With this album being the unofficial anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement, ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ by Kendrick Lamar defined the unadulterated sound of black America. Key track: ‘Alright’.

‘Lemonade’ by Beyonce has something for everyone: from rap, country, rock and pop. She uses her martial issues as a vessel, exploring topics of infidelity and black feminism, and harnessing the power of forgiveness and self-love. Key track: ‘Formation’.

Adele’s ’21’ set the standard for quality music with this album. Her powerhouse vocals and raging ballads make this a one-of-a-kind album. Key track: ‘Rolling in the Deep’.

Frank Ocean’s ‘Channel ORANGE’ was nothing like the R&B world has seen before, as the album is a testimony of vulnerability that no artist had touched before Frank. Key track: ‘Bad Religion’.

David Bowie’s ‘Blackstar’, a work of self-reflection and jazz-rock, became his own eulogy when Bowie passed two days after his release. Key track: ‘Blackstar’.

‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ by Kanye West threw away all norms of typical rap and made it work, making it one of the most ambiguous mainstream rap albums of the decade. Key track: ‘Runaway’.

Kacey Musgraves’ ‘Golden Hour’ transcended pop and country, making it one of the most renown country albums of the decade. Key track: ‘Space Cowboy’.

‘AM’ by Arctic Monkeys merged rock and roll and indie, and became an avenue for a new demographic interested in indie. Key track: ‘Do I Wanna Know?’

Lady Gaga’s ‘The Fame Monster’ is filled with bops, with jarring rhythms and catchy choruses. Key track: ‘Paparazzi’.

Katy Perry became a household name with the creation of ‘Teenage Dream’, further proving that she’s a force to be reckoned with. Key track: Part of Me.