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Jazz and Hip Hop Are a Natural Fit

Jazz and hip hop have always been a natural fit, although sometimes a kitschy one. Hip hop has always taken notice of jazz music, most obviously through prolific sampling, but jazz also comes up in the deep history of hip hop: the Notorious B.I.G. reportedly learned his flow, his style of rapping, by first learning bebop riffs and scat syllables from an older jazz musician.

Jazz has tried its hand at hip hop, although the sound was at times more earnest than it was actually good. I might make a few enemies by pointing out that Miles Davis’ early ‘90’s foray into hip hop, his final album ‘Doo-Bop’, is by now dated. On the earnest and good side of ledger is Branford Marsalis’ 1994 project ‘Buckshot LeFonque’, which has the advantage of lots of production from DJ Premier.

The collaboration between jazz and hip hop musicians has become more natural. It makes sense—after all, many of the younger generations have grown up with both jazz and hip hop, and they play, rap, and produce music as if there’s not really a difference at all. One of the most fantastic explorations of this synergy is the ‘Black Radio’ series of albums by pianist Robert Glasper. In his music, you can clearly hear the fulfillment of conversation between jazz and hip hop, begun nearly forty years ago. Rather than be a dated set piece, ‘Black Radio’ will sound good for a long time to come.