The 100 Greatest Native Tongues Songs
By Complex Magazine | Dec 15, 2010 | 1:23 pm | Permalink
#77. Jungle Brothers f/ Q-Tip "Black Is Black"
Year: 1988
Produced By: Straight Out the Jungle
Album: Jungle Brothers
Label: Warlock
"Black Is Black" is impressive and notable for several reasons. First, it is a very direct, almost confrontational analysis of racial identity and colorism, topics which had been previously alluded to on rap songs, but not usually tackled so explicitly. Secondly, it contains samples from Prince, Kool & the Gang, Gil Scott-Heron, and the Meters; it's a marvelous example of how broad musical appreciation and a desire to insert oneself into the pantheon of great black musicians can lead to great results. (Kanye-obsessed critics, make the connection.) Thirdly, this is an early Q-Tip appearance. Listen now.
Rel December 15th, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Wait no God lives through, are you serious.
R. Poole December 15th, 2010 at 12:59 PM
ha-ha... remember PM Dawn thought they were dissin' them with this?
Eloh December 15th, 2010 at 01:14 PM
Ya'll should post a download link.It is Christmas you know!
joe December 15th, 2010 at 01:47 PM
my mental is excelling cause i dabble in the books
seymour glass December 15th, 2010 at 02:48 PM
Little low. Jimbrowski for president.
ox December 15th, 2010 at 06:50 PM
#63 used to be my joint...bumped it in the whip constantly...that is an example of a hip-hop song that is perfected, stripped down beats and rhymes....crazy
FTW December 15th, 2010 at 07:46 PM
I don't care who you are—if you were even remotely curious about the process of producing hip-hop music, your mind was blown the second you realized that Tribe had turned Minnie Ripperton's whistle-pitch vocals into an instrument ^^^^^ This.
Madlib December 15th, 2010 at 08:38 PM
Greatest Complex List EVER
Madlib December 15th, 2010 at 08:40 PM
the greatest complex list ever created.
Slick Savage December 16th, 2010 at 03:31 AM
Simply classic... But yo, WTF iz,"Subbups, subbups..."???