present, it does touch on several societal issues as well. One verse deals specifically with John
Coltrane:
John Coltrane, a man supreme
He was the cream
He was the Wise One.
The impression of Afro Blue
And of the Promise that was not kept
He was a Giant Step
At first glance, the lyrics are referring to several of Coltrane’s compositions including “A Love
Supreme,” “Wise One,” “Impressions,” “Afro Blue,” “The Promise,” and “Giant Steps,” however,
Dr. Jesse Stuart suggest the line, “The promise that was not kept” hints at the oppressive social
conditions that surrounded Coltrane’s music, as well as those surrounding Jazz, Hip Hop, and
African American experience more generally.
Another important issue the song brings attention to is the cultural appropriation of the African-
American culture, as well as the co-opting of innovation of African-American musicians by
White musicians, and in particular, Paul Whiteman, the self-proclaimed “King of Jazz during the
1930s swing era, and the creation of a parallel historical narrative that ignores the African-
American origins of jazz.
Now listen see, the real mystery
Is how music history
Created Paul Whiteman
Or any other white man
That pretended he originated
And contended that he innovated
A Jazz thing
A Tribe Called Quest:
Members:
1.
Q-Tip
2.
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed
3.
Ali Shaheed Muhammed
4.
Phife Dawg
5.
Malik Taylor
6.
Jarobi White
Origin: St. Albans, Queens, New York City
Part of Native Tongues collective
Collaborated with jazz bassist Ron Carter on “Verses From the Abstract,”
A Tribe Called Quest, “Verses From the Abstract,”
The Low End Theory.
1991.
Digital Planets:
Members:
1.
Mary Ann “Ladybug Mecca” Viera
2.
Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler
3.
Craig “Doodlebug” Irving
Origin: Brooklyn, New York
Brought Jazz Rap commercial and critical acceptance with their 1992 album
Reachin (A
New Refutation of Time and Space
and the single “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
“Rebirth of Slick (Cool like Dat)” reached #15 on the Billboard 200 Chart
Won the Grammy award for Best Rap Performance in 1994
Digital Planets. “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)”
(A New Refutation of Time and Space,1992)
Eric B. & Rakim, “Paid in Full,”
Paid in Full.
1987.
Public Enemy, “Fight the Power,”
It takes a nation of millions to hold us back. 1989.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, “Summertime”
Homebase.
1991
Salt-N-Pepa, “Push It” 1988.
We gotta know these tracks as we gonna identify these bitches on next week quiz.
