Gorillaz  by Gorillaz

The eponymous debut album of the Gorillaz was released on March 26, 2001, and became a revolutionary moment for the music industry, establishing the band as the most successful "virtual" group in the world. The project was born from the collaboration of two top creators, Damon Albarn, the frontman of Blur, who took on the musical aspect, moving away from the Britpop sound, and Jamie Hewlett, creator of the comic Tank Girl and responsible for the visual universe and the four virtual characters: 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs, and Noodle.

The sound of the album is an eclectic mix of genres: hip hop, trip hop, punk rock, dub, reggae, and latin, all of which meet and "blend" within the first album of the Gorillaz. The contribution of Dan the Automator was decisive in the use of samples and programming. It includes contributions from artists such as Del the Funky Homosapien, Ibrahim Ferrer (Buena Vista Social Club), and Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads). The cover depicts the four virtual members inside a military vehicle. Hewlett’s style draws inspiration from manga and western comics, using bold colors and a “punk” aesthetic that reflects the multiracial nature of the band.

Despite initial doubts from critics, the album achieved enormous commercial success. It has sold over 7,000,000 worldwide (!) It entered the Guinness Book of Records as the "Most Successful Virtual Band." It reached No3 in the United Kingdom and No14 on the US Billboard 200.