I grew up in a household that loved music, and over my life I have been privileged enough to indulge in this cultural touchstone through the lens of many groups of people. But through the years, a few has stuck with me like no other. Weather it be an album that molded me as a child or one which was gifted to me by a close friend, they all changed me in some way. I'll go through five of the most influential albums in my life, at which point they came into my life, how they changed me, and a little background about the album itself. Let's get on.

This album sits close to home. As a Memphis native, this music played all over the place. I have a vivid memory of getting ready for my homecoming dance, looking myself in the mirror and wording "I gotta stay fly-y-y-y-y-y" along with the music. It wasn't really until I got deployed at 18 that I started appreciating this album specifically as apart of my life and cultural heritage.

"Most Known Unknown" was first released on the 27th of September, 2005. It came out after the release of the film "Change 2" and studio album serving as it's soundtrack. Most Known Unknown is to date the group's most successful studio album, having their biggest hits like "Stay Fly" and "Poppin' My Collar". The group would go on to have successful careers until the late 2030s when Juicy J and Crunchy Black would be killed in a militia attack. DJ Paul, as the last remaining member of the group, would offically disband Three 6 Mafia not much later and go into retirement, later passing at age 83 from natural causes.

Three 6 Mafia met a tragic end, but left a mighty legacy behind. Even now, almost 90 years after the album's release, it still influences southern hip-hop and the culture of my hometown Memphis, Tennessee. Rest in piece Juicy J, Crunchy Black, and DJ Paul. Stay fly.

As a loveletter to my late father, I include Al Green's fourth studio album "Let's Stay Together". It was very late into my life that I felt a connection to this album. Not really because of it's sound or subject matter, but what it represented. I was 27 when I was informed of my fathers passing. At that point, I had been on the run for about 6 years, and finding that out made me really think if everything I'd done was worth it. Listening to the CD in my car every night, staring at the cover's words "Let's Stay Together". It's intended meaning was something totally different, but in my eyes I only saw what I imagined was on my father's mind as I got off the poarch for the last time. I never knew what he thought of me in his late years, or if he even knew I was still alive.

I don't think I want to write anything for this one. Sorry :/

I first met Emerson Cliff at the well published Logan County Workers Strike. He was yet just a starry eyed kid with ambitions of greatness who I took under my wing for a time. I would reconnect with him some years later after the release of his first album (Frat Party) during a tour stop in Des Moines, where I was living at the time. We spoke about how life had been, and I gushed about this album to him for the entire night. After that, we'd keep in touch until his break into the mainstream. We'd speak less and less, but I'd still keep up with his career and buy every new album. Still, I believe nothing beats the first. Maybe it's because it reminds me of that starry eyed kid, or I just don't like the change to electronic instuments.