Top Ten FOOLish Albums of 2022

Embracing family and tomorrow's hurdles were themes that ran through many of the best album of 2022.

Fully escaping the haze of 2020, artists found solace in the familiar and learned how to control their life and career paths, rather than remaining passengers on the ride. As all creative artists felt the anxiety-ridden squeeze of uncertainty over the past few years, those who expressed the poise and spirit to leave the cozy confines arrived in better and more successful destinations. They probably landed on this list.

So it’s time for the Forces Of Obvious Luck Top Ten Hip-Hop releases of 2022:

(In no particular order - unless you count the alphabet as a particular order.)

Marlon Craft - While We're Here (Homecourt)
Imagine an unlikely protagonist sitting at the end of dimly-lit bar internally wrestling with the inevitable before making the hero's choice to spring into action and save the day. Sure, this probably isn't NYC-born and bred lyricist Marlon Craft's gritty origin story, but 'While We're Here' is the perfect soundtrack for a brooding vigilante as he peers over a high-rise ledge while the city below teeters on the edge of chaos.

Packed with melancholy monologues of persistence and backed by jazzy, moody boom-bap beats, Craft is a realist not afraid to seem vulnerable. Guided by a Warriors-like narrator periodically checking in on the journey, Marlon isn't boppin' his way back to Coney Island to find acceptance and safety. Instead, he is looking up and outward to avoid the pitfalls as they crumble around him, only shielded by reverent, weather-worn wit.

Standout track: “Cool Grey 11s”

Elzhi & Georgia Anne Muldrow - Zhigeist (Nature Sounds)
The science behind the song can be captivating as the end product if you meet the right artists… or they meet each other. Enter Detroit emcee Elzhi and Los Angeles singer/producer Georgia Anne Muldrow, two serial collaborators and soul stars with a knack for taking concepts that sound fine on paper, and elevating the execution. The synergy on 'Zhigeist' was set to blast off immediately from the first count. Cruising seemingly effortlessly from topic to topic with supreme knowledge atop nebulous notes, these grounded daydreamers solved the challenges they set for each other with perfect calculations.

Standout track: "Pros and Cons"

R.A.P. Ferreira - 5 to the Eye with Stars (Ruby Yacht)
“R.A.P. Ferreira will rap forever.”

Good! What a joyous announcement! Amidst taking up Blues guitar and a fresh alias [Crow Billiken], Ferreira’s talent - presented on his terms - cannot be questioned. A father, producer, wordsmith, record label owner, and former record store owner who currently homesteading in Tennessee after respites in Maine and Los Angeles, this is a man who’s genuinely found path to happiness. You can somehow hear him smile across this latest offering of twistedly buoyant tunes.

And this plain showman isn’t espousing flowery poetry for poetry sake, he’s unceasingly “leaking prose by the puddles”. Blood, sweat, tears, and thoughts power this marauder.

Standout track: “fighting back”

Samm Henshaw - Untidy Soul (Dorm Seven)
A son of a reverend, this South London (no, not Motown surprisingly!) Soul dynamo radiates cheerful charm and certainly knows how to own center stage - even on this, his full-length debut. Songs burst with muted garishment and sweeping, orchestral warmth as Henshaw swings from a romantic ballad to a thoughtful monologue for self-improvement. And all of his stories are super buttery with an emotional delivery for every step of any relationship that would make Smokey, Diana, Stevie, and Marvin Gaye proud -- even if he's not actually from Detroit.

Standout track: "Enough"

Homeboy Sandman - Still Champion (Mello Music Group)
Idle hands aren't a problem for Homebody Sandman... stationary feet either. The native New Yorker is a perpetual motion machine, who fully recharged his battery in 2022. Pushing through a personal funk with a few therapeutic records in the past couple years, the funky and fun Sandman is absolutely back and appropriately 'Still a Champion'. Highlighted by Deca's bouncy and spacious melodies, Sandman was given room to spread out and fully serve his visual gumbo fables.

Standout track: "Fresh Air Fund"

Isatta Sheriff & Koralle - Eat The Kiwi Skin (Melting Pot)
The fully edible skin of a kiwi is the fruit's best and most nutritious part, according to London emcee, writer, label head, and radio host Isatta Sheriff. But you gotta digest the rough texture to appreciate its benefits. Some just don't want to put in that effort to discover the oft-discarded deliciousness. Hey, feels like a wonderful concept for an album!

Contrasting the soft embrace of her opulent melodies with hard edge targets, Isatta floats across dreamy piano Jazz to make numerous heavy points. Speaking of the laid back palette, Italian musician Koralle guides the project and instantly finds kinetic chemistry with the veteran rapper. Hopefully, this EP breaks ground on a long partnership because Isatta surely has a lot of solvent thoughts to beautifully paint with the bright colors Koralle can provide.

Standout track: “Window Thoughts” (feat. Lex Amor)

Kojey Radical - Reason to Smile (Asylum Records / Atlantic Records UK)
The bold baritone boom of confidence from this ​multidisciplinary fist-gen Brit exudes boundary-exploring energy. But his is a voice never satisfied- even after a triumphant victory.

Paying tribute to his mother's persistence as a Ghanaian immigrant, 'Reason to Smile' is a complex case in using the past to take on the future with gusto. Wide and deep organic grooves set the tone and accentuate the mood for the man who found his way as an illustrator and spoken word poet before becoming an essential UK Hip-Hop voice.

Standout track: "Reason to Smile" (feat. Tiana Major9)

Little Simz - NO THANK YOU (Forever Living Originals)
She came to grips with the lady in the mirror last year. This time, she came out faithfully swinging against the strife in society with a controlled candor. With creative partners Inflo and Cleo Soul in toe, Simz soars even higher: more brazen, yet incredibly profound.

Standout track: "Silhouette" (feat. Cleo Soul)

Pan Amsterdam & Damu the Fudgemunk - EAT (Def Pressé)
When Pan Amsterdam's musical journey took a left, he turned way left. A disciplined trumpet player and up-and-comer around the NYC Jazz club scene, the artist now known as Pan Am wanted a more freeing outlet. Voilà!

It's an insult to the chef to merely call this album clever or whimsical. Pan Am's secret sauce spontaneously generates a cool strut in anyone who experiences this full-course funk of trumpet and absurd humor. It's hard to describe, but you just walk differently...

'EAT' is filling for all appetites: lyrics-first listeners and beat-heavy heads can equally enjoy the fun and return to the table again and again to taste flourishes their palates never detected before.

Standout track: "Hungry Hippo"

Saba - Few Good Things (Pivot Gang, LLC)
Pristine like an attic preserved in amber...

The overflowing sound design and sequencing made 'Few Good Things' the most visual stimulating album of the year. It sounds like Saba methodically cleaning out his childhood home on the westside of Chicago on a sunny Sunday afternoon to pack up his youth and fully embrace a new chapter. Only stopping to reminisce over a stray photo, this is a contemplative man quietly preparing to unleash his magnum opus. If that's the case, I cannot wait to hear what this self-taught and self-made multi-talent offers us next.

Standout track: "2012" (feat. Day Wave)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Big K.R.I.T. - Digital Roses Don't Die (Multi Alumni / BMG Rights)

Deezie Brown - 5th Wheel Fairytale (5th Wheel Industries)

Da$htone - Futuristic Reminiscin' (Da$htone)

Deca - Smoking Gun (Coalmine Records)

Robert Glasper - Black Radio III (Loma Vista)

Marlowe - Marlowe 3 (Mello Music Group)

Ockham's Blazer - Ockham's Blazer (Fake Four Inc.)

Open Mike Eagle - Component System with the Auto Reverse (Auto Reverse)

###

If you enjoy any of these artists, tune into my radio program - Forces Of Obvious Luck Radio - live from KRBX Radio Boise every Thursday from 9:00 - 11:00 PM MT for more powerfully positive Jazzy Hip-Hop Soul just like this.

And in case you missed it, check out my 2021 Top Ten feature.

Final note: All of my friends' albums were disqualified from consideration. Personal bias and whatnot.

Top Ten FOOLish Albums of 2021

Before we get started, rest easy to the following artists we lost in 2021: MF DOOM, Double K, The Gift of Gab, Shock G, Biz Markie and Zumbi. May your music bump for a thousand years. Now, on with the show...

In a year with the longest list of new music I couldn't listen to before the clock struck midnight (and I had a deadline to submit a chart), I'm still proud of this list. Given the absolute spoil of audio riches, I don't think anyone is undeserving of recognition. These are artists whose styles best catered to my individual tastes after all. But as more and more musicians are finding their respected voices and audiences each passing year, I'm very glad to have found this art.

It’s time for the Forces Of Obvious Luck Top Ten Hip-Hop releases of 2021:

(In no particular order - unless you count the alphabet as a particular order.)

Aesop Rock x Blockhead - Garbology (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
How can I be more complementary than those who've verbosely sang Aesop Rock's praises over 25 years? I can't, so I'll let the man himself share a couplet from his latest album:

"You laughing because I'm different, I'm laughing 'cause you the same.
I been discovering a distant corner of the human brain."

Yep, that's a glimpse into Aesop with two bars. Bond that unworldly wordsmith wizard with the mystical beat composer known as Blockhead and you have 'Garbology'.

When Aesop fumbled a few artful attempts to pick up the pieces after a friend's death, he called on a longtime friend and old time collaborator to reunite. Blockhead provided full circle closure with coincidental nods to his work on Aesop's 2000 full-length debut 'Float'. Just more syrupy, refined and mature. While the two-decades apart projects both gave Aesop a shelter to fashion and unload his ricocheting philosophies, 'Garbology' was a more contemplative, third eye escape from a storm. Calmed by Blockhead's fluttering soundscapes, the sometimes over-it-all emcee sociologically pondered looking outward and posed questions he answered inwardly on last year's phenomenal 'Spirit World Field Guide' solo release [my #1 album of 2020].

Standout track: That is Not a Wizard

Afro Cluster - The Reach (self-released)
Pressure and release. Tension and relief. A controlled frenzy strategically swelling to an intended zenith. This was my first impression of Afro Cluster. And I wanted another burst! A nine-piece Welsh Afro Funk / Hip-Hop band with a colossally stout sound, Afro Cluster's tight arrangements cleverly left room to take a breath or two. All members got chances to step out and strut but the natural frontman, emcee Skunkadelic, commanded the album. His honest and down-to-earth, dry sarcasm mixed masterfully with the rhythm section and call-response interplay of the horns.

Some compositions veered towards being too buttoned up given the raw lyrical subject matter and skilled players, but that reserved nature built to several crescendo payoffs, including for the album's ultimate message and final track, "Young Shall Grow".

Standout track: Young Shall Grow (feat. Magugu and Asha-Jane)

David Begun - The PharTribe (self-released)
Why settle for one wonderous discography when you can harmoniously weave two into a cohesive and engrossingly fun mashup? New Hampshire composer and deejay David Begun has been churning out projects at a breakneck pace recently, but his crown jewel [so far] reimaged A Tribe Called Quest acapellas with Pharcyde instrumentals. A double dose of nostalgia, Begun combined both group's best vibes into something way too natural to not be somehow original - a supreme credit to the remixing maestro. Despite touring together in 1994 and becoming friends, the two groups never officially worked on a track. Luckily, this project reached back to capture the playful, jazzy and outright funky youthful exuberance of Ali, Phife, Tip, Bootie, Fat Lip, Imani and Slimkid. In other words, it was the People's Midnight Ride to the Bizarre Low End Cabin. No need for a deep breakdown of two sets of songs many heads already know and love, just enjoy them together.

Standout track: Soul Clap

Damu the Fudgemunk - Conversation Peace (Def Pressé)
With an invite to delve into the KPM Musichouse archives - a UK-based production library with 30,000+ releases that dates back to 1830(!) - Damu the Fudgemunk came away with a new world of sound to recraft. Nothing new for this F.O.O.L. year end list stalwart though. But on this go-around, his trademark journeys felt less methodical and more free. Did the DC MPC master abandon his road map for sake of moving forward while upholding a sense of heritage? Hard to guess, but easy to lose yourself in his stacked soundscape layers.

A select squad of guest emcees helped vocalize the album's vision and realize its destination. Enlisting frequent collaborators Insight, Blu and Raw Poetic while also linking up with Nitty Scott for the first time, Damu's friends narrated the excursion with flourishes to match his percussive flare. Never one to go on cruise control, Damu again arranged a lucid trip.

Standout track: Power of Mind (feat. Raw Poetic)

KOTA the Friend & Statik Selektah - To Kill a Sunrise (FLTBYS LLC)
Sometimes music is easy to timestamp; artists paint themselves into one fleeting moment with lyrical references that won't mean much down the road or trendy beats that'll lack replay value. KOTA the Friend doesn't clock into either realm. Even with an almanac, it's hard to place 'To Kill a Sunrise' on the calendar. Calling an album 'timeless' the year it was released is beyond cliché, but this DYI BK, multi-track multi-tasker has the poetic spirit and refined palette to age gracefully and confidently. Statik Selektah's Midas touch of Jazz doesn't hurt either. The chemistry was instant and really highlighted KOTA's vocals. Through relatable personal topics, KOTA's syncopated flow was easy to digest but the complex nature of his narratives - even within a simple delivery - will keep listeners engaged. He touched on more than enough rough patches, but this album's mood was so smooth and peaceful that you can't help but know KOTA found solace by the end.

Standout track: Day Glow

Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (AGE 101)
Heralded by theatrical fanfare, London emcee and actor Little Simz stepped out unapologetically herself on 'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert'. An acronym for her first name [Simbi] and a statement of intent, Simz connected with a lot of individuals in 2021 thanks to her compelling expressions, baring her deepest inner emotions. A born empath and quiet leader with loud tendencies to inspire, she turned her personal and family stories into an empowering march that others can use as a beacon to overcome.

Balancing anxiety and despair with joy and hope while musically embracing her Nigerian and West African roots (thanks to album producer Inflo, best known for his work with the mysterious London Soul dynamo SAULT), Simz boldly proclaimed, "Honesty is in my bones, I can't do the fake."

Standout track: Introvert

Mega Ran - Live '95 (Needlejuice Records)
Occupying the coordinates on the Venn diagram where basketball, video games, comic books and pro wrestling meet in musical harmony is Mega Ran's calling card and scouting report. Mirroring a veteran sixth man known for instant offense, the versatile emcee, deejay, producer and author wasn't shy about stuffing the stat sheet with loaded verses on 'Live '95'. Maximizing his minutes [on his 11th solo album!], the former classroom teacher strongly chronicled the vital, decade-long relationship where Hip-Hop and hoops fully intertwined.

With a majority of the 14 tracks handled by DJ DN³, the production playbook flipped through some of the best elements that made 1990s Hip-Hop so influential: a well-executed fast break that occasionally flowed smoothly into a triangle offense. Mega Ran charmingly directed traffic from the point with a witty point atop a moving plate of accentuating beats while a lineup of unexpected guests (both rappers and former NBA all-stars) filled the lanes and finished at the rim each time.

But the glue that held this team together was Ran's storytelling; it could inspire any halftime lockeroom to bring home a hard-fought W. Uplifting, autobiographical timestamping is one of his hallmarks, but on 'Live '95' especially, the Philly native's storybook was on full display.

Standout track: Live '95 (Basketball Diaries)

Raw Poetic - Big Tiny Planet (Moore And Moore Music)
A man with such prolific habits and creative forces shouldn't be allowed to operate on this level. Yet... Raw Poetic keeps on expanding his spacy range. With co-pilot Damu the Fudgemunk riding shotgun, Raw Poetic blasted off for a World music influenced EP that radiated Cosmic Prog-Soul. Is that even a real genre? Well, 'Big Tiny Planet' made it a viable vibe in 2021 as Raw Poetic exhumed powerfully positive poetry that fit tautly within any melody.

Standout track: BIG tiny Universe

Sidewalk Chalk x Sam Trump - Sun-Filled Sky (self-released)
The seven-piece Chi-Town ensemble snuck out of the shade for a mid-summer single, and it was so infectious with its all day warm embrace, it broke the rule and topped my full album chart. A cleansing and purifying wash of guitar strums and divine organ rolls, Chalk personified a nod and a smile (with a stomach full of butterflies) for one joyful stretch towards the heavens. If you ever need a solstice-style pick me up, rotate around "Sun-Filled Sky".

Standout track: Sun-Filled Sky

Skyzoo - All the Brilliant Things (Mello Music Group)
Skzyoo has released a dozen mixtapes, a handful of EPs and marked 2021 with this tenth full-length album. (And that counts only the music he's written for himself!) That's surprising to this late pass rider. Skyzoo's been a constant fixture for 15+ years, but he might not be the headline attraction who stands out for one single reason.

Conversely, he is Brooklyn's steady and ongoing orator: a blunt, yet very reliable, firsthand witness to his communities. With roots proudly planted in the Soul and Jazz that built Hip-Hop's foundational sound, Skyzoo dropped listeners in the middle of a familiar place with a new perspective on 'All the Brilliant Things'. The sample work was excellent; the snappy percussion and bright brass notes helped authenticate the recontextualizations. Aaria's airy background vocals throughout also added to the nostalgic summer flavor. With a running refrain to reprise the album's theme of change, Skyzoo sowed densely packed and impressively stacked rhymes that looked back but stressed moving forward without lament. Ambitious without being too conceptual. Truly brilliant!

Standout track: Rich Rhetoric

HONORABLE MENTIONS

ALXNDRBRWN - Glow Kid (Strange Famous)

Atmosphere - WORD? (Rhymesayers Entertainment)

Marlon Craft - How We Intended (self-released)

R.A.P. Ferreira - the Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures (Ruby Yacht)

Wesley Joseph - ULTRAMARINE (EEVILTWINN)

Krum - Black Lung (Get Nice)

Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise - Ké myōōnėdé (Community) (self-released)

Magna Carda - To The Good People (self-released)

Toussaint Morrison - Social Science Club (Urban Home Companion)

###

If you enjoy any of these artists, tune into my radio program - Forces Of Obvious Luck Radio - live from KRBX Radio Boise every Thursday from 9:00 - 11:00 PM MT for more powerfully positive Jazzy Hip-Hop Soul just like this.

And in case you missed it, check out my 2020 Top Ten feature.

Final note: All of my friends' albums were disqualified from consideration. Personal bias and whatnot.

You Call That Fashion?

It's time for a new discussion forum I'm calling "Roin Questions 'Fashion' in 2021".

Let's open up the floor with these faux pas I've actually seen in and around Boise, Idaho. Choices were made...

*Facial tattoos
First and foremost, can anyone defend these abominations? They only reassure me that the inked party has poor judgment and/or 'no-plan-B' confidence. If the body is a temple, these cats just tagged some sloppy graffiti on the front door.

*Button-up shirts with different colored [contrast] collars
Who ran out of fabric and accidentally made this acceptable?

*Leggings under shorts
When not running outside in sub-freezing temps, what's the point of this? Try out an alternative: sweatpants.

*Dyed grey / silver hair
Looking for that early bird discount? Some sort of social commentary on stress? Answer for this premature crime!

*Mustaches in general
Upper lip accessories make the wear look look fifteen years older and like a shady character.

*Camo pants with hunter orange shirt
Simple - do you want to be seen or not?

*Plaid shirt with striped tie (or vice versa?)
 I'm about to get vertigo with this dizzying array of clashing patterns.

*Cartoon graphic socks
Anyone over the age of twelve flaunting this footwear probably feels fine about using the Comic Sans font on a business report, too.

*Trench coats
Who urged high school kids to dust off their film noir detective cosplay in the first place? These should have died off at high noon in the 1910s as the Wild West was conquered.

*HUGE logos on shirts, or worse: pants
Gaudy billboard space must be at a premium if companies like Polo and Champion feature enormous logos on their iconic garments. It's almost as unsightly and ugly as the big "N" on New Balance shoes.

Looking Back in the Lens

I recently [re]discovered almost five full years of photography from a former job on a hard drive. After deleting ten thousand images - my composition and focus were really bad in 2012 - so many memories and faces greeted me with action-filled smiles. I was left with dozens of cool people I haven't even considered in years.

Maybe it's because I haven't found as fulfilling creative career ventures since or simply the people I worked with there were so outstanding, but I cannot help but look back and sometimes wonder if leaving was the correct decision. I was the first domino to tip as the organization underwent a near-compete staff overhaul shortly after my departure, but that place was magical. Chances are I'm the only one who hasn't been able to move on...

Feel the [Unexpected] Beat Drop [at Midnight on Friday, with No Promo Warning]

I fully understand the rationale and marketing concept - entrenched in the streaming era where physical sales are relatively worthless in the grand revenue model - yet I highly dislike the impromptu "here's an album" releases.

These surprises are usually reserved for huge, global artists with massive social media fan bases that will instantly jump into a new single or record, but something just doesn't feel as grandiose as counting down to an official release date.

Music revenue is definitely not dependent on physical media sales anymore and I now know some albums don't even get CD or vinyl releases in brick and mortar stores 'til months after they hit Spotify/Apple/Amazon/YouTube/Bandcamp to keep overhead low, etc. But mostly gone are the anticipation-building 6-8 week lead cycles full of music video debuts, cover art leaks, press preview loops and print ads in the Source. That was half the fun of building a new artist or new project.

Imagine if 'Illmatic' just magically appeared in 1994 after Nas' acclaimed guest spot on "Live at the Barbeque" by Main Source.

Also, the former standard of Tuesday releases gave us fans much more time to take in a record. Clearly competition for ears is a lot more fierce nowadays with so many more artists having the ability to spread their music directly to the public, but I've seen plenty of midnight on Friday drops by the big names relegated to old news by Monday in today's news climate.

What Does It Take to Be a Great Emcee? Really.

There truly is no defined rubric for what makes someone stand out as a lyricist, but to me, several traits jump to the forefront as prevalent skills in those consistently considered the best.

So here is my quick checklist of desired attributes for building the perfect emcee:

-Cadence, vocal clarity and delivery style(s)
>> Bun B, Pharoahe Monch or Sage Francis

-Flow / pocket quality and diversity
>> Big Daddy Kane, Swamburger or Insight

-Emotional appeal and relatability
>> The Gift of Gab, Slug or Posdnuos

-Use of literary devices (alliteration, onomatopoetics, extended metaphors, syllable stressing, [internal] rhyme schemes, vivid imagery and storytelling, etc.)
>> Rakim, J-Live or The Notorious B.I.G.

-Word choice and variation
>> Aesop Rock, Black Thought or GZA

-Memorable, layered cleverness
>> MF DOOM, manChild or Aceyalone

-Wide range of subject matter and unique topics
>> Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar or Open Mike Eagle

-Captivating performance live and on record
>> Chuck D, Lyrics Born or Watsky

-Innovation
>> Ice Cube, Treach or Q-Tip

-Regular, full display of numerous skills
>> Cee-Lo, Mos Def or Phonte

"If you ask me, it's much more than mastering ceremonies. Because a lot of masquerading cornballs don't realize it also means mad creativity." -J-Live

Justice System: Due Its Time in the Summer Sun

August 1994 marked the capstone to Hip-Hop's fabled Golden Era due, in part, to the release of 'Rooftop Soundcheck' by Bronx six-piece band Justice System.

Built upon foundations of the genre's masters - Public Enemy, Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B & Rakim, A Tribe Called Quest - this debut album took on top traits from every turntable, but added an energetic live band element into the equation.

Justice System, in turn, burst in with a Zulu Nation throwdown much funkier than most of its contemporaries. While Hip-Hop's native tongues gave way to the G-Funk arms race post-navigating past New Jack Swing, this tight unit of Westchester, NY high school friends found the proper pocket and dug deep into the groove. After a few years playing out around the area, the Justice System youngsters caught the ear of MCA Records in 1993 and quickly succeeded to make an essential summertime soundscape for and from the generation fully raised on Hip-Hop - without forsaking its Soul roots.

Charismatic and smooth stories from emcees Jahbaz and Folex were propped up by lush, syrupy arrangements from Coz Boogie [bass], Wizard C-Roc [guitar], Eric G. [drums / percussion] and Mo' Betta Al [sax / piano]. The thump, the dynamics, the knowledge, the crispness, the lyrical swing… it was all there.

Whether it was ahead of its time, out of time or precisely in the fleeting moment of Jazz Rap popularity, ‘Rooftop Soundcheck’ is one musically colorful time capsule that unsurprisingly holds up as a viable and vibrant guided tour over 25 years since dropping. Justice System tapped into that magical sensation of carefree 1994 and made you feel that way…

The feeling of being swept away on a wave of nostalgia is never at low tide, and especially prevalent between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Justice System can bump perfectly in time now with birds chirping in the morning, cars driving by with the boomin' systems, splashes and shouts at the pool, the sizzle of meat on the grill and the hum from a lawnmower down the block. It was pure fun and adventure then, and the ripples deserve a [re]discovery today.

Standout tracks: “Due Our Time”, “Just Because”, “Soulstyle”, “Summer in the City”

(Check out a wonderful 2019 interview with John ‘Jahbaz’ Dawson of the group from Passion of the Weiss I used as research.)