The Roots’ and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon drummer is joining Universal Music Enterprises vice president of A&R and Grammy winning reissues producer Harry Weinger to co-teach a course titled ‘Classic Albums’ at the Clive Davis Institue for Recorded Music at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts this coming Spring semester.
The class is worth 2 credits and focuses on the concept of what it means for something to be called classic or seminal. It will also take a close look at the music, lyrics, production, business aspects, such as promotion and marketing that informed the release and reception of the album, and try to provide a context as to why these albums have stood the test of time.
The class is expected to look at albums by Sly & The Family Stone (Stand!, There’s A Riot Goin’ On), Aretha Franklin (Lady Soul), Led Zeppelin (IV), Prince (Dirty Mind), Michael Jackson (Off The Wall), and the Beastie Boys (Paul’s Boutique), among others.