A lot can change in ten years, just ask The Weeknd. The Canadian crooner was relatively unknown at the start of 2011, and by the time the 2010s concluded, he was one of the biggest pop stars in the world. A decade ago, the recent Super Bowl Halftime Show headliner crept up out of obscurity with the release of House of Balloons, followed by Thursday and Echoes of Silence. As The Weeknd’s trio of breakthrough mixtapes reach milestones this year, the well-received tapes are in good company. Hard-to-forget projects from Tyler, the Creator, Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and others are turning 10 in 2021 also. Check out the oldies, but goodies below.
Slaughterhouse (EP)
Slaughterhouse
Released: February 8
Songs to revisit: “Back on the Scene” featuring Dres; “Put Some Money on It” (Remix) featuring The Lox
Lasers
Lupe Fiasco
Released: March 8
Songs to revisit: “The Show Goes On”; “Words I Never Said” featuring Skylar Grey; “Out of My Head” featuring Trey Songz
House of Balloons
The Weeknd
Released: March 21
Songs to revisit: “The Party & The After Party”; “Wicked Games”; “High for This”
Rolling Papers
Wiz Khalifa
Released: March 29
Songs to revisit: “Black and Yellow”; “Roll Up”; “No Sleep”
Gunz n’ Butta
Cam’ron & Vado
Released: April 19
Songs to revisit: “Speaking In Tungs”; “Hey Muma”
Goblin
Tyler, the Creator
Released: May 10
Songs to revisit: “Yonkers”; “She”
Self Made Vol. 1
Maybach Music Group
Released: May 23
Songs to revisit: “Tupac Back” —Meek Mill featuring Rick Ross; “Ima Boss” —Meek Mill featuring Rick Ross
Hell: The Sequel
Bad Meets Evil (Royce da 5’9 and Eminem)
Released: June 14
Songs to revisit: “Fast Lane”; “Lighters” featuring Bruno Mars
Planet Pit
Pitbull
Released: June 21
Songs to revisit: “Give Me Everything” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer
Finally Famous
Big Sean
Released: June 28
Songs to revisit: “My Last” featuring Chris Brown; “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay” featuring Kanye West and Roscoe Dash; “Dance (Ass)”
Section.80
Kendrick Lamar
Released: July 2
Songs to revisit: “HiiiPoWeR”; “A.D.H.D”
We the Best Forever
DJ Khaled
Released: July 19
Songs to revisit: “I’m On One” featuring Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne; “Welcome to My Hood” featuring Rick Ross, Plies, Lil Wayne and T-Pain
Watch The Throne
Jay-Z & Kanye West
Released: August 8
Songs to revisit: “Otis”; “Niggas in Paris”; “No Church in the Wild” featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Ace Hood
Released: August 9
Songs to revisit: “Hustle Hard”; “Body 2 Body” featuring Chris Brown
Thursday
The Weeknd
Released: August 18
Songs to revisit: “The Zone” featuring Drake; “Rolling Stone”; “The Birds Part 1”
The R.E.D. Album
Game
Released: August 23
Songs to revisit: “Red Nation” featuring Lil Wayne; “Pot of Gold” featuring Chris Brown; “Good Girls Go Bad” featuring Drake
Tha Carter IV
Lil Wayne
Released: August 29
Songs to revisit: “6 Foot 7 Foot”; “John” featuring Rick Ross; “How to Love”; “She Will” featuring Drake
Cole World: The Sideline Story
J. Cole
Released: September 27
Songs to revisit: “Work Out”; “Can’t Get Enough” featuring Trey Songz; “Nobody’s Perfect” featuring Missy Elliot
LIVE.LOVE.A$AP
ASAP Rocky
Released: October 31
Songs to revisit: “Peso”; “Purple Swag”
Ambition
Wale
Released: November 1
Songs to revisit: “That Way” featuring Jeremih and Rick Ross; “Lotus Flower Bomb” featuring Miguel
Blue Slide Park
Mac Miller
Released: November 8
Songs to revisit: “Frick Park Market”; “Party on Fifth Ave”
Fear of God II: Let Us Pray
Pusha T
Released: November 8
Songs to revisit: “Amen” featuring Kanye West & Young Jeezy; “Trouble on My Mind” featuring Tyler, the Creator
Camp
Childish Gambino
Released: November 15
Songs to revisit: “Bonfire”; “Heartbeat”; “Fire Fly”
Take Care
Drake
Released: November 15
Songs to revisit: “Headlines”; “The Motto” featuring Lil Wayne; “Take Care” featuring Rihanna
Mac & Devin Go to High School
Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa
Released: December 13
Songs to revisit: “Young, Wild & Free” featuring Bruno Mars; “Smokin’ On” Featuring Juicy J
The Dreamer/The Believer
Common
Released: December 20
Songs to revisit: “Ghetto Dreams” featuring Nas; “The Dreamer” featuring Maya Angelou
TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition
Young Jeezy
Released: December 20
Songs to revisit: “Leave You Alone” featuring Ne-Yo; “F.A.M.E.” featuring T.I.
Echoes of Silence
The Weeknd
Released: December 21
Songs to revisit: “D.D.”; “Same Old Song” featuring Juicy J
Photo via Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times