Dr. Dre’s 1992 solo debut The Chronic is widely considered as one of the five best rap albums ever recorded – and now, it’s set to be archived by the Library of Congress.
The Chronic, along with Whitney Houston’s rendition of “I’ll Always Love You,” are among the 25 recordings that the National Recording Registry deemed “worthy of preservation because of their cultural, historical and aesthetic importance to the nation’s recorded sound heritage,” according to a press release with the announcement.
“The National Recording Registry is the evolving playlist of the American soundscape. It reflects moments in history captured through the voices and sounds of the time,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “We received over 800 nominations this year for culturally, historically or aesthetically significant recordings to add to the registry. As genres and formats continue to expand, the Library of Congress is committed to working with our many partners to preserve the sounds that have touched our hearts and shaped our culture.”
Other inductees this year include the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.,” Tina Turner’s 1984 album Private Dancer, and Selena’s 1990 album Ven Conmigo.