Stylish hip-hop! A roundup of classic albums in Western jazzy hip-hop
Even among music lovers, there are probably many people who, based on a vague image, feel something like, “Hip-hop—or rather rap—isn’t really my thing…” Of course everyone has their likes and dislikes, but if you change your point of entry, you might be surprised to find yourself getting into it.
With that hope in mind, this article focuses on overseas “jazzy hip-hop”! As the name suggests, it’s hip-hop influenced by jazz—generally called “jazz rap” abroad—a subgenre of hip-hop that blossomed in the 1990s.
Even if you’re not into hip-hop, please enjoy these classic albums with stylish tracks and grooves that are easy to listen to and will get your heart dancing!
Stylish hip-hop! A roundup of classic Western jazzy hip-hop albums (1–10)
Rapp Snitch Knishes (feat. Mr. Fantastik)MF Doom
MF DOOM is a legendary rapper known for his distinctive mask and supervillain persona.
His 2004 release, Mm.
.
Food, is one of his signature works.
It’s a concept album themed around food, and the title is an anagram of MF DOOM.
The lyrics blend humor with social commentary and are packed with wordplay drawn from both street slang and culinary language.
DOOM himself, along with producers like Madlib, crafted an imaginative soundscape.
Its intricate rhyme schemes and innovative production continue to captivate many listeners to this day.
Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore new possibilities in hip-hop.
Luv(sic.) pt3 (feat. Shing02)Nujabes
Nujabes’s second album, Modal Soul, offers a supreme musical experience woven from the fusion of jazz and hip-hop.
Released in 2005, the work fully showcases Nujabes’s delicate musical sensibilities.
Its collaborations with a diverse array of guest artists are also compelling—especially “Luv (Sic.
) Pt3” with Shing02, which is a must-listen.
The unique sound, infused with elements of jazz rap and trip hop, invites listeners into a soothing sonic world.
It’s a record I highly recommend for anyone seeking healing through music or hoping to open the door to something new.
ProceedThe Roots
If we were to name perhaps the world’s most famous live-band hip-hop act, The Roots would likely come to mind.
Formed in 1987 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with drummer Questlove and MC Black Thought at the core, they’re true veterans by now.
Today, The Roots boast high visibility across a wide range of fields—serving even as a house band on American television—making them not only essential to any discussion of hip-hop history, but also renowned for leveraging their live-band strengths to infuse jazz sensibilities into hip-hop.
Their discography grows more musically diverse with each release, but for anyone seeking a jazzy hip-hop experience, I wholeheartedly recommend their second album—and major-label debut—Do You Want More?!!!??!, released in 1995.
The lush grooves crafted by exceptionally skilled musicians and a gifted lyricist may well redefine hip-hop for listeners who don’t typically engage with the genre.
Dancing in the RainBlu & Exile
Blu & Exile are a hip-hop duo from Los Angeles.
Formed in 2007 by rapper Blu and producer Exile, they made a powerful impact on the hip-hop scene with their debut album, Below the Heavens, released on July 17 of the same year via Sound in Color.
Exile’s soulful beats and sampling blend seamlessly with Blu’s profound lyrics, resulting in a work that balances a classic vibe with fresh originality.
Incorporating elements of jazz and soul, their sound is recommended even for those who aren’t usually into hip-hop.
With its comfortable grooves and lyrics that capture the joys and struggles of everyday life, it’s sure to draw you in.
BreakadawnDe La Soul
Alongside A Tribe Called Quest and Jungle Brothers, they form a cornerstone of the Native Tongues collective, and remain an innovative force in New York hip-hop, still active in the 2020s.
Rock fans may know De La Soul from their feature on Gorillaz’s iconic track “Feel Good Inc.
,” the virtual band led by Blur’s Damon Albarn.
While their 1989 debut album 3 Feet High and Rising may be their most famous work, here we’ll focus on their third album, Buhloone Mindstate, released in 1993.
Known as well for featuring Kan Takagi and Scha Dara Parr, this record pushes a more overtly jazz-oriented direction compared to their earlier colorful, catchy sound.
Its cool, restrained vibe can come across as somewhat understated, perhaps even subdued.
That said, the laid-back, playful atmosphere characteristic of De La Soul hasn’t disappeared.
With legendary horn players like Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, and Pee Wee Ellis on board, the album’s authentic jazz and soul flavors only grow cooler the more you listen.
As an aside, the track “Ego Trippin’ (Pt.
2)” is said to have inspired the name of the group EGO-WRAPPIN’.
Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)Digable Planets
If you listen only to the thick four-beat bass line that resounds in the intro of “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat),” it’s pure jazz, isn’t it? Those well-versed in jazz might notice that the track quotes Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers’ “Stretching.” The trio Digable Planets, a mixed-gender group from Brooklyn, New York, gained popularity in the early 1990s by making hip-hop that so explicitly referenced jazz.
Their landmark debut album, Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space), released in 1993 and a classic in the history of jazzy hip-hop, became a sudden hit amid the jazz rap boom of the time.
The aforementioned anthem “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” was also a major success, winning Best Rap Performance at the 36th Grammy Awards.
Centered around samples from jazz and soul, the album invites longtime jazz and soul fans to enjoy the thrill of hunting down the original sources.
Passin’ Me ByThe Pharcyde
The Pharcyde is a four-member hip-hop group formed in Los Angeles in 1989.
Their debut album, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde, was released in November 1992 and brought a fresh breeze to the hip-hop scene.
Praised for its humor-filled lyrics and inventive sound, it was selected for Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
With jazzy, groovy beats crafted by talented producers including J Dilla, it’s an easy listen even for those who don’t usually enjoy hip-hop.
This is a recommended album for anyone looking to broaden their musical horizons or enjoy a stylish vibe.