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Watching the trajectory of an artist is something all music fans enjoy. Especially when you watch their growth in real time. But for some artists, it is just apparent that they are going to be a superstar from the time of their first album.
Let’s take a look at four debut albums that announced a superstar was born.
Notorious B.I.G.
Debut album: Ready to Die (1994)
It is not a reach to say that Notorious B.I.G. had the greatest debut album of all time. In a time when rap was looking for someone to take things to the next level, Biggie and Puffy did exactly that. The Ready to Die album brought a fresh perspective to the genre. Biggie’s storytelling painted a vivid picture as he gave listeners an inside look at some of the darkest times in his life. Hits like Warning, Suicidal Thoughts, and Who Shot Ya? have had a direct impact on what the genre is today.
Jay-Z
Debut Album: Reasonable Doubt (1996)
A debut album can make or break the trajectory of an artist’s career. And when Jay-Z dropped his freshman project, Reasonable Doubt, it was clear that he was going to be something special. Reasonable Doubt has become a classic album. And HOV had a star-studded list of guest features, including Biggie Smalls, Mary J Blige, and Foxy Brown. Tracks such as Can’t Knock The Hustle, Brooklyn’s Finest, and D’evils remain relevant to this day, withstanding the test of time.
Drake
Debut Album: Thank Me Later (2010)
Drake has transformed himself into one of the biggest artists of all time. And if you have watched his trajectory from start to finish, then you understand just how impressive this run has been. Drake dropped his debut album, Thank Me Later, in 2010. And with a Lil Wayne co-sign, he was already respected by some of the goats. Still, the pressure was on for him to deliver a top-tier project. Drake didn’t just deliver — he over-delivered. Tracks such as Over,
It was clear that Drake was different after his first week numbers came out. His debut album sold 447,000 copies in its first week in the US and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The project also debuted at number one in Canada with first-week sales of 31,000 copies.
Kanye West
Debut Album – College Dropout (2004)
No matter what your opinion of Kanye West is currently, what cannot be denied is the impact that he has had on the music industry as a whole. Ye entered the mainstream scene as a producer. So it caught a lot of people when he dropped his debut album, College Dropout, in 2004. Tracks such as All Falls Down, Jesus Walks, and Through The Wire remain culturally relevant to this day. The project sold 441,000 worldwide, coming in at the number two spot in the Billboard Hot 200. In addition, the project was also nominated for Album of the Year at the 2004 Grammy Awards.
