The Jungle Brothers’ debut LP, Straight Out The Jungle, paired upbeat jazz samples with positive Afrocentricity. This then-novel vision kickstarted jazz rap and marked the beginning of the Native Tongues collective, a loose group of likeminded artists whose vision would leave an indelible mark on ‘90s alternative hip hop.
Read MoreStraight Outta Compton: the definitive gangsta rap album. It made legends out of Eazy, Cube and Dre, setting the stage for a five-year period of commercial dominance that established the West Coast as a hip hop powerhouse. In this instalment of Behind…, we’re diving into the samples that help keep the record as exciting and incendiary as it was 30 years ago.
Read MoreThe second and final instalment of our piece on Straight Outta Compton, we look at the samples in tracks “Express Yourself” through “Something 2 Dance 2.”
Read MoreFollow The Leader - Eric B. & Rakim’s sophomore album - was released on July 25, 1988. The album, which boasts some of Rakim’s most commanding verses, is steeped in old school sensibilities that would soon give way to the more socio-political bent of ‘90s hip hop. In this instalment of Behind…, we’re looking at a classic from one of hip hop’s most formidable and influential duos.
Read MoreThough emcees such as Roxanne Shanté and Antoinette had been releasing standalone singles for some time, MC Lyte’s 1988 debut, Lyte As A Rock, was hip hop’s first solo female LP. A critical and commercial success, it paved the way for female emcees throughout the ‘90s and beyond. In this edition of Behind…, we break down the impressive and oft-hilarious trailblazer.
Read MoreOne of the most important albums of all time, Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, is turning thirty. In celebration of hip hop’s most revered LP, we’re taking a look at the samples that underpin PE’s magnum opus.
Read MoreIn this, the second part of our breakdown of Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, we cover from "Night of the Living Baseheads" to "Party For Your Right To Fight."
Big Daddy Kane’s 1988 debut, Long Live The Kane, remains an important milestone in hip hop. Kane’s lyrical dexterity and fast-paced delivery would influence artists such as Nas and RZA, helping shape the ever-evolving art of hip hop. In honour of the 30th anniversary, we’re breaking down the samples throughout the classic debut!
Read MoreTake Me To Your Leader, the sole album by Daniel Dumile's King Geedorah, turns 15 today. We’re looking back at the samples that help make it such a standout album in Dumile's already-substantial canon.
Read MoreIn this instalment of the ‘Behind…’ series, we tackle Quasimoto's debut LP, The Unseen. Let’s delve into the samples that helped make the 2000 record such an essential slice of underground hip hop.
Read MoreThe second instalment in our exhaustive breakdown of Quasimoto’s The Unseen. In this piece, we cover the samples from track nine, “Real Eyes” to track sixteen, “Green Power.”
Read MoreThe third instalment of our sample-chronicling journey through The Unseen, Quasimoto’s landmark underground debut, finds us exploring tracks from "Jazz Cats Pt. 1" to album closer "Discipline 99 Pt. 1."
Read MoreJoey Badass was yet to graduate when he released 1999, his career-launching debut mixtape. Now, six years on, the tape that launched his career is finally on Spotify. We take a look at the samples underpinning Joey’s debut, exploring production from DOOM, Lord Finesse, Knxwledge and many more.
Read MoreBoogie Down Productions’ second album, By All Means Necessary, is 30 years old. The classic 1988 LP helped shape politically-conscious hip hop, spurred by the untimely death of a founding member of the group. In this piece, we look back at the seminal album and the samples that underpinned it.
Read MoreDaytona, Pusha T’s third solo album, is finally here. After three years of waiting, and a handful of false starts, the seven-track, Kanye produced record marks the beginning of Yeezy season. In this instalment of our Behind… series, we look into the samples underpinning Pusha’s new effort.
Read MoreJeru The Damaja’s The Sun Rises In The East is a minor East Coast classic. Though obscured by a swathe of impressive East Coast efforts, Jeru’s debut finds him at his creative zenith alongside producer DJ Premier. In celebration of its 24th anniversary, we’ve broken down the samples within.
Read MorePiñata, a collaboration between Madlib and gangsta rapper Freddie Gibbs, is yet another crowning achievement for the versatile producer. In dissecting the samples within, we explore the cultural connections fostered by hip hop culture.
Read MoreIn the second part of this piece, we look at all the samples that make up Madvillain's sole LP, identifying and contextualising the pop culture within.
Read MoreAs one of hip hop's most enduring classics, Madvillainy is a cultural touchstone. We look at all the samples that make up the landmark 2004 record, identifying and contextualising the pop culture within.
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