Brand Nubian "In God We Trust" (February 2, 1993)

"Everything is a balance," declares Brand Nubian rapper Lord Jamar. "That's what we try to show with our music -- the balance between the seriousness of trying to spread knowledge and showing that we're real people who enjoy life." On In God We Trust, Brand Nubian bring their inimitable mix of elements to a new level of precision and power. Knowledge and understanding parallel rage. Intensely held beliefs of the Five Percent Nation of Islam segue into party-hearty road tales. The ancient Muslim vocal of the first cut, "Allah U Akbar," blends with the sublime manipulation of the most sophisticated new technology. "This record is more organized and more rough," believes Sadat X. In God We Trust was recorded after the departure of original member Grand Puba Maxxwell; "It's just two different types of musical expression; people will be able to tell the difference between the two albums," says X, previously known to Nubian fans as Derek X. (Sadat is a more righteous, fitting name," he explains...) The urgent, multi-layered beats of the first single, "Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down," set the stage: "The track is about not being taken advantage of in life," explains Jamar. "The feelings you have when someone tries to take advantage of you and what we would do if that happens. It's also beating them down with the sound," he says with a smile. "We're beating them down with the lyrics, the vocals, the mentality -- and physically, if it has to be." Brand Nubian formed less than two years before making their major label debut, when Sadat X and Lord Jamar left their retrospective outfits, the Chosen Few and KD & The Ever-Lovin' 3. Sincere, officially joined the group in time to record In God We Trust, although he had creative input on Brand Nubian's first album, One For All. "We'd been friends for a long time," Jamar recalls. "We both got knowledge around the same time." The New Rochelle, New York-based group made their debut at a 1989 New Music Seminar showcase. - Press Bio, 1993. Revisit Brand Nubian's sophomore LP, In God We Trust, below...

Here's the official press release from Brand Nubian...

Happy Born Day, Grand Puba! (Playlist)

Grand Puba, born Maxwell Dixon, is best known as the sage lead rapper of Brand Nubian for the group's classic first album, One for All (1990), and the well-regarded reunion album, Foundation (1998). A native of New Rochelle, New York, Dixon made his commercial debut a little earlier with Masters of Ceremony, a group that recorded for M-Low, Strong City, and the larger 4th & Broadway. Shortly after he left Brand Nubian due to some interpersonal conflicts, Puba debuted as a solo artist with Reel to Reel (1992). Released on Elektra, the same major label that supported Brand Nubian, the album featured the excellent singles "360 Degrees (What Goes Around)" and "Check It Out" (with Mary J. Blige), and reached number 28 on the Billboard 200. Never the most prolific rap artist, Grand Puba issued a second Elektra solo album, 2000 (1995), a few years later, and then recorded infrequently for a handful of independents. The Brand Nubian reunion regained some commercial momentum, but his third solo album, Understand This (2001), arrived three years afterward. Retroactive (2009), recorded for Babygrande, included productions by Q-Tip and Large Professor, as well as guest verses from Brand Nubian mates Sadat X and Lord Jamar. Another Babygrande release, Black from the Future (2016) featured the self-produced "UDK" and the PHD collaboration "It's Been a While." - Bio. Ask anyone who was invested in the music and the culture in the 90s, Grand Puba had a run where he was on top of the world! One of the most gifted MCs, and he set trends in fashion, too. When they say "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper" - well, Grand Puba was that dude! So, help me give a warm Happy Born Day shout-out to Grand Puba Maxwell! I'm ALWAYS down to hear new music, and revisit his projects (solo and with Brand Nubian). Below is a short playlist with some of my favorite verses and tracks from Grand Puba... Check The Resume!

 

Brand Nubian "One For All" (30th Anniversary)

"A bootlegger's delight, One For All never achieved the sales figures it deserved, but Grand Puba, Sadat X and Lord Jamar's debut is still unquestionably one of hip-hop's most important records. The trio's brand of pure righteous funk is still able to rock any party," said The Source in 1998. In late September, Passion of the Weiss went back through albums that received the coveted 5-mic review in The Source and had this to say about the LP, "Brand Nubian’s debut (One For All) was a phenomenal album. It took many of the loose threads left by the Last Poets, the Jungle Brothers, KRS-One, Rakim, Public Enemy, and many of the future cartoonish excesses (of B-boyism and 5 percentism) that would eventually be championed by Wu-Tang, Jeru The Damaja, or, uh, KRS-One, and threaded the needle. They are the rap equivalent of the Black Panthers Free Lunch Program, a marriage of high minded political philosophy and grounded civic duty that produces real, tangible results. The trio produced an album that flexed brain and bottom, freeing political diatribe from the throbbing production of the Mind Squad and grounding it in the everyday, making it danceable and cool. The production team of Brand Nubian themselves, Dante Ross and Dave Hall set the stage sonically for Q-Tip and Tribe. And The Source was quick to jump on it, declaring itself as a publication that highly valued Brand Nubian and The Native Tongues brand of scholarly, racially informed, politically aware lyricism that maintained its funk at all times." Circle back to it one time...

From the article "Duel of the Iron Mics" + OG cassette...

Lenny D "The Best of Sadat X" (Mixtape, 2008)

A founding member of the legendary Brand Nubian, Sadat X continues to lead the race while many of his peers have long-since passed the torch. Few artists in any genre have achieved the longevity, notoriety, and critical acclaim that Sadat X has earned over the course of his three-decade-long career. And yet, he's still an underrated artist in the grand scope of things. This "Best Of" mixtape by Lenny D showcases Sadat X in his rightful place alongside some of the greatest spitters of our culture. The mix - originally released in 2008 - features group tracks with Brand Nubian, solo tracks and collaborations with Akinyele, Grand Puba, House of Pain, Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Money Boss Players, Kurious, Jungle Brothers, Common, RA The Rugged Man, Ed O.G., and more! HBD!

Grand Puba "Reel To Reel" 25th Anniversary Mix

A brief description of the mix was put up by Hellee Hooper, explaining "To honor a masterpiece in Hip hop music, I have put together this mix to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Reel To Reel By Grand Puba." For years, I only had this album on cassette, and while I do think it's a great album, cassette probably wasn't the best format because there was a bit of filler on the album, which damaged the replay value for me. That said, I honestly do think Grand Puba was heavily slept-on as an MC, trendsetter, and a potential star rising up from his crew, Brand Nubian. Word around town was always that he was hard to work with (allegedly), which might have been holding him back? Hard to say. "Big Kids Don't Play" is still one of my favorite joints though lol Now is a good time to revisit Grand Puba's "Reel To Reel," props to Hellee Hooper on the mix - be sure to give it a listen below...

Duel Of The Iron Mics (The Source, 1998)

The Source's 100th issue in 1998 had LL Cool J on the cover and a nice article that highlighted 8 classic albums that had previously received 5-mic ratings. Back when the mic rating truly meant something, artists aspired to make an album that would receive that coveted award. And, for fans, as Elliott Wilson said, ''The mics are one of the main reasons that The Source flies off your newsstands. More importantly, there are over 3 million hip-hop fans worldwide who look to The Source for honest reviews of the multitude of rap albums released each month...'  That was true for a long time. The 8 albums selected for the article are: A Tribe Called Quest's 'Peoples Instinctive Travels & the Paths to Rhythm,' Ice Cube's 'AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted,' Brand Nubian's 'One For All' (note to the editor: 'All For One' was the single), De La Soul's 'De La Soul is Dead,' A Tribe Called Quest 'Low End Theory,' Nas' 'Illmatic' and finally, The Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Life After Death.' Interestingly, Elliott explains the historical context of 'Life After Death' and even offers that he originally scoffed at 'Illmatic' receiving a 5-mic rating. Time has proven that Miss Info was correct for her review, but it's not rewriting history to say sales were mediocre and only us real heads were championing it early. Would you argue against any of these records receiving 5 mics? Personally, I've always been on the fence on 'Let The Rhythm Hit Em' but I can see their logic.

Grown Man Rap Show "Brand Nubian Mix"

DJ Toast and Paul Nice broadcast live every Sunday Night (10-12am, EST) at WRPI in Albany, NY. This is Episode 58, a tribute to legendary group, Brand Nubian. Paul Nice's set kicks off with some original samples, then group tracks, solo tracks, and some joints from Masters of Ceremony + Pete Rock & CL Smooth mixed in. DJ Toast steps up and goes straight hip-hop with more group and solo tracks, then tracks by Cormega, The Beatnuts, and more. They deliver each week, keep it locked!

Brand Nubian "Foundation" (Rap Pages, 1998)

"Few rap groups manage what Brand Nubian have: recording a reunion album that equals their previous work. Working with their original lineup for the first time since their masterful debut project, One For All, Grand Puba, Sadat X, Lord Jamar and DJ Alamo (who's now an official member of the group) demonstrate how to deliver a credible, hard-hitting Hip-Hop collection that addresses a variety of topics on Foundation. Focusing on respect, pride, love and struggle, the New Rochelle quartet rap lyrical circles around their myopic competition... While the multitude of overtly positive messages is sure to please their original fan base, several selections will thrill cats who've never experienced Brand Nubian. "The Return," a gritty, flute-backed, chest-thumping celebration that bumps harder than turbulence, wins with a bevy of punch lines and well-placed scratching..." Cont'd...

"Even though the work of the Puba-less Brand Nubian and Puba's solo songs touched on worthy topics and included dazzling wordplay, they work better as a unit than they did separately. The former Derek X's abrasive voice sounds much more appealing when complemented with Jamar's husky presentation and Puba's often playful demeanor. Likewise, Foundation's production far exceeds any of Nubian's work since One For All. Beatmasters such as DJ Premier, Lord Finesse, Buckwild, Diamond D and Grand Puba contribute a myriad of aural moods that fit Brand Nubian's lyrics like shrink-wrap.... Expertly executed, Foundation's poignant subject matter and super production reestablish Brand Nubian as premier Hip-Hop spokesmen." - Rap Pages, 1998. Revisit this LP today!

Brand Nubian "One for All" (25th Anniversary Mixtape)

“This Weekend (4th December 2015) marked the 25th Anniversary of the release of Brand Nubian‘s classic debut album ‘One for All’. Notable for its use of unconventional sample material (see use of Edie Brickell’s ‘What I Am’ on the smash single ‘Slow Down’), this landmark release of the afro-centric era treads an unlikely path between political commentary and humorous braggadocio. In celebration of the album’s 25th birthday, we’ve teamed up with Wax Poetics to present an exclusive mixtape containing tracks from the album, alternate versions, remixes and, of course, original sample material used in the album’s production.” Chris Read's mixes are always dope, check it out below...

Brand Nubian "Everything Is Everything" (Rap Pages, 2/95)

"Mini-markets or bodegas, lowriders or cabs, sunshine or snow. Welcome to the West wit an East Coast perspective. Longtime fans who have followed the evolution of rap's demilegends Brand Nubian may be a little taken aback by the broad musical strength displayed on Lord Jamar and Sadat X's second effort as a duo. Everything Is Everything is not In God We Trust, and it most certainly is not One For All. The album, produced entirely by Lord Jamar (who admittedly is a fan of MC Eiht, Cube, Snoop...and others), wreaks of inspiration and influence from the group's Westside counterparts - culminating in a laid-back, easy-flowing, West Coast "G"-feeling project. The first single "Word Is Bond," hits with an exhibition of hardcore stylistics over a fat jazz track, as does "Step Into Da Cipher," a posse cut spotlighting New York's Serge, Maestro Manny and Snaggapuss. Although concepts get a little cloudy ... Nubian also pull through heavy topical discussions pertaining to the plight of the Black man, proving that their original flavor is not completely left in the dust."

"... Filled with West Coast expressions, sweet female and male backing vocals, live musicians, and, of course, the smart rhyming skills of both Sadat X and Lord J, Brand Nubian return with brand nu vibes and an altogether brand nu sound. But the burning question remains: Is this a genuine bridging of the East Coast / West Coast gap, or is it just another ploy to ... what? Sell records? Fourth-generation Hip-Hoppers may not care, but fans - we want to know." - Rap Pages, 2/95 (Updated).