Soul : Funk : RnB

Lauryn Hill - Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Title: Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn HillYear/Genre: 1998, Funk / Soul / Neo-S...

Title: Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn HillYear/Genre: 1998, Funk / Soul / Neo-SoulMatrix #: 88875021571 Condition: New Cultural Facts: Recorded partly at Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica, merging live soul instrumentation with hip-hop production. Hill wrote and produced the album while pregnant, giving it a deeply personal and spiritual tone. Its release reshaped late ’90s R&B, bridging rap, gospel, and soul into one cohesive statement. Recommended for fans of Beyonc...

Sade – Diamond Life (Staff Pick!)

Title: Sade – Diamond LifeYear/Genre: 1984, SoulMatrix #: FR 39581Condition: Mint Cultural ...

Title: Sade – Diamond LifeYear/Genre: 1984, SoulMatrix #: FR 39581Condition: Mint Cultural Facts: Sade Adu was born in Nigeria and raised in England, blending influences from both regions into her artistic identity.2. Before music, she studied fashion at St. Martin’s School of Art and briefly modeled in London’s early ’80s scene.3. Her avoidance of celebrity culture—rare interviews and limited touring—helped cement her reputation as an enigmatic figure. +2 4/4/25 - EK +2 4/27/25 -...

Frank Ocean – Channel Orange (2xLP Colored Vinyl)

Title: Frank Ocean – Channel OrangeYear/Genre: 2012, R&B / SoulMatrix #: FRANKOCEANLP002Condi...

Title: Frank Ocean – Channel OrangeYear/Genre: 2012, R&B / SoulMatrix #: FRANKOCEANLP002Condition: New Cultural Facts: Released amid Frank’s public coming-out letter, it reframed modern R&B through vulnerability and emotional candor. Tracks like “Pyramids” and “Bad Religion” merge surreal storytelling with commentary on wealth, race, and desire. Won the 2013 Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album, solidifying Frank’s influence across alternative and pop culture. +1 2/14/25 -...

Marvin Gaye – What's Going On (Staff Pick!)

Title: Marvin Gaye – What’s Going OnYear/Genre: 1971, Soul / R&BMatrix #: TS 310Condition: Ne...

Title: Marvin Gaye – What’s Going OnYear/Genre: 1971, Soul / R&BMatrix #: TS 310Condition: New Cultural Facts: Inspired by letters from Gaye’s brother in Vietnam and police brutality in Detroit, it turned personal grief into protest art. Motown executives initially resisted releasing it, fearing its political tone would alienate pop audiences. Gaye produced the album himself—unheard of at Motown—establishing artist autonomy within the label’s system. +3 4/2/25- EK 4/23/25 TC 6/19/...