For anyone that views the early 90's Acid Jazz scene with anything other than rose tinted spectacles, then the joining of 'Jazz' and Hip Hop' could either spawn memories of brilliant inventive music (i.e. The Roots) or insipid noodlings (US3). It is therefore with a certain degree of trepidation that 'Hip Hop Love Jazz' arrives trumpeting a return to those times.
It was the likes of De La, Gang Starr and a Tribe Called Quest that softened the rough sound of mid 80's hip hop in to a more soulful tinged sound and whereas Gangsta Rap took over as the main weapon, a fruitful avenue was still being explored by the funkier outfits. This compilation occasionally hits the heights, Cut Chemist arrives at the party with a typically advanced production '2 Damn Kinky', Kim Hill crafts her vocals round a sparse, electro-tinged soul gem in 'Nutshell' but there is plenty of padding and unforgettable filler across it's 22 tracks. The Kev Brown and Wordsworth tracks (four between them) are forgettable and not worth the entrance fee.
The few stand-out tracks are good but there is far too many that slip into the background and remind us why the immediacy and rawness of gangsta rap crashed the jazz party and turned up the bass bins when the chin scratching got out of hand the first time round.
Rating: 2/5
Record Label: Kwerk
Release Date: 28th November 2005
Words By: Mark Steel
