Dig On Black Sheep's "A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing"

P&B brings you the "Dig On" Classic Album Series. We'll delve into our vaults to discuss the records that have profoundly impacted our musical tastes. The albums we present are considered essential to anyone's record collection. In the end, you can't understand the present (or future) until you "Dig On" the past.

(photo via theemergingaddiction.blogspot.ca)

"Who's the Black Sheep, what's the Black Sheep?
Don't know who I am, or when I'm coming so you sleep
Wasn't in my room, wasn't in my sphere
Knew not who I was, but listen here"
- Lyrics from Black Sheep's "The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)"

This album holds a special place in my musical upbringing. It was the first hip hop album that I listened to from start to finish in the golden age of the cassette tape. Fast forwarding and rewinding was an art, but I never found a need to do so with this classic. At this point in Paq-history, I was a young teenager trying to break away from my parent's collection of classic rock records to find my identity. 91 was a special year in music and Black Sheep was at the fore front for me. This was the soundtrack for the summer of 92. My neighbours and I built a treehouse to this amazing album and I'm surprised that the tape didn't snap from overplaying. We put so many nails into that poor tree that I'm surprised it's still standing today. We had high hopes for our new floating base of operations, including multiple levels. In retrospect, "A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing" was the first true hip hop building block in my musical foundation.

Friday Flashback - Bohemian Consciousness Edition

Brand Nubian - "Slow Down"

"Slow Down" was the 4th single released from Brand Nubian's critically acclaimed debut album One for All. This classic joint rode the "alternative" hip hop wave from the early 90s that ushered in a new consciousness to the game along with legendary groups like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Jungle Brothers. Brand Nubian unfortunately couldn't keep it together and dissolved a few years later (they reunited in the mid 2000s).

"Slow Down" features a bevy of samples but the most recognizable is "What I Am" by Edie Brickell and New Bohemians. Brickell's wailing "What I Am Is What I Am" makes an appearance, while the guitar lick is the driving element for this cut.

-Paqman

Phonte Goes Solo, Takes Care Of His Business

(Photo via mixtapewall.com)

You may recognize the name. You may not. Phonte was a member of Little Brother, who were underground indie darlings (i.e. critical accolades, zero commercial success). The group consisted of MC Rapper Big Pooh, producer 9th Wonder and Phonte. 9th Wonder left the group in 07 citing creative differences. He went on to work with some heavy cats including Jay-Z, De La Soul and Sean Price. Pooh and Phonte unfortunately shut down Little Brother in 2010. One last bit on the now defunct group: the inspiration behind their name came from their influences and mentors. They considered groups like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul as their big brothers. They wanted to carry the movement to the next step so they called themselves Little Brother.

A Tribe Called Quest Film Set to Air at Toronto's Hot Docs Festival

(photo via gordonandthewhale.com)

A new documentary entitled "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest" is set to air tonight as a part of the annual Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival held each year in Toronto.