20 artists who absolutely crushed their self-titled albums

Although the title is technically more than just her name, it's Lauryn Hill's only album, and it made quite an impact on the industry. In '99, Hill won the Grammy for Album of the Year, and no other Black woman has won the award since.

Even though Beyoncé was four studio albums deep before she released her self-titled project, it didn't stop fans and the culture from going berserk. The project included the wildly popular tracks "Drunk In Love" and "Partition," both of which appeared within the Top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Janet knocked her self-titled album out of the park. It's packed with 28 songs and runs for a total of 75 minutes, and quite frankly, I couldn't get enough of it. She's a Jackson, after all. Excellence runs through their veins.

Any album that features the No.1 single "Genie in a Bottle" is a guaranteed hit, right? And if that wasn't enough, Christina Aguilera snagged two other chart-toppers with "What a Girl Wants" and "Come On Over."

Aaliyah's self-titled album featured her best song, "Rock The Boat." That alone would make it her best, right?

Chris Brown's debut album of the same name featured the tracks "Run It" and "Gimme That," both of which placed him on the map. Since its release, Brown's album has been certified triple platinum, selling over three million records in the United States.

Mariah Carey was born to be a star, and her debut self-titled album proves that. Not only did she claim the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, but she also amassed four No. 1 singles.

Eminem had already made a name for himself before releasing his eponymous third studio album, the Marshall Mathers LP. Released in 2000, this project features the international hit "The Real Slim Shady," which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Avril Lavigne's self-titled doesn't house the song we all know and love, "Girlfriend," but it still managed to peak at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.

Man, Whitney Houston was always a force to be reckoned with, and she made sure the world knew that. Her debut album, Whitney Houston, featured many smash hits, including "Saving All My Love For You" and "How Will I Know," both of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Initially released in 1985, the project officially sold over 14 million copies as of January 2023.

Don't worry. We could never forget about Madonna's debut. Although it didn't come crashing onto the scene like some others on this list, Madonna worked its way up to No. 8 on the Billboard 200, garnering praise and acclaim from fans and critics worldwide.

Tacy Chapman's self-titled album is one of the greatest acoustic projects ever made. It's simplistic, but the writing and vocals make it so complex. Of course, it features the No. 6 hit "Fast Car," which has now been covered by many artists, including Jonas Blue and Luke Combs.

Lauren Daigle's self-titled third studio album didn't have nearly the amount of commercial success as its predecessor. However, for a Christian project, it still made waves, reaching No. 21 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on the US Christian Albums chart, and receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. 

Destiny's Child's debut album featured the popular track "No, No, No," so, of course, this project was a success.

This trio released some pretty memorable music during their time as a band. You probably remember some of their most popular, including "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)" and "Playas Gon' Play" from their debut album, 3LW.

You'll never catch me sleeping on Ashanti. Ever. Not only did her self-titled album sell over 500,000 copies in its first week, it also featured the R&B No. 1 hit "Foolish," which claimed the top spot for 10 weeks straight.

Diana's eleventh studio project became the singer's best-selling album of her career. It featured the hits "My Old Piano," the LGBTQ+ anthem "I'm Coming Out," and the No. 1 single "Upside Down." Overall, the project reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and has sold over one million records to date. 

Run-DMC's self-titled album was groundbreaking. After all, it was the first rap album ever to be certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 copies.

Although Led Zeppelin had several self-titled albums, their debut is the one that does it for us.

Harry Styles blew us away with his second album, Fine Line, and his third, Harry's House, which also won the Grammy for Album of the Year. But we can't forget about his debut, Harry Styles, which featured several different sounds, including elements of rock and pop. The project's lead single, "Sign of the Time," reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has sold over five million copies in the US.