As interesting as it is to discuss the business of music or the numbers behind an artist's rise, the indelible power of music is its ability to touch people's souls and change their lives. We all have music that defines a certain period or connects with us on a deeper level, and we wanted to find out which albums are especially important to some of our favorite musicians, athletes, designers, and personalities from across the creative industries. So we asked them: What is one album that changed your life?
We got answers from music legends like Quincy Jones and Damian Marley and new stars like Bryson Tiller and Jorja Smith over email, phone, and in-person. They are presented in alphabetical order below.
We also asked some of the personalities and performers at ComplexCon 2017 the same question. From NFL player Victor Cruz and designer Jerry Lorenzo to rappers like Wale and Ski Mask The Slump God, their answers are in this video.