The Timebomb: Back to the Future [PA]

Performer: Guru
Engineer: Oscar Monsalve
Producer: Solar (Compilation)
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: The fourth installment in the stellar JAZZMATAZZ series finds Baldhead Slick in top form, carrying on the tradition of that old jazz-influenced boom-bap that he pioneered in the 1990s as half of Gang Starr. While it does feature appearances from a few jazz legends like Bob James and David Sanborn, JAZZMATAZZ IV is lighter on big-name players than previous installments (which featured participation from the likes of Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, and Isaac Hayes). This time around, the jazzy feel comes primarily from Superproducer Solar's production style, which utilizes a bevy of soul loops and samples resulting in a feel-good hip-hop sound--a little lighter than that of the Guru/Premier combo. Much like JAZZMATAZZ III: STREETSOUL, part four also ventures successfully into R&B and reggae territory with guest vocals from Raheem DeVaughn, Shelley Harland, Vivian Green, Dionne Ferris, Kem, Bobby Valentino, and Damian Marley, while Guru passes the mic to fellow MCs Slum Village, Common, and Blackalicious. Overall, the diverse musical styles and artists involved gel nicely enough that JAZZMATAZZ IV should please fans of hip-hop, nu-jazz, neo-soul, and everything in between. On the heels of the fourth installment in his celebrated JAZZMATAZZ series, Guru presents an eclectic mixtape companion on his own label, 7 Grand Records. Hosted by Doo Wop and produced by Solar, BACK TO THE FUTURE features a handful of remixes of tracks included on JAZZMATAZZ IV, as well as a slew of exclusive cuts. The time travel concept is present throughout as Guru and company revisit hip-hop's golden era, reworking classic cuts by such groups as A Tribe Called Quest, the Beatnuts, Black Moon, Dilated Peoples, and Digable Planets. BACK TO THE FUTURE MIXTAPE includes appearances from Lord Tariq, Common, Aceyalone, Mr. Lif, Young Pablo, the Blue Scholars, Zion I, Damian Marley, C. Knowledge of Digable Planets, Nature, and Tony Touch, among others. Although Guru's been putting out new editions in his Jazzmatazz series for almost 15 years now, none of the releases has gotten quite the same amount of acclaim as 1993's Vol. 1, which was one of the first examples, and certainly the best, of how actual live jazz could be used and mixed with hip-hop. He collected a wide selection of players and vocalists and ended up with what has been one of the most respected rap albums ever, with a trans-genre appeal that's been hard to match. Vol. 4 continues in this direction, though more often than not the jazzy horn breaks and piano grooves are replaced with more contemporary sounding beats. This isn't to say that the production's not good here (it's done entirely by a very skillful Solar), but it ventures into more straightforward hip-hop territory than most of the other volumes did. "Kissed the World," a witty anti-Bush track, uses a poppy piano line and synth strings, while "Stand Up (Somethings'll Never Change)" features Damien Marley and mixes Afro drum rhythms with Marley's reggae call. "Follow the Signs" is more guitar-based than any other song, and "Connection" has a smooth R&B feel. Guru, of course, holds his own on the mic, and though his lyrics do tend to veer towards the typical braggadocio, he has enough history behind him, as well as some pretty good lines ("I serve a rapper like an ace from Agassi,") he spits on "Infinite," which features Blackalicious' Gift of Gab and is one of the best tracks on the entire album as he employs insightful social commentary to back these statements up. Jazzmatazz is the MC's baby, and at this point is funded by him and his company, 7 Grand Records, but he doesn't let this take him overboard. He's clearly dedicated to it, yes, but he's experienced and talented enough to keep it from being a project of indulgence, using outside help (besides Gab and Marley, Common and David Sanborn, among others, also show up here) to keep the ideas and sounds interesting to all those -- listeners included -- involved, and making, ultimately, for a successful accomplishment. ~ Marisa Brown

XXL (Magazine) (p.133) - "[J]azz favorite David Sanborn's sax serenades the cool 'Living Legend' and Bob James' keyboard skills accentuate the blaxploitation soul of 'State of Clarity'..."

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