It’s that time of year again and we’re feeling a little nostalgic.
The holiday season can be as stressful, as it is fun, and even if you’re not all wrapped up in the spirit of the holidays, a good playlist can help get you there. Hip-Hop Wired has compiled 12 Essential Holiday Albums in Hip-Hop and R&B.
Hit the gallery for more.
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The Wiz Live! soundtrack is now available for download on iTunes, so we can always feel at home for the holidays! Relive the magic of the hit musical with NBC’s re-airing of The Wiz Live! on December 19th 8/7c. And with X1 from XFINITY®, you can check out The Wiz Live! with XFINITY On Demand™.
A La Face Family Christmas
The artists of La Face Records performed renditions of holiday tracks on the 1993 release A La Face Family Christmas. TLC’s “Sleigh Bells,” Usher‘s take on “This Christmas,” or Outkast’s “Player’s Ball” (yes, that made the album), La Face covers all the bases.
Christmas Interpretations
Boyz II Men’s released their Christmas Interpretations in 1993. Co-produced by Brian McKnight, the 10-track album included the Boyz from Philly’s memorable interpretation of “Let It Snow.”
A Mary J. Blige Christmas
Mary J. Blige’s A Mary J Blige Christmas came out a couple of years ago, but nobody does Christmas like the Queen of Hip Hop Soul. Music veteran David Foster produced the album.
8 Days of Christmas
Destiny’s Child’s 8 Days of Christmas was the millennial R&B revamp on classic Christmas records, mixed with original tracks. The album dropped in 2001.
Christmas on Death Row
Christmas goes to Death Row with the collective’s 1996 holiday compilation album with features from Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, Nate Dogg, and Michel’le.
Cee Lo’s Magic Moment
Cee Lo’s Magic Moment is a trip through the eccentric mind of Cee Lo Green. The 2012 album covers staples like “Silent Night” and even Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.”
A Dipset Xmas
The Diplomats may not come to mind when you think of holiday cheer, but the fusion is what makes 2006’s A Dipset Xmas so appealing. Plus, Jim Jones remixes “We Fly High” for the holidays. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Merry Christmas from Motown
Don’t sleep on the icons! Merry Christmas from Motown has some of the groundbreaking artists on the label’s roster. With Smokey Robinson, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, and The Temptations among the tracklist, Merry Christmas from Motown is the gift that keeps on giving.
Merry Christmas
When it comes to the holidays, Mariah Carey has Christmas on lock. A full 21 years after Merry Christmas debuted it remains the top selling Christmas album in history.
Christmas Rap
Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollas” leads off this timeless compilation for the hip hop heads. Christmas Rap also features Dana Dane, Spyder D, and the Surf MCs. You need this in your collection.
Jackson 5 Christmas Album
If you’re not familiar with this gem from Michael Jackson and his brothers—the last song is “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”—we suggest you make that happen.
