Sampling has been a longstanding practice in rap music, with producers delving into various genres in search of the perfect groove or break-beat to pair with an emcee's lyrics. One of the most ...

From A Tribe Called Quest to The Roots, De La Soul to Nas, by the early 90s, it was clear to see that hip hop had a thing for jazz. In 1993, US rapper Guru took it one step further, making the love ...

Guru helped usher in a new era of hip-hop and jazz fusion with his innovative album, Jazzmatazz Vol. 1. The Jazzmatazz series is among the most beloved works in hip-hop, further establishing the late ...

The album cover is an obvious tip of the hat to the Blue Note Record Label, and its creative aims are stated as "an experimental fusion of hip hop and jazz, hosted by Guru". Across the album’s 12 ...

Opinion: In recognition of the 30th anniversary of Guru’s solo debut, “Jazzmatazz Volume 1,” theGrio examines its affect on hip-hop and so-called jazz’s on-going alliance. Editor’s note: The following ...

Twenty-five years after its release, hindsight reveals one now-dated aspect of Guru’s Jazzmatazz, Volume 1: The front cover refers to its fusion of hip-hop and jazz as “experimental.” In 1993, the ...

Widely considered a classic, Guru's solo debut, JazzmatazzVol. 1, is one of the very first records in which hip-hop and jazz drink from the very same pool at the very same time. The record features a ...

Chris Vognar writes about film, music, theater and books. He previously was culture critic for The News.

Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio. The landscape of hip-hop was rapidly changing by 1993, as its commercial ...

Twenty-five years after its release, hindsight reveals one now-dated aspect of Guru's Jazzmatazz, Volume 1: The front cover refers to its fusion of hip-hop and jazz as "experimental." In 1993, the ...