Mike and I have known each other for almost half our lives. We met in the early 2000s through the internet. Now, that might not sound like a big deal in 2026, but back in the day, it wasn’t that casual to consider someone you’d never met in person to be a friend.
Mike and I have had thousands of conversations about music from artists to trends to history, and everything else in between. So he may not even remember this conversation I’m about to tell.
When Alicia Keys’ “Songs In A Minor” dropped, Alicia the artist was like no one I’d ever seen. She was young and attractive and straddled the line between a street smart and classy look. It was a crossover of styles. She seemed like the ultimate home girl.
I remember constantly telling Mike about her like you’d talk about a crush. I may have been crushing on Alicia just a little bit, but her entire being as an artist was something I really dug. I loved the album, but I loved who I perceived Alicia the artist to be even more.
She wasn’t really the same home girl for the rest of her career, but for that time and place, she was something like an R&B unicorn.
Mike put together our Top 5 favorite Alicia Keys songs and mixed in others that would create a great playlist. Enjoy.
Tracklist (20 tracks)
Girlfriend — Alicia Keys
You Don’t Know My Name — Alicia Keys
No One — Alicia Keys
If I Was Your Woman / Walk On By — Alicia Keys
Unbreakable (Unplugged Live at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY - July 2005) — Alicia Keys
Fallin’ — Alicia Keys
Diary — Alicia Keys, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Jermaine Paul
In Common — Alicia Keys
Teenage Love Affair Part II — Alicia Keys, LL Cool J
My Boo — Usher, Alicia Keys
Un-thinkable (I’m Ready) — Alicia Keys
Karma — Alicia Keys
Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart — Alicia Keys
Heartburn — Alicia Keys
A Woman’s Worth — Alicia Keys
Like You’ll Never See Me Again — Alicia Keys
That’s How Strong My Love Is — Alicia Keys
Troubles — Alicia Keys
Lesson Learned — Alicia Keys, John Mayer
If I Ain’t Got You — Alicia Key
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