I Miss 90s Hip-Hop Vol.3
First half of 1991 (January-June)
Gang Starr finally showed its true worth
With the emergence of artists like A Tribe Called Quest, the hip-hop scene of the 1990s, which had been making major strides, underwent further evolution in 1991.
1989年リリースの1stアルバム『No More Mr. Nice Guy』にてデビューしたGang Starrだが、その真価を発揮したのが2ndアルバム『Step In the Arena』（1月15日発売）だ。90年代のヒップホップサウンドを作り上げた張本人の一人であるプロデューサー、DJ PremierとGuruの鉄壁のコンビネーションはこのアルバムにてすでに完成しており、タイトルチューンの「Step In The Arena」から「Just To Get A Rep」、「Who’s Gonna Take The Weight?」、「Check The Technique」といったヒップホップクラシックを残している。
Gang Starr - Step In The Arena
Gang Starr "Just To Get A Rep"
Gang Starr - Who's Gonna Take The Weight?
DJ Premierと並ぶ、90年代を代表するヒップホッププロデューサーの一人、Pete RockがPete Rock & CL Smoothとして1st EP『All Souled Out』（6月25日発売）にてデビューしたのもこの年のこと。名盤として高く評価されている1stアルバムリリース前のお披露目とも言えるEPであるが、Pete Rockのプロダクションスキルはすでに群を抜いており、「The Creator」など問答無用の格好良さだ。
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth「The Creator」
De La Soul's second album, "De La Soul Is Dead" (released May 14th), can also be considered an album that symbolizes the atmosphere of this era. After achieving a massive hit with their 1989 single "Me, Myself And I," they brought new values to hip-hop. However, as the album title "De La Soul Is Dead" suggests, they significantly changed their previous image with this work. While including party tunes like "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays" featuring a guest appearance by Q-Tip, they achieved significant growth as artists by adding dark and serious elements throughout the album.
De La Soul "A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays"
De La Soul - Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
Though not part of the Native Tongues collective, which included De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, KMD emerged as an artist with a similar vibe, gaining attention with their debut album, *Mr. Hood*, released on May 14th. One of their members, Zev Love X (later known as MF Doom), had already made a name for himself through his feature on 3rd Bass's "The Gas Face." KMD showcased their distinct style not only through the high quality of their self-produced tracks but also with lyrics brimming with humor and intelligence, incorporating themes of racism and political messages.
KMD Peachfuzz
KMD "Who Me?"
The further evolution of gangsta rap
Up to this point, all the works have been by New York artists, so let's shift our focus to the LA scene. In this year, DJ Quik, who had a significant impact on the West Coast hip-hop scene not only as a rapper but also as a producer, made his debut with his first album, *Quik Is The Name* (released January 15th). He created a new benchmark for gangsta rap while depicting his hometown of Compton from a different perspective than N.W.A and others. In particular, "Tonite" from this album is a masterpiece said to have laid the foundation for G-funk.
DJ Quik "Born And Raised In Compton"
DJ Quik "Tonite"
Ice-T's 4th album, "O.G. Original Gangster" (released May 14), the work of a West Coast stalwart who has been active as a rapper since the early 80s, can also be said to be a work that further evolved gangsta rap. The combination of Ice-T's rap with the solid, heavy tracks produced by DJ Aladdin on "New Jack Hustler," the theme song for the movie "New Jack City" in which Ice-T himself acted, and the title track "O.G. Originall Gangster," shows the gravitas unique to a veteran. Furthermore, the album includes the song "Body Count" by the heavy metal band of the same name, fronted by Ice-T himself, who would go on to officially debut later, boldly breaking the boundaries of hip-hop.
Ice-T "New Jack Hustler"
Ice-T "O.G. Original Gangster"
ギャングスタラップのムーブメントを作り上げた張本人といえばもちろんN.W.A.だが、2ndアルバム『Niggaz4Life』（5月28日発売）は、結果的にグループにとってのラストアルバムとなった。前作と比べてDr. Dreのサウンドプロダクションが進化したのは間違いなく、シングルカットもされた「Appetite For Destruction」や「Alwayz Into Somethin’」など優れた楽曲はあるものの、やはりIce Cube脱退の影響は大きく、ラップの面での魅力が薄れたのは否めない。
N.W.A. "Appetite For Destruction"
NWA 'Alwayz Into Somethin'"
New movements from across the United States
ニューヨークやLAを中心にヒップホップシーンが広がっていくなか、ニューヨークからも近いボストンから登場したのがEd O.G.だ。現在もラッパーとして精力的に活動を続けている彼がEd O.G. & Da Bulldogs名義でリリースした1stアルバム『Life Of A Kid In The Ghetto』（3月5日発売）は、Audio TwoのSpecial KとTeddy Tedによるプロダクションとも見事にハマり、シングル曲でもある「I Got To Have It」はスマッシュヒット。さらにRoy Ayers「Searching」をサンプリングしたクラシック「Be A Father To Your Child」は生まれてくる子供の父親になる気持ちを綴ったリリックが斬新かつ感動的で、話題を呼んだ。
Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs「I Got To Have It」
Ed O.G. & Da Bulldogs「Be A Father To Your Child」
From Louisiana, the originator of the Dirty South, Master P, makes his debut with his first album, "Get Away Clean," released on February 12th. While he truly shines from the mid-90s onwards, his raw style, distinct from both the East and West coasts, hints at the beginning of a new movement.
Master P - "Get Away Clean"
Speaking of new developments, The Genius (later GZA) also debuted with his album *Words From The Genius* (released February 19th) around this time. Although the album unfortunately fell far short of commercial success, it's likely that the setbacks he experienced at this time were a contributing factor to the later formation of Wu-Tang Clan and his eventual solo success as GZA.
The Genius - "Come Do Me"
前回のVol.2では女性ラッパーとしてNative Tongues一派のMonie Loveを取り上げたが、Ice Cubeのアルバム『AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted』にも参加していたYo-Yoは、従来の女性ラッパーとは異なるスタイルを打ち出し成功を収める。Ice CubeとSir Jinxがプロデューサーを務めたデビューアルバム『Make Way for the Motherlode』（3月19日発売）では、ヒップホップとしてのストレートな格好良さを示しながら、コンシャスかつ女性的な魅力も十分に表現。Ice Cubeをフィーチャした「You Can’t Play With My Yo Yo」ではそんな彼女の魅力が最大限に発揮されている。
Yo-Yo "You Can't Play With My Yo Yo"
Further advances by veterans
From here, I'd like to introduce works by artists active since the 80s. Digital Underground's EP "This Is an EP Release" (released January 15th) came out while the excitement from "Humpty Dance," which was featured in Vol.1, was still high. While they continued their P-Funk style from their first album, the EP is full of highlights, such as 2Pac's part in the middle of the main track "Same Song."
Digital Underground - Same Song
元祖ヒップホップバンドとして知られるStetsasonicのラスト作となった3rdアルバム『Blood, Sweat & No Tears』（2月5日発売）は、残念ながら80年代にリリースされた1stアルバム『On Fire』、2ndアルバム『In Full Gear』には及ばないものの、「Speaking Of A Girl Named Suzy」など彼らにしか出せない極上のグルーヴはやはりお見事だ。
Stetsasonic "Speaking Of A Girl Named Suzy"
Stetsasonic "No B.S. Allowed"
Released the year after their third album, “Edutainment,” Boogie Down Productions' (BDP) live album "Live Hardcore Worldwide" (released March 12) possessed a high degree of artistic completeness. Compared to the previous work, which also strongly emphasized "educating" people, this album was 100% entertainment, packed with the pure coolness of hip-hop%. It is filled with the charm of BDP and KRS-One, and created solely with microphones and turntables, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest live albums in hip-hop history.
Boogie Down Productions "Criminal Minded (Live)"
BDPと並ぶ80年代後半のヒップホップシーンを代表するグループ、Public Enemyからは、DJのTerminator Xがソロデビューとなる1stアルバム『Terminator X & The Valley Of The Jeep Beets』（5月7日発売）をリリース。Terminator Xプロデュースのトラックに様々なラッパー、しかもそのほとんどが無名という内容で、当時のPublic Enemyの勢いがあってこそリリースされた作品でもあるわけだが、Chuck DとSister Souljahをフィーチャしたリード曲「Buck Whylin’」は必聴だ。
Terminator X 'Buck Whylin'"
87年にシングルデビューし、80年代にすでに２枚のアルバムをリリースしているChubb Rockにとって、最大のヒット作となったのが3rdアルバム『The One』（5月14日発売）だ。なかでも前年にEPリリースもされた「Treat ‘Em Right」は彼の代表曲として知られており、当時はダンサー層にも非常に人気が高かった記憶がある。
Chubb Rock - 'Treat 'Em Right"
Chubb Rock "Just The Two Of Us"
A true veteran who debuted in 1980 as a member of Treacherous Three and has been active solo since the mid-80s, Kool Moe Dee released his fourth album, "Funke, Funke Wisdom," on June 11th. Despite being an artist whose style of rap already feels like a relic of a bygone era, his aggressive attitude is truly admirable; he collaborated with Chuck D and KRS-One on tracks.
Kool Moe Dee「Rise 'N' Shine feat. Chuck D. & KRS-One」
Launch of a new label
With the business expansion of hip-hop in the 90s, new labels have been launched one after another, and the birth of Hollywood Basic, a label backed by Disney capital, can be considered a symbol of this trend. What's even more surprising is that the label's first release is the EP "Real Deal" (released February 5th) by the group Lifers Group, whose members are all incarcerated.
Lifers Group "Real Deal"
The label S.O.U.L. (Sound Of Urban Listeners) was founded by Hank Shocklee of Public Enemy's production team, Bomb Squad, and others. With the first release being the white group Young Black Teenagers' self-titled album "Young Black Teenagers" (released February 19th), and the second being the James Brown-influenced Son Of Bazerk's "Bazerk Bazerk Bazerk" (released May 14th), both releases felt very much like special projects and unfortunately ended up with disappointing sales.
Young Black Teenagers - Tap the Bottle
Son Of Bazerk "Change The Style"
＜本文終わり＞
Music writer. Began writing in 1996, contributing to publications such as the hip-hop magazine "blast." Moved to Los Angeles in 2003, where they covered the underground hip-hop scene, including artists like Stones Throw, while also writing about fashion, art, and other fields. Returned to Japan in 2015 and continues to work as a writer for various magazines and web media, focusing primarily on hip-hop.
