‘20 years of body rocking, head nodding & jazz loving’

I’d like to take you two decades back in time, to the year 1989. The year Hip Hop took its first steps towards the Golden Era. This is Hip Hop from 1989-2009 according to The Find. From classics to slept-on albums and from recommendations to revolutionary releases.

Advice: use our music player (left of the screen) to play some good tunes while reading this article!

1989: Paul’s Boutique
’89 is the year of the most genuis work of MCA, Mike D and King Adrock; better known as the Beastie Boys. Lots of people in my environment name Licensed to Ill, Hello Nasty and Ill Communication if we talk about the NYC Crew. But let’s not forget Paul’s Boutique; in my opinion the best album of the legendary crew.
Oh, and De La’s 3 Feet High and Rising needs a honourable mention.

1990: ‘My life got flipped-turned upside down’
We just have to mention the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Maybe not important for Hip Hop in general, but it is instant classic. If you never saw this show (doesn’t matter how old you are), then you really need to get educated. Props to Shad for his video of ‘The Old Prince Still Lives At Home’;  please search it on youtube and you’ll understand why I mention it.

1991: Breakin’ Atoms with the Low End Theory
Preview: A Tribe Called Quest – Excursions (Feat. The Last Poets)
The year of Breakin’ Atoms and The Low End Theory. I think I don’t have to tell you who made the albums. Yes, indeed, Main Source and A Tribe Called Quest. Two classic albums that I , after 18 years, still bump a lot.

1992: Brand New & Heavy
17 years after date I am still waiting on a second volume. But we still have to do it with Volume 1 of Heavy Rhyme Experience by the Brand New Heavies. A beautiful crossover between Funk and Hip Hop. The Brand New Heavies hooked up with artists like Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, The Pharcyde, Main Source and Gangstarr, which results in another classic album.

1993: Jazz (They’ve got)
Thanks Guru! That’s all I have to say. I don’t know where we, as Jazz Hop-fans, would be without his Jazzmatazz. In my opinion, Jazz and Hip Hop is the best musical combination ever, so I don’t have to explain why Guru’s Jazzmatazz is a classic concept.

1994: The roof is on fire
Preview: Justice System – Dedication To Bambaataa
Way to obvious to name Illmatic. Yeah, it’s a classic, but I don’t have to tell you that. So let’s talk about a lesser known album; Rooftop Soundcheck by Justice System. Justice System is a live-band with two MC’s that makes Funk/Jazz-orientated music. Rooftop Soundcheck is the first album ever that only has live music and live instruments; no loops, no samples, no drum machines; just good music. I agree with Prince Ali.. I miss 1994..

1995: The center of attention
Another great album, but still kind of slept on at the same time. I.N.I. is a group consisting of Grap Luva (Pete Rock’s little brother), Rob-O and producer Marco Polo. Pete Rock was also involved in this project, as the producer for this album. Personally I slept on this album, but after a lot of recommendations I decided to check it out and I don’t regret! Their album Center Of Attention is the most bootlegged album ever and it’s never released officially. Maybe that’s the reason why lots of people look over it.

1996: Blah, Blah, Blah…
I discussed it with someone; slept on or not? I don’t know, but it’s pretty great! Old school Hip Hop to nod your head to. Personally, I prefer jazzy and laidback stuff, but once in a while I can’t get enough of bangers like this. With highlights as Danger (part 1 ánd part 2, but I prefer part 2), Good Cop Bad Cop and, Pain I feel and Don’t Let This Rap Shit Fool You make this a very solid album. Too bad they only released one album; a new 2009 album would definitely enlight the scene when it comes to ‘hard hip hop’.

1997: Oversaw overcast
Ant and Slug. A duo now better known as Atmosphere. They brought us the top 10-album When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold, but way back Atmosphere was a group consisting of three members: Slug, Spawn and Ant. Back then it was darker with less lyrics about girls and love. ‘Raw’ can be used to describe their album Overcast. Definitely a recommendation – an album a lot of people forget about if they talk about Atmosphere.

1998: Skilled in the field
Preview: The Sound Providers – Never Judge (ft. Soulo)
Another revolution for the Jazz-Hip Hop crossover. The Sound Providers are producers J. Skills, Soulo and lyricist Profile (who left the group before they got signed). You might know Profile of a project called The Upstarts, who released the album The Know How in 2007. Back to the subject; the SP never released a lot of albums, but all their material is timeless and classic in my eyes. The Field, Dope Transmission, Yes Y’all, Who Am I? and Autumn Breeze all belong to the collection of their best tracks.

1999: Poets Lounge
And now I want to talk about an amazing album that not a lot of people know about. The album I own is Jazz Poets Society – Poets Lounge: The Show. It’s a recording of a live-show of them, which is great. I mean, won’t get any better than a Jazz-meets-Hip Hop live-show performed by a few MC’s and a live-band. You might know their single Aboriginals, but I doubt the fact that many readers will know this album – or this group. Check it out, it’s definitely worth it. Similiar to Arrested Development, Othello & The Hipknotics, Ill Again and Jazz Liberatorz.

2000: Back to the future
The new millenium was the perfect time for Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Dan The Automator and Kid Koala to release an album of the project Deltron 3030. A futuristic album that is way ahead of its time, no doubt about that. It also fits the theme of this magazine perfectly – timeless. Now we have to wait for Deltron’s Event II, which is announced to drop somewhere in the near future.

2001: Typical cats
I’d like to recommend you an album: The self-titled release of Typical Cats. It’s not a classic or something, but definitely an album you have to hear. When I heard the track Thin Red Line, I immediately searched for the album and found this 2001-release. Unfortunately the album isn’t thát jazzy overall, but I like. The crew from Chicago brings you honest hip hop with dope rhymes and solid productions with Qwel as captain on the ship. For the gamers among us: you might know their song Any Day from the soundtrack of Tony Hawk’s Project 8.

2002: Beat Camp Tactics
We talked a lot about the fusion of Hip Hop and Jazz, but let’s not forget the stunning combination of Funk and Hip Hop. MacGregor released their album Beat Camp Tactics in 2002, which is the perfect combination of Funk and Hip Hop to me. Wax on the mic, with a 5-headed band behind him. With groups as The Roots and Brand New Heavies on top if it comes to live-played Hip Hop, MacGregor still succeeded in creating a solid album. Who think Hip Hop is strictly MC’ing armed with a turntable is wrong; you can’t hate on the combination of a band and a MC. MacGregor proves that.

2003: Cradle 2 Cradle
This is the year the French Turntablism-team started their Award Tour. They won the DMC World Team Championship and secured the title the three years right after that. Pfel, Atom, Greem and 20syl (last two are also known as members of Hocus Pocus) introduced them to the world and they’re moving uphill since then. They haven’t released an official album, but according to their Myspace it will drop in 2010. Until that time you can enjoy their infamous video’s on Youtube, their side-projects Drum Brothers, Beat Torrent and Hocus Pocus or keep your eyes open for some bootlegs that are flying around on the internet.

2004: Connected
Connected proves the fact that you don’t need studio-time together to create a solid album. Rapper Phonte (Little Brother) and Dutch producer Nicolay hooked up on the net to make an album together – without even meeting eachother! Critics were very positive about this project and so are the fans: you never hear a lot of negative responds towards this album. Definitely a great collaboration that’s worth a mention in 20 years of Hip Hop according to The Find – especially because we’re talking about timeless music. You can read a review of their sophomore album Leave It All Behind in Issue Two of our magazine.

2005: The Find
Preview: Ohmega Watts – That Sound (Quantic Soul Orchestra Version)
2005 is the year of Ohmega Watts’ solo-effort The Find. The album of Ohmega Watts (member of Lightheaded) defines what Hip Hop should be in our eyes. Cuts and breaks, samples, funk- jazz- and soul-orientated, a positive vibe, honest lyrics and overall amazing productions. Classic? Maybe a little bit extreme to put it in the same spot as other classics from the Golden Era, but I dare to say that it’s a classic to me. I love these post-2000 albums that bring you back to the Nineties. And yes, this album was a source of inspiration for the title of our magazine.

2006: Common Market
For those of us who couldn’t wait for the new Blue Scholars album, it was a big surprise to see a new project of producer Sabzi. Common Market is him on the productions and RA Scion on vocals. RA Scion was a newcomer for me, but definitely a talented MC. It’s almost impossible to like Blue Scholars and to dislike Common Market, because both ‘groups’ share the same vibe. The self-titled album is great; from the opening Re-Fresh, to Connect For, Every Last One and G’Dang Diggy; the album counts way more bangers than mediocre tracks. Lots of fans discuss about who’s better – Geologic or RA Scion. I’m not gonna answer that questions, because it’s simpy to hard to pick one of them. Read the interview with producer Sabzi for more information!

2007 & 2008: Japan
The land of the rising sun definitely rose to the top if it comes to Jazzy Hip Hop. It’s ridiculous how much great releases dropped those two years; From jazz-orientated Hip Hop to jazzy instrumentals à la ‘Godfather Nujabes’. Don’t believe me? Write this list down on a piece of paper and go to your local recordstore: Shin-Ski, DJ Fuyima, Uyama Hiroto, Shingo Suzuki, Tha Connection, Michita, DJ Igacorosas, Kenmochi Hidefumi, Volta Masters and the list goes on and on. Incredible, that’s all I have to say.

2009: Coming up…
Preview: Kyteman – Sorry (Live @ Tivoli)
No doubt that  2009 will shine. Kyteman, the new Kero One, new Lightheaded, Pax & Pry, Crown City Rockers, maybe even The Pharcyde reunion-album and of course the new Brother Ali. And that’s just a very small selection of what 2009 has to offer. The Find Magazine will keep you posted about the best releases, most genuis artists and music you should check out, even if it’s unknown to the big audience.

Words by: Danny