Jimmy

33 years ago today, A Tribe Called Quest release Midnight Marauders on Jive Records. the fact that they were able to follow The Low End Theory with a record this good is truly remarkable.   Tribe were in a difficult position when working to put together Midnight Marauders: how do you follow up literally one of the best hip-hop albums of all time? following People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths Of Rhythm (1990), their sophomore LP The Low End Theory (1991) showcased the group’s vastly improved production chops and rhyming abilities. with their second album, they created the perfect record, a masterful artistic achievement.   Midnight Marauders capped off an incredible three-album run that barely seems conceivable today. the fact that Tribe pulled it off is a large part of why their music and appeal are timeless, and why albums like this will forever remain crown jewels in hip-hop lore.

33 years ago today, Wu-Tang released their debut LP, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), on Loud Records. one of the most significant recordings ever made.   Wu-Tang released “Protect Ya Neck” as a single through their own label, Wu-Tang Records, in December of 92, where it quickly started buzzing in underground. every record sold came with the RZA’s phone number, in case any bigger fish wanted a piece. eventually, he parlayed that hype into a group deal with Loud Records, which kicked off the creation of their debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).   recording at Firehouse Studios, a cheap spot in Brooklyn ill-equipped to handle one vocalist, let alone nine. 36 Chambers directly paved the way for harder-edged New York shit from Nas, Mobb Deep, and B.I.G,. and provided a hardcore hip-hop blueprint that’s been followed for three decades. one of the greatest debuts in hip-hop history, and one of the most important works of the 20th century.