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Kanye West - ‘The College Dropout’ (2004) -

Kanye West was already a well-established producer when he decided he wanted to be a star. Jay-Z became his mentor, and the result was hip-hop music like no one had heard it before. With hits like 'Jesus Walks' and 'Family Business,' Ye was introduced to the world.

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The Beatles - ‘Please Please Me’ (1963) -

With songs like 'Twist and Shout' and 'I Saw Her Standing There,' 'Please Please Me' is one of the greatest first albums in rock. It captures the band's energy and youthful vim, which is still admired to this day.

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Lady Gaga - ‘The Fame’ (2008) -

The birth of one of the greatest pop divas, Gaga’s debut was a game changer. A mix of dance-pop and Eurodisco, she made maximalist pop the dominant sound again on the global charts.

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Nirvana - ‘Bleach’ (1989) -

Recorded for US$600, Nirvana’s debut album already showed the band's ability of mixing punk, metal, and indie rock, which would help redefine rock in the '90s.

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Jay-Z - ‘Reasonable Doubt’ (1996) -

‘Reasonable Doubt’ established Hova as one of his generation’s finest rappers. It includes the lyrically-brilliant '22 Twos' and 'Brooklyn’s Finest,' a duet with the Notorious B.I.G.

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Lorde - 'Pure Heroine' (2013) -

Coming straight out of New Zealand, 16-year-old Lorde got a major breakthrough with her coming-of-age mumble-pop album. And let's not forget one of the best songs of the 2010s, 'Royals.'

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Arctic Monkeys - ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ (2006) -

In the era of indie-rock bands, Arctic Monkeys quickly became a major success, conquering the world with their pub-punk gems. The album is the fastest-selling debut album by a band in the history of the UK.

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Taylor Swift - ‘Taylor Swift’ (2006) -

Taylor was only 16, but she got the whole world listening to her and her guitar. The teen country star was a master in her art, while completely transforming the genre.

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Oasis - ‘Definitely Maybe’ (1994) -

When it comes to debut albums, Oasis emerged on top. This Manchester band gave us an album that was exciting, aggressive, and loaded with attitude: pure rock and roll.

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Sade - ‘Diamond Life’ (1984) -

The Nigerian-born singer and her London band made their debut with this new wave glam-pop album. Sade brought her soulful voice to hits like 'Smooth Operator' and 'Your Love Is King.'

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Arcade Fire - ‘Funeral’ (2004) -

Singing about loss, love, and hope, the Montreal band touched on themes that defined '00's independent rock. Using accordions and strings as central elements, the band made truly unforgettable symphonic rock.

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Whitney Houston - ‘Whitney Houston’ (1985) -

The debut album of 21-year-old Whitney Houston was a major success. Not only did it demonstrate how great she was as a pop singer, but it also showed her powerful voice singing soul and R&B.

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Billie Eilish - ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’ (2019) -

At just 17, Billie Eilish dropped her debut album. It explored themes such as youth, drug addiction, heartbreak, and mental health, with lyrics that bring a sense of humor and horror. A pop sensation, Eilish set a new tone in music.

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Metallica - ‘Kill ‘Em All’ (1983) -

Looking like four shaggy headbanger kids, these guys became some of the biggest rock stars in the world. Their sound had inspiration from bands like Iron Maiden, but they channeled it into something fresh and distinctive.

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Daft Punk - ‘Homework’ (1997) -

French duo Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo showed us that techno and house could be as catchy as pop music. On top of that, they implemented elements of hip hop and funk, while still carrying the genre's hypnotic essence.

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Alicia Keys - ‘Songs in A Minor’ (2001) -

Including hits like 'Fallin,'' 'How Come You Don’t Call Me,' and 'A Woman’s Worth,' Keys' debut album lives on as a classic. There's nothing like her classical piano in a New York setting.

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Elvis Presley - ‘Elvis Presley’ (1956) -

In 1955, RCA Records bought Elvis Presley’s contract, singles, and unreleased tapes from Sun Records for US$35,000. Six months later, they released his debut album.

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Patti Smith - ‘Horses’ (1975) -

Smith’s debut album made her the Queen of Punk. However, she cared more about the poetry in rock, and searched for passion and vision in her lyrics.

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Pink Floyd - ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ (1967) -

The band’s debut is all playful, psychedelic imagery, and acid guitars. It was an innovative sound in late '60's England, which left listeners wanting more. 

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Drake - ‘Thank Me Later’ (2010) -

A former child actor turned rapper might not have sounded so promising, but Drake proved everyone wrong with his down-tempo ambient beats. The Toronto native remade rap in his own image.

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The Killers - ‘Hot Fuss’ (2004) -

An album filled with synth grooves and lyrics about dancing, jealousy, and gender-bending, ‘Hot Fuss’ included hits like 'All These Things That I’ve Done' and 'Mr. Brightside.'

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Cyndi Lauper - ‘She’s So Unusual’ (1983) -

Cyndi Lauper's debut album was a razor-sharp dance pop success. It was the first album by a female performer to score four top five hits, including 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' and 'Time After Time.'

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Missy Elliott - ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ (1997) -

With her partner in crime, Timbaland, Missy ruled the hip-hop and R&B scenes thanks to ‘Supa Dupa Fly.’ Both singing and rapping, Missy struts her stuff, hit after hit.

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Led Zeppelin - ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969) -

On their first album, Led Zeppelin were still in the process of inventing their own sound, which became a template for what they would release in the '70s. The album includes classics like 'Communication Breakdown,' 'Your Time Is Gonna Come,' and 'Babe I’m Gonna Leave You.'

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Cardi B - ‘Invasion of Privacy’ (2018) -

'Invasion of Privacy’ was one of the biggest hip-pop explosions of 2018. Featuring hits like 'Bodak Yellow,' 'I Like It,' and 'Drip,' it put the former reality TV star on the global music scene map.

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Weezer - ‘Weezer’ (1994) -

When it first came out, the album was merely regarded as a cool and quirky pop album. But it became a major influence for future punk rockers who claimed Weezer pioneered emo pop.

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Kacey Musgraves - ‘Same Trailer Different Park’ (2013) -

Kacey Musgraves’ songwriting skills were a focal point of her Grammy-winning debut album. The song 'Follow Your Arrow' is to this day one of her signature songs.

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Black Sabbath - ‘Black Sabbath’ (1970) -

While hippies sang about flower power in the '70s, this band from Birmingham preferred a heavier sound. The album arguably invented heavy metal, introducing masses to the dark side.

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The Smiths - ‘The Smiths’ (1984) -

The band's groundbreaking sound transformed the iconography of UK pop forever. Just listen 'Still Ill' and 'This Charming Man,' and you'll see why.

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Madonna - ‘Madonna’ (1983) -

Loaded with hits like 'Borderline,' 'Holiday,' and 'Like a Virgin,' the album introduced one of the most important voices in the history of modern music. Madonna was officially the Queen of Pop.

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Lil' Kim - ‘Hard Core’ (1996) -

A highly explicit album, it also introduced the rapper's playfulness that made her a larger-than-life icon. Lil' Kim went on to inspire many of the rappers of today.

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M.I.A. - ‘Arular’ (2005) -

The British rapper gave the world a political album that incorporates hip hop, dancehall, baile funk, and punk. Hits included 'Pull Up the People' and 'Bucky Done Gun.'

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Run-D.M.C. - ‘Run-D.M.C.’ (1984) -

Back in 1984, a rap album was virtually inconceivable until Run-D.M.C. released their record. Not only was it a major hit, it transformed the American music scene.

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Olivia Rodrigo - ‘Sour’ (2021) -

With 'Sour,' the teen queen dropped a debut album loaded with hits for generation Z and millennials alike. On top of that, 'Good 4 U' brought pop-punk back!

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Beastie Boys - ‘Licensed to Ill’ (1986) -

Hip hop’s first number one album, and one of the best-selling rap albums of all time, 'Licensed to Ill’ brought the genre to the Heartland of America.

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The Notorious B.I.G. - ‘Ready to Die’ (1994) -

Considered by many as the best record by the greatest rapper who ever lived, 'Ready to Die' is a true masterpiece filled with jams.

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Pearl Jam - 'Ten' (1991) -

When their debut came out, Pearl Jam were competing with the highly popular Nirvana in the grunge scene. And yet they released an excellent album that influenced rock around the world.

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Mary J. Blige - ‘What’s the 411?’ (1992) -

Together with producer Sean Combs, Mary J. Blige made a platinum album that combined hip hop and R&B. This earned her the title Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.

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The Strokes - ‘Is This It’ (2001) -

Already well known to the New York underground scene, ‘Is This It’ put The Strokes on the global map, making the whole world rock. They went on to inspire an entire generation of bands.

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The Doors - ‘The Doors’ (1967) -

In 1977, The Doors unleashed their organ-driven rock on the world. With hits like 'Break On Through (to the Other Side)' and 'Twentieth-Century Fox,' the band definitely left their mark in music.

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Fiona Apple - ‘Tidal’ (1996) -

With a husky voice and a jazzy piano, Fiona Apple was in her teens when she made 'Tidal,' but still delivered a surprisingly adult tone. The album was just the beginning of her successful career.

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Frank Ocean - ‘Channel Orange’ (2012) -

Frank Ocean had already planted the seeds with his stunning mixtape 'Nostalgia Ultra' (2011), but it was his debut album that really showed his progressive R&B vision. With tunes like 'Pyramids' and 'Thinkin Bout You,' the album changed music forever.

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Guns N’ Roses - ‘Appetite for Destruction’ (1987) -

The biggest-selling debut album of the '80s, this album features major hits such as 'Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Paradise City.' And let's not forget Slash's iconic guitar solos!

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Nas - ‘Illmatic’ (1994) -

Nas was only 20 when he released his debut album, but he had already mastered the art of storytelling. The rapper managed to perfectly capture the rough life in New York’s Queensbridge projects.

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The Jimi Hendrix Experience - ‘Are You Experienced’ (1967) -

Jimi Hendrix was a groundbreaking guitarist who went down in history as one of the greatest musicians ever. He took psychedelia to another level.

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SZA - ‘Ctrl’ (2017) -

SZA's first album was a masterpiece that featured intimate, spacey, and low-key songs that crawled into our ears. She kept the lyrics honest, drawing from her own experiences.

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The Clash - ‘The Clash’ (1979) -

The debut studio album by English punk rock band The Clash featured shockingly great songs about unemployment, race, and themselves.

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D’Angelo - ‘Brown Sugar’ (1995) -

‘Brown Sugar’ set the mark for the neo-soul movement of the ’90s and early '00s. D’Angelo gave us songs that evoked smoky nightclubs, with straightforward R&B love jams.

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Bad Bunny - ‘X 100pre’ (2018) -

The prolific Puerto Rican artist spent about two years releasing collaborations, like the Grammy-nominated Cardi B track 'I Like It,' which helped build his fan base. His debut album finally came on Christmas Eve in 2018, which became an instant success.

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Ramones - ‘Ramones’ (1976) -

Inspired by feelings of alienation, isolation, and frustration, 'Ramones' is a pure '70's punk-rock record that has lived on for decades.

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Van Halen - ‘Van Halen’ (1978) -

With tunes like 'Runnin' With the Devil,' 'Atomic Punk,' and 'You Really Got Me,' it's easy to understand the success of this hard rock album.

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DMX - ‘It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot’ (1998) -

When audiences were hungry for something gritty and authentic, in came DMX with his ‘It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot’ album. It included bangers like 'Ruff Ryders,' 'Let Me Fly,' and 'Damien.'

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R.E.M. - ‘Murmur’ (1983) -

Critically acclaimed for its unusual sound, 'Murmur’ is full of ringing guitars and lyrics that are almost subliminal with buried melodies. Have a listen to 'Radio Free Europe' and 'Sitting Still,' and you'll see.

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The Cars - ‘The Cars’ (1978) -

Packed with catchy tracks like 'My Best Friend’s Girl' and 'Just What I Needed,' rock bands like Weezer and The Strokes wouldn't even exist without this album as a frame of reference.

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Leonard Cohen - ‘Songs of Leonard Cohen’ (1967) -

An already established poet and novelist, at 39 Cohen ventured into music. And it was a success. The record features ballads like 'Suzanne,' 'So Long, Marianne,' and 'Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye.'

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The Pretenders - ‘Pretenders’ (1980) -

The Pretenders’ debut is filled with new wave rock like 'Mystery Achievement' and 'Brass in Pocket,' plus a cover of 'Stop Your Sobbing' by The Kinks.

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The Velvet Underground - ‘The Velvet Underground and Nico’ (1967) -

Fully androgynous, with glam and raw punk energy, rock wouldn't be what it is today without this New York band. This was a fearless album with lyric depth, which lives on to this day.

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Wu-Tang Clan - ‘Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’ (1993) -

In 1993, East Coast hip hop made a return thanks to this nine-man group from New York. Steeped in dusty soul samples, piano tunes, and banging beats, Wu-Tang Clan helped influence '90's hip hop and R&B.

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The Stooges - ‘The Stooges’ (1969) -

Standing out from the '60's hippie idealism, The Stooges released punk classics such as 'I Wanna Be Your Dog,' 'No Fun,' and '1969.' The album essentially gave birth to punk rock.

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Don Omar - ‘The Last Don’ (2003) -

Having spent years around Puerto Rico’s growing reggaeton scene, Don Omar finally made his mark with his own 2003 album. His hits 'Dile' and 'Intocable' were huge tracks that helped define reggaeton.

Sources: (Rolling Stone) (The Independent) 

See also: Popular cover songs more famous than the original

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