15 years ago, these two classic albums were released to a world where hip-hop was changing and becoming increasingly popular. MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS was A Tribe Called Quest's third album and even with hits like "Scenario", "Hot Sex", "Check The Rhyme", and "Bonita Applebum" behind them, this was the album that would set them apart from the rest. This goes back to when an artist reaching their third album was a sign of success, and they managed to make it without much tension. This was very much NY hip-hop at its best, where Phife continued to prove he was more than capable of stepping away from Q-Tip's dominance on the mic. No one was sure what hip-hop's future had in store{nor were they extremely worried}, because of MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS they were glad to be here in the now.

Then there was an album that was initially a slow burner. ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 CHAMBERS) was the debut album from The RZA, The GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Inspector Deck, Raekwon The Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killer, and the Method Man. They were a group who had other names they went under, whose skills were promoted as if they were superheroes from the Marvel Universe, and were a mystery since their videos were not in heavy rotation and while we all knew who Method Man was with the "Method Man" video, no one could quite match up the name with the voice and the face. Then the spring of 1994 came, and "C.R.E.A.M." was released as a single. That was the start of the Wu revolution, with talks of each member releasing their own album, a possible Wu-Tang movie, which lead to talks about a Wu-Tang theme park, Wu cartoons… it seemed endless. Before the empire collapsed, we were able to watch and listen to it being build, brick by brick. This was the groundbreaking.

 

Feel free to leave your comments about how these albums{or other albums} affected you. I'll go first.

 

WOW!!!!! I was about to turn 15 when these two came out. Low End was the first tape I ever bought w/my own money. I stole a bunch of my Mom's asshole boyfriend{who was a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates} baseball cards and took them to a card shop thata was in the same plaza as the record store…sold them shits and went and copped both of these. I remeber going home and listening to MM and HATING IT. Then thinking..give it a chance…it's Tribe after all. Next Listen and by Steve Biko second verse…had me. MM is my fav album ever…"Lyrics To Go" and "God Lives Through"{both songs below} are the heaters on that album{along w/the obvious favorites}. Buy It.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJbyQ2t8asQ "God Lives Through" ATCQuest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi6-Bd5qUVk "Lyrics To Go" ATCQuest {The organ in this song is tool of SATAN....so simple{three bar loop} so buttery smooth...fucking puuuurfect...must be Satan...ok,ok I guess it could be God/Buddah/Vishnu/Santa/David Lee Roth{your version of God} too...but it was probably Q-Tip.

"What goods an ear without a Q-Tip in it?"  {guess who?...yep...Q-Tip}

 

Enter36 was just some other shit..to me the only two albums that fucked me up production wise were"Sgt. Peppers Lonley Hearts Club Band" and Enter the 36 Chambers". Still to this day I listen and go…"How the Fuck did they get that sound?" Exzibit A below....RZA was on some shit for this album. Never has an album felt so unkempt and was a thosand times more realistic nnd gritty because of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OEcZqG9xnE  "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuttin To Fuck With" b/w "Shame On A Nigga" off of Enter The 36 Chambers.

Buy It.Yes.DO IT NOW.

 

As Ahmir Thompson{The Roots} says   "…it was the high water mark for hip hop"…I couldn't agree more.

It's funny I turned 15 on Dec.2-1993 Midnight Marauders was my most played album…..turning 30 on tues. the 2nd and Q-Tip's album is in the heaviest rotation……..the more shit changes the more it stays the same……

Wu{RZA} & Tribe{QTIP}main producers in italics{and the Beatles} made me start listening..really breaking down music. Got me into melodies,transistions...etc.

run dmc to ice-t to beastie boys to tribe to de la soul to pharcyde to slum village to common to roots to dilla to madlib to mf doom …and it don't stop.

Thank you -Tribe thank you. Wu,Thank you. Hip hop thank you. Thank you music.