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1. Street Jams: Hip-Hop From the Top Vol. 1- 4 (Rhino) Compilation Series
This 4 disc set is the definitive collection of the early rap movement from 1979 through 1985. It successfully shows the transition from live drumming to drum machine programming for the early period of the rap, hip-hop movement. Everyone from Kurtis Blow to Run-D.M.C. is featured.
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2. Trouble Funk Live (Infinite Zero Archive) 1981 Original Album
There are relatively very few Go-Go albums available on CD. We are lucky someone had enough sense to release this reissue in 1996. The title on the cover sums it up nicely Straight Up Funk Go-Go Style! That’s exactly what it delivers. It is a great live album by one of the truly great go go bands. Drummer Emmett Nixon is playing some ignorant grooves on this stuff; you’d need to perform an exorcism to take away his pocket. Also check out Trouble Funk: Early Singles with Rick Nelson on drums, from Infinite Zero Archive’s. This is another monster CD featuring their early groundbreaking grooves.
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3. Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers: Go Go Swing Live! (Future Records & Tapes) 1986 Original Album
As far as I’m concerned this is the “Go-Go” bible, a great live recording!! Check out the amazing hi-hat and bass drum work of Ricky Wellman. One of the truly great groove albums that unfortunately very few know about. Ricky is also one of the most underrated masters of the groove. Available from Liason Records, see special note at the end of this list for ordering information.
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4. New Jack Hits (Rhino) Single CD Compilation
This is a great way to become familiar with a variety of new jack swing grooves and artists. The compilation puts together some of the key hits of the era from Bell Biv DeVoe, Johnny Gill, En Vogue, Johnny Kemp, The Winans, and many others.
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5. Guy (MCA) 1988 Original Album
One of the most influential groove albums of the late 80s. The album is highlighted by some excellent production from producer Teddy Riley. He is definitely the master of these grooves. If you can get the bass drum part on “Groove Me” to really swing, you’re on your way to mastering an awesome style of drumming. Good luck!
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6. Bobby Brown: Don’t Be Cruel (MCA) 1988 Original Album.
The defining album of the new jack era, and one of the better R&B albums of the decade. It featured some of the better songs of the period. “My Prerogative,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Roni,” “Rock Wit’cha,” and “Every Little Step” were all monster hits and great grooves. The album was also a personal favorite of Miles Davis.
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7. Guru Jazzmatazz Volume 1. (Chyrsalis) 1993 Original Album
Guru is the main man behind the hip-hop group Gang Starr. He collaborated with some legendary jazz giants to deliver this innovative work. This is an experimental fusion of hip-hop and live jazz, and the experiment definitely worked. There are some real smooth grooves here!!!
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8. The Roots Do You Want More? !!!?? (Geffen) 1994 Original Album
This ensemble from Philadelphia was named by Rolling Stone Magazine as the nation’s most cutting-edge rap group. There are several slow hip-hop grooves featured throughout that are great examples of “playing in the gap,” as previously discussed. Drummer Ahmir-Khalib Thompson is “stupid funky” on the whole album.
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9. Stolen Moments Red, Hot & Cool (GRP) 1994 Original Album
This is a landmark recording!! It features various artists and represents the top artists of jazz and hip-hop uniting to create some monster funky grooves, innovative music, and a serious message. This was an Aids awareness project, and is one of the best modern works I’ve heard in years. They take the fusion of jazz, funk, and hip-hop to a new level. It floored me when I heard it. It is deserving of special mention and I have included it because of its relevancy to current R&B drumming. Check out the songs “Positive,” “Nocturnal Sunshine,” “Flying High in the Brooklyn Sky” and “Rent Strike.” There are some great drummers featured throughout, including Harvey Mason, Herb Graham Jr., Steve Williams, Genji Sirasisi, and Frank Tontoth.
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10. Me’shell Ndegeocello Peace Beyond Passion (Mercury) 1996 Original Album This is a slammin album!! Not your average hip-hop record by any stretch of the imagination. Especially noteworthy is the fact that it features predominantly live drums. Proving that overall, nothing quite takes the place of a real person throwin’ down with all their heart and soul. The music is very sophisticated, and has a kind of a Herbie Hancock vibe to it. The grooves and production are treacherous and layered incredibly well. Drummer Oliver Gene Lake is brutal on this stuff - the boy is dog gone dangerous, he’s on fire. You’d best listen with a fire extinguisher by your side if you don’t want to get third degree burns. This is 90s funk at it’s best and my favorite record of the mid 90s.
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“What
is Hip”
Recommended Media/ Literature Guide
Drum Instructional Books
Drummer’s Guide To Hip Hop, House, New Jack Swing, Hip House, & Soca House, by Bill Elder (Warner Brothers 1996)
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Blues Drums Basics, by Tom Brechlein, Mike Finklestein & Joe Testa (Warner Brothers 1995)
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The Art of Bop Drumming, by John Riley (Manhattan Music, Inc. 1994)
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Rap
Attack: 2 African Rap To Global Hip Hop, by David Toop
(Serpent’sTail,
1991)
The New Beats: Exploring The Music, Culture, and Attitude of Hip-Hop, by S. H. Fernando (Anchor Press,1994)
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