UK National Album Day Playlist: shesaid.so celebrates Albums by Black Artists

For National Album Day during Black History Month, shesaid.so members share the albums that changed their lives

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill — Lauryn Hill

Nominated by Claudine Campbell: “This album is part of the soundtrack of my Uni Days….great friendships, great nights out and looking forward to what the future had in store for me. The album tracklist is classic….uptempo club jams, ballads, consciousness and empowerment. Stand out tracks — Lost ones, Ex-Factor, Everything is Everything, Doo Wop (That Thing).”

Black Messiah — D’Angelo & The Vanguard

Nominated by Kate Etteridge: “The long-awaited album from D’Angelo… was truly worth the wait. Completely breathtaking — more so when he brought the songs to life at his show at Hammersmith Apollo following its release.
This album is testimony that despite all of life’s challenges and personal difficulties it is still possible to create meaning and value and this album just felt incredibly important at the time it came, laying the groundwork for To Pimp a Butterfly and other albums that followed similar themes.”

In Search Of… — NERD

Nominated by Becky Ayres: “It opened up a whole new world of music for me, I started listening to soul and hip hop as a result of hearing it, it is an absolute classic.”

Infinite Possibilities — Amel Larrieux

Nominated by Tara: “This album has returned into my rotation after not listening to it for a few years. It’s beautiful inspiring R&B that’s helping to keep me grounded. Amel is one of those artists I feel has not been celebrated enough despite bringing us some really great music. She radiates positivity.”

Rabulapha! — Moonchild Sanelly

Nominated by Lauren Roth de Wolf: “I heard this album when sorting thru submissions for a music project. Listening to ‘dance like a girl’ , i realised the artist (as part of a BANGING tune) had taken the fact that saying ‘like a girl’ has always been insulting, and flipped it. So simple and clever, this track made me think differently about the inherent misogyny in everyday language. It inspired me so much that i invited her to the project and now I work for her! We’ve just released the follow up ’Thunda Thighs’ about how this insult is actually something to celebrate — big, strong, beautiful thighs that make thunda when we dance like a girl!”

Awaken My Love! — Childish Gambino

Nomianted by Zuline Martin: “I think this album is one of the greatest album of the decade. I really love Childish Gambino & this album is my favourite. This album released 4 years ago and I always listen to some of these songs as if I had just discovered them.”

Be — Common

Nominated by Kitty Amor: “As a lover of conscious hip-hop, this album really empowered me as a young woman to have self-belief and follow my dream. Common has always been a true wordsmith but with this album he really conveyed a message of empowerment for all people of colour — man/woman/child. Beautiful production and still hits me until this day.”

Whitney — Whitney Houston

Nominated by Chess Galea: “Whitney is a gorgeous, sparkling diamond with an incredible voice, charisma and her performances just exceed the highest heights. She’s a legend. I love albums and music produced by Clive Davis, in general.”

Oceans of Slumber — Oceans of Slumber

Nominated by Rebecca Davies-Cooke: “I am a heavy metal fan and to find such a strong band that is fronted by an amazing woman in this scene is refreshing. This quote from their website sums up everything for me:

“ With the planet in a state of mid-pandemic chaos, Oceans Of Slumber will be launching their new album into a changed world. No one knows what the future will look like, least of all for musicians and other artistic people, but one thing is for certain: heavy music will continue to inspire, uplift, enlighten and enrich, and Oceans Of Slumber are firmly and proudly at its forefront: the perfect progressive metal prescription. “

Spirit Disco — EGOSEX

Nominated by Yasmina Elkak: “Their sound if freaking new, fresh — I can’t even describe. A very young Barcelona-based band but I’ve never heard something so interesting in a while.”

The Element of Freedom — Alicia Keys

Nominated by Flora Garnier: “I have listened this album over and over and over again, it was there for me during my young twenties (and still now !) to mend my heart, feel empower and gave me courage. It’s a classic for me, like an old friend that is there for me when I need it the most.”

Maldafrica — F.U.L.A.

Nominated by Silvia Nocentini: “It means the beginning of a new era for me. It means having started doing what I do and creating in my dream land Africa. F.U.L.A. is not just an artist but he told me “Let’s work together as a team and ee’ll go to Africa”. He is the one teaching me everyday the importance of being D&I and open minded. The importance of fighting and struggling to reach our goals in Italy. We have to keep in mind those goals which concern creating a strong Black representation in the Italian Music Industry, this would be giving a community a chance. Also we want to fight the fascist system willing to destroy the Italian Black Community not giving them equal rights. This song stands up for a community, stands up for me and my team’s fight, our fight!”

2014 Forest Hill Drive — J Cole

Nominated by Denise Perdeck: “This album has helped me trough a dark time where I was struggling with myself and my depression. Especially the song: Love yourz reminds me that I have everything in my hand to be happy right now.”