Day 0697 - Low End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest "The Low End Theory" (1991)

This album would be interesting solely for the facts that it launched the solo career of Busta Rhymes, and that it featured bass from the legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter (the list of who he DIDN'T play with is probably shorter than the list of those he did), but beyond all of that, the album is also good.

Carter's presence reflects the album's heavy jazz influence.  In the first track they drop the couplet:
"You could find the Abstract listening to hip hop
My pops used to say, it reminded him of be-bop".

The  band were plagued by health issues, legal issues, one member leaving and some minor infighting between the remaining members, but still managed to produce a strong hip hop album.

The album's title was phrased to refer to both bass frequencies, and the way that many African Americans were treated in the US. 

Day 0682 - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

A Tribe Called Quest "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" (1990)

While I found the album sonically interesting, and the MCs created a sense of fun and humour, this one didn't really hold my interest much as the other rap albums in this section of the list did.

Having said that, It seems to be slowly slipping under my skin after a few listens.  I can certainly hear the influence on interesting hip hop artists such as Jurassic 5, Outkast and others... Maybe it's just a grow-er, not a show-er.

Day 0662 - Done by the Forces of Nature

The Jungle Brothers "Done by the Forces of Nature" (1989)

 
The Brothers beefed up their classic rap sound with elements of jazz, world music, house, funk and Afrobeat.  According to the book, the group were accused of selling out, but history appears to have vindicated the them, with the album being pegged quite high on several ranked lists, not to mention retrospective reviews generally lauding the album.