Let's be real. Music fans are far more passionate than any channel surfer or popcorn bucket season pass holder. But there are some collections that you simply MUST have, the ones that define an era and set a standard for all others to follow. If we could pick ten Urban CDs from the past 25 years that avoid redundancies in style and content, this would be the list to take into space.

Mary J. Blige, My Life
A subtle mix of the hip-hop soul that put her on the map but with more evolved vocalization this was Mary’s best work and the standard-barer for urban female soloists from that point on.

Notorious B.I.G., Life After Death
From beginning to end the strongest last impression an artist could leave. Chock full of quotables that walked the line of ashy and classy, this is the double CD that every rapper is still trying to duplicate.

Outkast, Aquemini
In the same way that Biggie set the blueprint for his peers and the next generation, these ATLiens created a formula for conscious crunk, (yes they said crunk back then too). The Dungeon family sound peaked on this near flawless soundscape.

A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory
The father of NY 90s hip-hop; Not Illmatic, Not Reasonable Doubt. Not even Enta Da Stage. With one simple instruction, "Check The Rhyme," ATCQ proved that boom-bap had appeal beyond the 'hood.