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!
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Stylish hip-hop! A roundup of classic Western jazzy hip-hop albums (1–10)
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’.
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.
Ex Girl to the Next GirlGang Starr
Both the group’s name and the members’ looks are tough, but their lyrics—delivered in a calm, broad-minded rap style—and their innovative tracks presented a new form of hip-hop, making Gang Starr a legendary duo.
With MC Guru’s passing in 2010, a reunion became impossible, yet the brilliance of the work they left behind continues to exert a powerful influence on subsequent artists.
Formed in 1985 and disbanded in 2003, they released a total of seven albums, including their final album released in 2019.
Here, I’ll highlight their widely acclaimed third album from 1992, Daily Operation.
DJ Premier—one of hip-hop’s legendary producers—fully showcases his prowess, crafting magical beats that incorporate elements of jazz, funk, soul, and more.
His masterful use of the “chop” technique—finely slicing and reconstructing samples—results in an irresistibly cool and stylish sound.
Of course, Guru’s restrained flow radiates a commanding presence while never becoming overbearing, embodying a distinct aesthetic.
Even compared with contemporaneous jazz rap, their uniqueness stands out; Gang Starr’s brand of hip-hop, clearly set apart from merely “jazzy” hip-hop, is a sonic world everyone should experience at least once.
93 ‘til InfinitySouls Of Mischief
Souls of Mischief are a four-member hip-hop group formed in 1991 in Oakland, California.
They released four albums by 2000, then went quiet for a while; when they finally returned in 2009 with the long-awaited Montezuma’s Revenge, it became a major talking point among hip-hop fans.
Speaking of their signature work, it has to be their major-label debut album, ’93 ’til Infinity, astonishingly released when they were still in high school.
The title track, famous for its innovative method of sampling Billy Cobham’s fusion-jazz piece Heather at 45 RPM, is a bona fide hip-hop classic that continues to be cherished.
Naturally, the youthful raps of teenage MCs, with a hint of innocence, offer a fresh appeal distinct from the hard-edged, orthodox Black hip-hop.
In the early ’90s, West Coast hip-hop was dominated by G-funk and gangsta rap; amid that, this album—packed with the “spirit of the times,” jazzy, groovy, polished yet tinged with an underground feel—wasn’t exactly a massive hit.
But precisely because of that, it has continued to shine without being swayed by trends, leaving a profound influence on the scene that followed.
Slim’s ReturnMadlib
Suppose you’re a hardcore jazz fan and also an active trackmaker.
If someone told you that you could freely use recordings owned by Blue Note—one of the most important labels in jazz history—it wouldn’t be strange if you felt crushed by the pressure rather than overjoyed.
The person who actually seized such an extraordinary opportunity and pulled off the feat of crafting a brilliant album is the California-born producer Madlib.
Already known on the West Coast underground hip-hop scene and a prolific artist who releases cross-genre works under various aliases, Madlib put out “Shades Of Blue” on Blue Note in 2003—a record that’s passed down as a classic in hip-hop history.
Many listeners may have first learned his name through this project.
The artwork alone is wonderful, consciously echoing classic Blue Note designs, but the sound—steeped in respect for the label’s vintage jazz catalog while reimagined with a unique hip-hop-era sensibility—is truly one of a kind.
If you know the original sources, you can enjoy the surprise of hearing how a given track is transformed.
Madlib has long been an artist with deep love for and vast knowledge of jazz; with the celebrated jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis as his uncle and jazz around him from an early age, it’s fair to say he became a natural bridge between jazz and hip-hop.