1995 was a seminal year in the evolution of hip-hop.
Midway through the genre's most vital decade, it marks the decline of the golden age and the beginning of something new, something rather more modern.
Clash is toasting some of the year's most potent albums, re-appraising material from Raekwon, Group Home, Big L, GZA and more.
DJ Yoda wants in on the act. A renowned hip-hop head, the selector decided to sing the praises of Grand Puba's '2000'.
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1995 was the autumn of hip-hop's golden era, and as such there are a number of widely celebrated albums by the likes of Raekwon, Outkast and The Pharcyde. As much as I love those, Grand Puba's '2000' retains a freshness for me, perhaps because it isn't lauded as automatically.
Also, Puba has continually proved himself as a timeless MC. From early days with Masters of Ceremony, through to his best known period of fronting Brand Nubian, and then the myriad of solo albums, freestyles and features since – Puba has never once fallen off. His style feels "hip-hop" through-and-through, in a way that often can't be said for his contemporaries.
'2000', although awkwardly-titled for a rap album in 1995, seemed to best showcase the core of Puba though. Silky smooth R&B backdrops combine perfectly with the NYC hip-hop sound of the time – this was the era of Ron G blend tapes, and the true beginnings of the commercial fusion of hip-hop and R&B. Puba's collaborations with Mary J Blige set the blueprint for this kind of style. The juxtaposition of tough drums and bass with smooth soul samples would also certainly have influenced the likes of Kanye, before he had even started rapping.
Lead single 'I Like It' was the sound of Hot 97 in the summer of '95, and so perfectly encapsulates that era of Timberlands, blunts and jeeps, without being too underground or moody. 'Playin' The Game' samples Barry White – elsewhere the album sample DeBarge, The Stylistics and Gil Scott Heron – the sound is very melodic for hip-hop at the time, and perfect for Grand Puba's voice.
Interesting to note that Puba is just as good 20 years later – I've literally just completed a remix for him and Chubb Rock, where he sounds as on-point as ever – a rarity in the rap world.
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Catch DJ Yoda playing a golden age hip-hop set at Leeds' Mint Festival (September 19th – 20th) – details.
