A seminal album from the pioneers of alternative hip-hop, the definitive album from rap's Staten-Island-based supergroup and the work that introduced pop superstar Alicia Keys to the world, while earning her five Grammys, are among the 25 recordings to be inducted this year into the National Recording Registry.
Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, announced Wednesday that a Tribe Called Quest’s 1991 sophomore LP "The Low End Theory," the Wu-Tang Clan’s 1993 studio debut "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), and Keys’ 2001 debut "Songs in A Minor" were chosen to be preserved for their historical importance.
“The National Recording Registry reflects the diverse music and voices that have shaped our nation’s history and culture through recorded sound,” Hayden said. “The national library is proud to help preserve these recordings, and we welcome the public’s input. We received about 1,000 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry.”
Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Librarian of Congress, with advice from the National Recording Preservation Board, selects 25 titles each year that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and are at least 10 years old.
There were several other notable albums joining those of the hip-hop and R&B legends on the list, including the Cuban musical ensemble's Buena Vista Social Club's self-titled debut, Bonnie Raitt’s Grammy-winning “Nick of Time," and Linda Ronstadt’s “Canciones de Mi Padre,” a musical tribute to her Mexican-American roots.
Other non-musical recordings on the list include the complete presidential speeches of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, an interview with comedian Robin Williams, WSB-Atlanta's coverage of Hank Aaron's 715th home run and radio accounts of the 9/11 attacks.
Find the entire list of this year's selections below:
National Recording Registry, 2022 Selections
(chronological order)
“Harlem Strut” — James P. Johnson (1921)
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Complete Presidential Speeches (1933-1945)
“Walking the Floor Over You” — Ernest Tubb (1941) (single)
“On a Note of Triumph” (May 8, 1945)
“Jesus Gave Me Water” — The Soul Stirrers (1950) (single)
“Ellington at Newport” — Duke Ellington (1956) (album)
“We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite” — Max Roach (1960) (album)
“The Christmas Song” — Nat King Cole (1961) (single)
“Tonight’s the Night” — The Shirelles (1961) (album)
“Moon River” — Andy Williams (1962) (single)
“In C” — Terry Riley (1968) (album)
“It’s a Small World” — The Disneyland Boys Choir (1964) (single)
“Reach Out, I’ll Be There” — The Four Tops (1966) (single)
Hank Aaron’s 715th Career Home Run (April 8, 1974)
“Bohemian Rhapsody” — Queen (1975) (single)
“Don’t Stop Believin’” — Journey (1981) (single)
“Canciones de Mi Padre” — Linda Ronstadt (1987) (album)
“Nick of Time” — Bonnie Raitt (1989) (album)
“The Low End Theory” — A Tribe Called Quest (1991) (album)
“Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” — Wu-Tang Clan (1993) (album)
“Buena Vista Social Club” (1997) (album)
“Livin’ La Vida Loca” — Ricky Martin (1999) (single)
“Songs in A Minor” — Alicia Keys (2001) (album)
WNYC broadcasts for the day of 9/11 (Sept. 11, 2001)
“WTF with Marc Maron” (Guest: Robin Williams) (April 26, 2010)
The Digital Media Association, a member of the National Recording Preservation Board, has compiled a list of some streaming services with National Recording Registry playlists here: dima.org/national-recording-registry-2022-inductees/.
Country music awards shows are not usually the place to get the latest and greatest news on R&B icons, but that was the case at Monday night's 2022 CMT Music Awards.
Monica, one of the medium's greatest talents, as well as the first artist to top the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart over the span of three consecutive decades (1990s, 2000s, and 2010s), made her country music debut as well as confirmed her upcoming entry into the genre, "Open Roads."
Arriving on the red carpet at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium, the star made her intentions clear as she was interviewed.
"I'm here working on my country album "Open Roads," executive produced by [renowned country singer] Brandi Carlile, which is unbelievably amazing," she said. "So these things have just been aligning themselves. God's been good to me."
While it is no secret that the singer had ambitions of making a country album, the statement by the artist made it clear that it may be coming sooner than thought after she first announced the project in 2021.
“I grew up loving country music and my stepfather, who raised me, is a Methodist minister, but he also drove buses and he would take us to Nashville, Gatlinburg and Dollywood in Tennessee,” she told Billboard at the time of her reasons for pursuing the project.
“I became a really big fan of Dolly Parton, at about 8 or 9 years old. That was my real introduction to country music. Shortly after, it was Kenny Rogers. I started listening to the depth of the songs and the fact that they were unafraid to say whatever it was they felt. I felt like this was a great time for me to really step into an area that I’ve always admired and loved. We’re just getting started, but I have so enjoyed it and been welcomed with open arms.”
Later that night, the audience got its first taste of Monica's take on country. Her collaborative ballad, "Pray," with country music stars Jimmie Allen and Little Big Town, seemed to be well received.
The song, a call for prayer, faith, and a return to religion for healing during the world's current state of upheaval, showcased Monica's resonant tenor that meshed well with both the arrangement and the voices of Allen and Little Big Town.
The football world is still reeling over the death of former Ohio State star and NFL first-round draft pick Dwayne Haskins, Saturday morning.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Haskins, 24, was trying to cross Interstate 595's westbound lanes, near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Broward County when he was struck by a dump truck around 6:30 a.m.
The patrol said in a news release the qaurterback, who was in South Florida working out with some Steelers teammates, had been "walking on (the highway) for unknown reasons."
No further details were available at the time, but a traffic homicide investigation is open.
Reaction to the death was quick. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wrote on Instagram that he was "devastated and at a loss for words" following the death.
"He quickly became part of our Steelers family upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one of our hardest workers, both on the field and in our community," the post read. "Dwayne was a great teammate, but even more so a tremendous friend to so many. I am truly heartbroken.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kalabrya, and his entire family during this difficult time."
Haskins, who was drafted No. 15 in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders and played two seasons for them, signed a one-year restricted free agent tender in March with the Steelers and was expected to compete for the starting job in 2022.
Before that he played collegiately at Ohio State where he finished third in the 2018 Heisman Trophy race.
Monday, Ohio State coach Ryan Day addressed the tragic death after practice in a press conference.
He said Ohio State players were hurting over the tragic loss and spoke of his close relationship with Haskins.
“When you think about Dwayne, you think about the compassion that he had,” Day said. “Certainly for all of his teammates and his friends, but he always took time after practice to be around family members, kids. He was like a big brother."
Day added that Haskins personally meant a lot to his family because of the player's close relationship with his son R. J.
"He meant a lot to this program. He is going to be missed," Day said. "We are all hurting… It makes you hug your loved ones a little bit more and you just understand how fragile life is.”
