90 Years of The Apollo

Across the now 90 years that the legendary Apollo Theater has been open in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood, the intimate, 1,500-capacity venue has played host to some of the biggest talents and names in show business—particularly the artists that shaped and spoke to Black America. In recent years, The Apollo has been the place where acts like Drake, Lauryn Hill and even the ever-elusive D’Angelo held cred-bolstering, FOMO-inducing sets that doubled as victory laps for each of their long and fruit careers. Before them came heavyweights from just about every era since the jazz age, acts like The Notorious B.I.G. and Wu-Tang Clan, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, Stevie Wonder and Luther Vandross, and The Temptations, James Brown and Ray Charles. Those are but a few of the many, many historic acts we’re celebrating with this playlist, a collection of legends of who’ve both contributed to and gained from their time onstage at the Apollo.