's a vibe. And the creative-direction upgrade from the 'SOS' Tour carried over here. Like Lamar — who has learned to use dancers and visuals to bigger stage effect without losing the core essence of who he is — SZA has figured out how to be SZA on a grander scale. 6 Kendrick Lamar performed hits such as 'Alright,' 'Humble' and 'Not Like Us' on the Grand National Tour. Cassidy Meyers 6 Kendrick Lamar and SZA return to MetLife Stadium on Friday night for a second show on the Grand National Tour. kendricklamar/Instagram From 'Ctrl' faves 'Love Galore,' 'The Weekend' and 'Broken Clocks' — but no 'Drew Barrymore' — to 'SOS' hits 'I Hate U,' 'Kill Bill' and 'Snooze,' she was in complete control. So much so that she sold the less familiar 'Lana' tracks at the expense of 'Saturn.' And, while surely no shade to Lamar, she even did her 2023 Drake collab 'Rich Baby Daddy.' Of course, 'Not Like Us' was the moment everyone was waiting for — and it did not disappoint with dancers stepping in solidarity and colorful collages celebrating black culture. Lamar let the crowd do the rapping on the controversial 'certified pedophile' lyric and the 'A minor' line, and the whole stadium chanted the 'they not like us' mantra in the chorus. Advertisement 6 SZA was Kendrick Lamar's special guest when the rapper headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in February. Getty Images But on this tour — which returns to MetLife Stadium on Friday night — some of the best, most special moments were when Lamar and SZA were together. After their first duet on '30 for 30' to introduce SZA, there was an act with the two of them — including 'Doves in the Wind,' 'All the Stars' and 'Love' — that showed just why they are the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, the Rick James and Teena Marie of their generation. 'All the Stars,' in particular, lit up the night with cell-phone flashlights as SZA and Lamar were elevated to the skies on their respective platforms during their 'Black Panther' bop. With their combined star power on dazzling display, it was all the feels. And by the end, when the late R&B legend Luther Vandross crooned 'If This World Were Mine' on the 'Luther' encore, it felt as if the world was theirs.
Forbes
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Every Kendrick Lamar Album In Order Of Release
Kendrick Lamar accepts the Record of the Year award for "Not Like Us" onstage during the 67th ... More Annual GRAMMY Awards at Arena. Long before his name was associated with one of the most infamous rap squabbles of all time, Kendrick Lamar had created a niche for himself as one of hip-hop's most forward-thinking, conscious rappers. Because of that level of genius, his albums have become artifacts, specifically for Black culture. He began releasing mixtapes while still in high school, including Youngest Head N***a in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year), which introduced him as a precocious voice from the West Coast. By 2005, he had signed with Top Dawg Entertainment, the label that would nurture his ascent into hip-hop royalty. Over the next few years, he dropped a string of increasingly polished mixtapes—Training Day (2005), No Sleep 'Til NYC (2007, with Jay Rock), and C4 (2009), a tribute to Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III. Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars ... More Superdome. Shedding the moniker in favor of his birth name, Lamar released his self-titled EP in 2009, signaling a creative shift. His breakthrough moment came with 2010's Overly Dedicated, which cracked the Billboard charts and introduced a wider audience to the future Pulitzer winner. Since then, Lamar has released six studio albums, one compilation, five mixtapes, a soundtrack and an EP. In the United States alone, he has achieved five number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and racked up over 71 million album sale units worldwide, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As one of hip-hop's most prolific lyricists, Lamar's discography is a blueprint of creative evolution, introspection and resistance. Since emerging from the streets of Compton, Lamar has contributed to the rap conversation with each release by honing his craft, studying the greats and effortlessly tackling subjects like race, faith, trauma and America's long-standing tensions with Black identity. Lamar is a Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, songwriter and producer from Compton, California. He began his musical journey as a teenager under the moniker releasing his first mixtape at 16. His music is primarily inspired by West Coast rap, jazz, funk and soul with razor-sharp social commentary, storytelling and personal reflections. Known for concept-driven projects and a refusal to compromise his vision, Lamar has been praised for his witty lyricism, thematic depth and willingness to challenge the status quo. He has won 17 Grammy Awards and made history with his 2017 album DAMN., which earned him a Pulitzer Prize for Music, a first for a hip-hop artist. Despite his widespread success, Lamar hasn't been immune to controversy. His layered verses sometimes attract criticism and debate, from critiques of mainstream hip-hop to religious allusions and social justice themes that unsettle listeners. Still, he represents a breath of fresh air in the hip-hop genre. Kendrick Lamar performs during the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival in Indio, California. With multiple Grammy wins and chart-topping projects, Kendrick Lamar's catalog is widely considered one of the most important in 21st-century music. Whether you're discovering his work for the first time or retracing his impact, Lamar's albums provide an introspective look into an artist constantly refining his craft. Lamar's first studio album, Section.80, arrived on July 2, 2011 under Top Dawg Entertainment and introduced fans to his dense lyricism and socially conscious introspection. The project analyzed systemic injustice, addiction and generational trauma with a poeticism that was rare, especially in mainstream rap. Standouts like 'A.D.H.D.' and 'Ronald Reagan Era' showcased a young and rising rapper unafraid to challenge systems and provoke thought. While it didn't earn major awards, Section.80 laid the groundwork for what would become one of hip-hop's most critically acclaimed and commercially successful careers. Released on October 22, 2012, good kid, m.A.A.d city was Lamar's breakout project and a defining album of the 2010s. Often referred to as a 'short film by Kendrick Lamar,' the project is a concept album tracing a day in his teenage life in Compton, where joy, danger, faith and fear seemed to collide for Lamar. From the hypnotic 'Backseat Freestyle' to the meditative 'Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst,' Lamar layered his narrative with prayerful voicemails, skits and a sense of impending doom. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys but lost. Nonetheless, good kid, m.A.A.d city became certified 3x Platinum and is widely cited as a modern masterpiece in hip-hop. The project also combined autobiographical storytelling with sonic innovation and features from Drake and Jay Rock, combined with hits like 'Swimming Pools (Drank)' and 'B—, Don't Kill My Vibe,' helped to garner the work seven Grammy nominations and made it go triple platinum. Lamar's third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, was released on March 16, 2015, and challenged the idea of what a traditional hip-hop album could be. In more ways than one, To Pimp a Butterfly became a combination of an academic thesis, a political statement, a sermon and a psychedelic jazz experiment. Drawing on inspiration from Miles Davis, George Clinton and Gil Scott-Heron, the album experimented with funk, soul and free jazz, all while discussing Black radical politics. 'King Kunta' critiqued power structures, 'The Blacker the Berry' grappled with internalized racism and 'u' exposed mental health struggles. Its climax, 'Mortal Man,' also included a fictional interview with Tupac Shakur. The album's unapologetically Black political themes, from institutional racism to economic disenfranchisement, resonated during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Tracks like 'Alright' became Black protest power anthems. The album earned Lamar five Grammy Awards and huge critical acclaim. It's been hailed as a modern classic and cemented Lamar's status as hip-hop's poet laureate. While the album didn't top the pop charts, it changed Black culture. Lamar's DAMN. is his most commercially successful album to date and a monumental achievement in music history. The 2017 release incorporated radio-friendly hits like 'HUMBLE.' and 'DNA.' with more profound philosophical musings on morality, loyalty and fate. It won five Grammys, including Best Rap Album, and made Lamar the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. With its stripped-back production and layered lyricism, DAMN. solidified his reach as both a rap icon and commercial powerhouse. But beyond its recognition, DAMN. represented an important moment in Lamar's evolution, where sober reflection met accessibility. Tracks like 'FEAR.' and 'DUCKWORTH.' offered haunting insights into survival and fate, while the album's nonlinear sequencing and dual themes of 'wickedness' and 'weakness' compelled fans to engage with it as a spiritual and psychological work. It proved that Lamar could dominate charts without compromising substance, and it deepened his status as a hip-hop artist and a generational thinker shaping the cultural dialogue. Kendrick Lamar accepts award for Best Rap Album onstage during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at ... More Madison Square Garden in New York City. After a five-year hiatus, Lamar returned in 2022 with Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, a double album exploring therapy, generational trauma, fatherhood and fame. Even though it was more introspective and less commercially driven than DAMN., this album was raw and confessional, with records like 'N95,' 'Father Time' and 'Mother I Sober.' The body of work featured artists like Baby Keem, Beth Gibbons and Sampha. It was praised and critiqued for its raw vulnerability and nonconformist structure. The album debuted at number one, adding to Lamar's growing list of chart-topping projects. Mr. Morale symbolized a decisive turn inward, revealing a Lamar who was no longer preoccupied with acclaim but instead fixated on healing and truth-telling. The album pulled no punches as it addressed childhood trauma, infidelity, toxic masculinity and even cancel culture with a startling level of blunt honesty. The album also exposed Lamar as an artist at the peak of his introspective power, willing to sacrifice mass appeal to say something real. In doing so, Lamar challenged listeners to confront their wounds and expanded what hip-hop could be: a space for therapy, accountability and personal reckoning. Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during the BET Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. GNX, Lamar's sixth studio album, arrived without warning on November 22, 2024, marking a new era for the rapper. Released through his creative imprint pgLang and Interscope Records, the album is his first since parting ways with longtime collaborators Top Dawg Entertainment and Aftermath. Titled after the iconic Buick Regal GNX, the project landed in the cultural conversation following Lamar's headline-grabbing feud with Canadian rapper Drake, fueling speculation and anticipation. The guest list on GNX was expansive and surprising, featuring a mix of West Coast up-and-comers and established voices, including SZA, Roddy Ricch, Dody6, Wallie the Sensei, Lefty Gunplay, Siete7x, AzChike, Hitta J3, YoungThreat and Peysoh. The sonic palette was equally dynamic, shaped by longtime collaborator Sounwave and genre-crossing producer Jack Antonoff, alongside Mustard, Sean Momberger and jazz virtuoso Kamasi Washington. GNX debuted to widespread critical acclaim and entered the Billboard 200 at number one, securing Lamar's fifth chart-topping album. The record reached number one in the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Australia, and charted within the top five in countries like Nigeria, France, Poland and Hungary. Supported by the singles 'Squabble Up,' 'TV Off' and 'Luther,' the album has set the stage for the Grand National Tour, his collaborative tour with SZA, which is scheduled for the summer of 2025. Bottom Line Lamar's rich discography has represented authentic storytelling, cultural commentary and sonic evolution. Each album has been more layered and ambitious than the last, and with each release, Lamar has proven to be a singular force in contemporary music, a visionary who refuses to be boxed in by genre, convention or commercial expectation. As his legacy continues to play out, Lamar remains not just one of the best lyricists of his generation but a cultural architect shaping the sound and soul of modern hip-hop. Among the best Kendrick Lamar songs is 'Alright' from To Pimp a Butterfly, a Grammy-winning track of Black resilience and protest. Another standout is 'HUMBLE.' from DAMN., which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and remains a lyrical flex packed with irony and self-awareness. 'Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst' from good kid, m.A.A.d city also stands out as a cinematic reflection on violence, loss and legacy. Kendrick Lamar has won 22 Grammy Awards out of 57 nominations. His first came in 2015 for 'i', and he swept multiple categories with To Pimp a Butterfly. In 2018, DAMN. earned him five wins, and he continues to be a regular presence in Grammy nominations. Kendrick Lamar has five number one albums on the Billboard 200: good kid, m.A.A.d city; To Pimp a Butterfly; DAMN.; Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers; and GNX.
Euronews
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Pamela Bach, Baywatch star and ex-wife of David Hasselhoff, dies aged 62
From a modern hip-hop masterpiece to Canada's greatest export since maple syrup, via UK dancehall-grime-funk, here's our pick of the three albums celebrating a major anniversary this month. ADVERTISEMENT Every month of 2025, Euronews Culture takes a trip down memory lane and handpicks a trio of albums celebrating a major milestone. These are the three records you should choose to (re)discover as they respectively turn 10, 20, and 30 this March. Turning 10 in 2025: Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly Top Dawg Entertainment Release date: 15 March 2015 In a nutshell: It's been fourteen years since Compton-born Kendrick Lamar dropped his debut album, and the music scene hasn't quite been the same since. Last year was something of a consecration for the artist who has become one of the most influential rappers of all time. From the Drake-destroying battle, the victory lap that was 'GNX', to this year with his Grammy sweep and the Super Bowl halftime show, it's clear that no one can dethrone hip-hop's poet laureate. Before all that though was third album, 'To Pimp A Butterfly'. No one could have predicted quite to what extent his 2015 effort would not only top his previous storytelling masterpiece, 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City', but herald him as the most distinctive generational voice of his time. No hyperbole. Why it's our pick: What can be said about 'To Pimp A Butterfly' that hasn't already been gushed about profusely? Not much, except to say that every now and then, an album comes along that feels like it simultaneously holds a mirror up to culture and comes to define it. The album is urgent, lyrically dexterous, exigently executed, timely and timeless - a veritable milestone in hip-hop alongside 'Madvillainy', 'Illmatic' and 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'. By fusing hip-hop, R&B, jazz, funk and spoken word, Lamar constructed a politically charged opus that is both hopeful and enraged, as evidenced by two of the album's standout tracks: the Grammy-winning 'Alright', a modern-day 'What's Going On' that became the unifying anthem of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and 'The Blacker The Berry', a track dripping with righteous anger which interrogates and celebrates the concept of Blackness to better comment on the Black American experience. It's an unashamedly heady album, not just because of its themes that explore historical and psychological oppression - as well as entrenched racism with the American system - but also due to its musically rich makeup. 'To Pimp A Butterfly' doesn't reveal all its layers in one go, making it an album which rewards listens 10 years since its release. Many consider it Lamar's best; what's certain is that as we celebrate its first decade, it's a strong contender for the greatest album of the 21st century. Would you look at that - turns out there's still plenty to say. Key tracks: 'King Kunta', 'U', 'Alright', 'Hood Politics', 'The Black The Berry', 'I'. Standout lyric: 'I'm black as the moon, heritage of a small village / Pardon my residence / Came from the bottom of mankind / My hair is nappy, my dick is big, my nose is round and wide / You hate me don't you? / You hate my people, your plan is to terminate my culture / You're fuckin' evil / I want you to recognize that I'm a proud monkey / You vandalize my perception but can't take style from me / And this is more than confession / I mean I might press the button just so you know my discretion / I'm caught in my feelings, I know that you feel it / You sabotage my community, makin' a killin' / You made me a killer, emancipation of a real nigga.' ('The Blacker The Berry') Also turning 10 in March 2025: Sufjan Stevens' 'Carrie & Lowell', one of the American musician's most glorious and heartbreaking albums; 'Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit', the superb debut from Courtney Barnett; Laura Marling's 'Short Movie'; Canadian post-rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor's fifth record 'Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress'. March 2015 was a good month for music. Turning 20 in 2025: M.I.A. – Arular M.I.A. – Arular XL Recordings / Interscope Records Release date: 22 March 2005 In a nutshell: 20 years ago, listeners discovered the sounds of Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam aka: M.I.A., the British rapper and singer of Tamil origin. Combining dancehall grooves, hip-hop brashness, as well as a hefty dose of raga, world music and punk spirit, her debut album was a true statement of intent. Her underground and unclassifiable sound was finally emerging, and you'd never heard anything like it before. Why it's our pick: Chances are you know at least one song by M.I.A.: her 2008 Grammy-nominated hit 'Paper Planes', which was featured in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. However, before that came the more lo-fi 'Arular', a raw debut that wanted its listeners to dance to political songs. Indeed, themes of conflict and revolution are everywhere in 'Arular' - the title being a clue, as it refers to the political code name used by her father during his involvement with Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups. Standout tracks include the sexually charged 'Bucky Done Gun', which was reportedly influenced by her experiences of civil war in Sri Lanka; the downtempo jungle sounds of 'Sunshowers', which tackles the topic of gun culture and led MTV US to censor its sounds of gunshots (the death of irony, ladies and gentlemen); and 'Galang', a dancehall banger containing plenty of sexual innuendos and references to weed, as well as nods to The Clash's 'London Calling'. While it may sound abrasive and musically scattergun, there's something addictively weird and wonderful about this album. M.I.A. may have refined her sound with more confident efforts like 'Kala' (2007) and 'Mantangi' (2013), but 'Arular' remains a fascinating debut album well worth revisiting. Key tracks: 'Pull Up The People', 'Bucky Done Gun', 'Fire Fire', Sunshowers', 'Galang'. Standout lyric: 'They say rivers gonna run though / Work is gonna save you / Pray and you will pull through / Suck a dick'll help you / Don't let em get to you / If he's got one you get two / Backstab your crew / Sell it I could sell you.' ('Galang') Also turning 20 in March 2025: UK indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs' debut 'Employment' which features pretty much all their hits apart from 'Ruby'; Jack Johnson's best album, 'In Between Dreams', featuring the uplifting hits 'Better Together', 'Good People' and 'Sitting, Waiting, Wishing'. Turning 30 in 2025: Céline Dion – D'eux Céline Dion – D'eux Columbia Release date: 30 March 1995 ADVERTISEMENT In a nutshell: Who said 13 was unlucky? It certainly wasn't for Queen Céline, whose thirteenth studio album 'D'eux' remains her greatest to this day. Mainly written and produced by French singer-songwriter Jean-Jacques Goldman, the album includes hits like 'J'irai où tu iras', 'Pour que tu m'aimes encore', 'Je sais pas' and 'Vole' - the latter three later recorded in English as 'If That's What It Takes', 'I Don't Know' and 'Fly' on Dion's next album, 1996's Grammy-winning 'Falling Into You'. Most anglophone listeners will know that record, but as good as it is, the French-language 'D'eux' is a superior beast. It was prosaically titled 'The French Album' in the US (scoff and eyeroll all you want, they've asked for it) and it became the best-selling French-language album - as well as the best-selling non-English language album by a female artist - of all time. Why it's our pick: We could wax lyrical about how beautiful this album is, how it rightly stayed at the top of the French charts for a record-breaking 44 weeks, or how Céline expertly navigated the most commercially successful phase of her career in the 90s – a decade in which she outsold both Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Instead, here's a question: Have you ever listened to the song 'Pour que tu m'aimes encore' and, in a moment of reckless abandon, fuelled by heartbreak and too much wine which made you forget you have the singing voice of an enchanted plimsoll, belted out the song's lyrics as if your love life depended on it? Well, you should. Preferably culminating on your knees, with your clenched fists becoming outstretched arms. Seriously, has there ever been a more soul-stirring declaration of love? No there hasn't, and no cries of protest citing Whitney's 'I Will Always Love You', Stevie's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours' or Percy's 'When A Man Loves A Woman' count. On the swoon scale, they all rank high, but the crown remains Céline's. And if you were thinking about the maudlin 'All Of Me' by John Legend, you need to take a long hard look in the mirror and start rethinking some things, sunshine. Key tracks: 'Pour que tu m'aimes encore', 'Je sais pas', 'Les derniers seront les premiers', 'J'irai où tu iras'. Standout lyric: 'J'irai chercher ton cœur si tu l'emportes ailleurs / Même si dans tes danses d'autres dansent tes heures / J'irai chercher ton âme dans les froids dans les flammes / Je te jetterai des sorts pour que tu m'aimes encore.' ('Pour que tu m'aimes encore') ADVERTISEMENT Also turning 30 in March 2025: Radiohead's second album 'The Bends', a significant step up from 'Pablo Honey' and a sure sign that there was a lot more to the Oxford quintet than their hit 'Creep'; Joan Osborne's debut 'Relish', featuring her biggest hit 'One of Us'; ex-Wu-Tang member Ol' Dirty Bastard's hardcore hip-hop debut 'Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version'. Happy listening and catch you next month!
