Artist: Brand Nubian Album: Foundation

Year: 1998
Duration: 0:0-1

Analyzing the Album Foundation by Brand Nubian

Brand Nubian has been an influential group in the hip-hop industry for over three decades. Their iconic debut album One for All in 1990 established them as a force to be reckoned with in the genre. In 1998, the group dropped another classic album, Foundation. This album was praised for its lyrical content and the group's innovative approach to music. In this blog post, we'll take a deep dive into the album Foundation, explore the history of Brand Nubian and their relevance today, give a brief overview of the music genre, highlight the best songs of the album, and critique its overall impact.

Brand Nubian, composed of Grand Puba, Sadat X, and Lord Jamar, was formed in the late 1980s. The group emerged during a time when hip-hop was undergoing a significant transformation. They drew inspiration from the teachings of the Nation of Islam and the Five Percent Nation, which added a socially conscious message to their music. The group's sound was unique because of its incorporation of jazz and soul samples with hard-hitting lyrics. One for All cemented their place in the rap world and paved the way for Foundation to cement a similar status.

Foundation was released at a crucial time in hip-hop history. The late 90s saw a shift in the genre with the rise of gangsta rap. But, Brand Nubian stayed true to their roots with this album and presented a body of work that was a mix of the old and new. The album drew inspiration from the golden era of hip-hop but still managed to incorporate new sounds and themes. The album fused reggae-influenced beats with politically charged lyrics that spoke to issues such as police brutality and racism. It was an album that stood out amongst its contemporaries and continues to be relevant today.

The best songs from Foundation include Don't Let It Go To Your Head, Probable Cause, and The Return. Don't Let It Go To Your Head is an ode to materialism and how it can corrupt people when they let it consume them. Probable Cause delves into issues surrounding police brutality and how it affects the Black community. The Return focuses on Brand Nubian's return to the rap scene after their previous hiatus. All of the songs on the album are gems in their right, with each bringing something unique to the table.

The most innovative part of Foundation has to be the incorporation of reggae beats, which was a significant shift from their previous albums. The group enlisted legendary producer, DJ Premier, to produce the album. His influence can be heard throughout the record with the use of hard-hitting drums and innovative scratches. The album's political undertones and socially conscious lyrics set it apart from contemporary rap music, which solely focused on gangsta rap and party music.

Critically, Foundation is an album that, while not perfect, has undoubtedly stood the test of time. The group's combination of jazz and soul samples with socially conscious lyrics presents a unique take on hip-hop. Though some of the tracks are a bit too long and repetitive, the album's overall message and theme make up for it.

Brand Nubian's Foundation is an album that helped shape hip-hop music into what it is today. The group's unique message, innovative approach to music, and their fusion of different sounds helped set them apart from their contemporaries. The album combines elements of reggae, jazz, and soul with socially conscious lyrics that still resonate today. While Foundation may not be a perfect album, it's still one that should be in every hip-hop fan's collection. It's an album that takes listeners on a journey, both sonically and lyrically. Therefore, one has to appreciate it for its relevance in the industry.

Brand Nubian's Foundation is an album that helped shape hip-hop music into what it is today. The group's unique message, innovative approach to music, and their fusion of different sounds helped set them apart from their contemporaries. The album combines elements of reggae, jazz, and soul with socially conscious lyrics that still resonate today. While Foundation may not be a perfect album, it's still one that should be in every hip-hop fan's collection. It's an album that takes listeners on a journey, both sonically and lyrically. Therefore, one has to appreciate it for its relevance in the industry.