Today the Library of Congress announced the 25 recordings entering the National Recording Registry for 2018. JAY-Z‘s 2001 album The Blueprint is the most modern recording to make the cut in this year’s entries.
Every year the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry picks 25 recordings that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” and are at least 10 years old. Of The Blueprint, the Registry said, “Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z’s 2001 album … solidified his reputation as one of the greatest rappers in music.”
This year, alongside The Blueprint, the Library of Congress added Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam,” Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Cyndi Lauper’s debut album She’s So Unusual, the original 1968 cast recording of the Broadway musical “Hair,” and President Robert F. Kennedy’s speech on the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the National Recording Registry, amongst many other historically and culturally important recordings.
This comes one week after learning Hov and Beyoncé will be taking home GLAAD’s Vanguard Award for promoting LGBTQ acceptance.
