I was 13 in 1989, so the perfect age for De La Soul and Public Enemy – but, aside from a brief flirtation with Dr Dre in the early 00s, drifted away from hip hop, and convinced myself that it was often the classic soul being sampled that I really liked. (Case in point: give me ‘Footsteps’ by the Isleys over ‘It Was a Good Day’ any day.) Plus, a lot of what is seen as the best in the genre today leaves me cold. I tried with Kendrick Lamar, really, but Damn and To Pimp a Butterfly did nothing for me.
Then two things happened. First, my 12-year-old son has discovered a taste for classic hip hop, and keeps rushing into my room with his phone to play me tracks he’s discovered by the likes of Slick Rick and MF DOOM. I’m liking what I’m hearing, particularly by the latter.
Secondly, in the Q 90s review threads, I keep seeing the rap albums of those years mentioned, and it’s prompting me to check them out. I’m really enjoying Illmatic and 36 Chambers so far… and Knee Deep in the Beats by London Funk Allstars (posted by Bingo Little I » Continue Reading.