Jonathan Hay,Benny Reid,Mike Smith: Follow The Leader: Re-imagined As Jazz.. (Vinyl LP)
Hay Reid & Smith
Regular price
$25.99
Sale
Usually ships in 3-6 business days
Vinyl LP pressing. Re-imagined instrumentals of the groundbreaking and critically acclaimed Follow the Leader album from Eric B. & Rakim. Endorsed and fully supported by Eric B. & Rakim. Jonathan Hay, Benny Reid, and Mike Smith had numerous discussions on how to respectfully, faithfully, and creatively re-imagine Eric B. & Rakim's classic 1988 album, Follow the Leader. The difficulty was twofold. One, Follow the Leader is a revered and iconic hip-hop album and had to reflect it's adoration. Two, how can it be translated to a jazz style, especially omitting the centerpiece, Rakim's voice? Reid (lead instrumentalist - tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, bari saxophone, flute) and Hay's (producer) initial strategy of replaying Rakim's extended, rhythmically intricate rap verses organically morphed into a more improvised, classic jazz style. The emcee vocal style and flow along with Eric B.'s through-composed instrumentals, served as a model for Hay, Reid, Smith and musician Mani Ajami to draw inspiration. Follow the Leader, Microphone Fiend, Lyrics of Fury, Eric B. Never Scared, Just a Beat, Put Your Hands Together, For the Listeners, No Competition, The R, Musical Massacre, Beats for the Listeners
Vinyl LP pressing. Re-imagined instrumentals of the groundbreaking and critically acclaimed Follow the Leader album from Eric B. & Rakim. Endorsed and fully supported by Eric B. & Rakim. Jonathan Hay, Benny Reid, and Mike Smith had numerous discussions on how to respectfully, faithfully, and creatively re-imagine Eric B. & Rakim's classic 1988 album, Follow the Leader. The difficulty was twofold. One, Follow the Leader is a revered and iconic hip-hop album and had to reflect it's adoration. Two, how can it be translated to a jazz style, especially omitting the centerpiece, Rakim's voice? Reid (lead instrumentalist - tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, bari saxophone, flute) and Hay's (producer) initial strategy of replaying Rakim's extended, rhythmically intricate rap verses organically morphed into a more improvised, classic jazz style. The emcee vocal style and flow along with Eric B.'s through-composed instrumentals, served as a model for Hay, Reid, Smith and musician Mani Ajami to draw inspiration. Follow the Leader, Microphone Fiend, Lyrics of Fury, Eric B. Never Scared, Just a Beat, Put Your Hands Together, For the Listeners, No Competition, The R, Musical Massacre, Beats for the Listeners