Quincy Jones - Back On The Block (Revisited)

This was one of my favorite albums as a kid, in 2 years it will be 20 years old and for my ears it's timeless.

What does it have to do with Hip-Hop?

1) The opening title track has Melle Mel, Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane who all killed their verses but Kool Moe Dee stole the show from everyone. The beat faded and he blacked out with

AN EVERLASTING OMNIPRESENCE
IS MY PRESENT
STATE OF BEING SEEING
THE UNPLEASANT

2) Jazz Corner Of The World - A mini rap lesson on a few jazz legends by Moe Dee and Kane. The vintage late 80's fast rap flow and actual samples of the artists they're running down, combined with the song "Birdland" that follows makes for an incredible experience.

Outside of Hip-Hop, this album had gems like Tevin Campbell's "Tomorrow" (when the saxophone solo and the choir comes in, FORGET ABOUT IT) which could motivate people 50 years from now, and the super adult "The Secret Garden" with Al B. Sure, James Ingram, El DeBarge, & Barry White which surely got your aunt's panties dropping back then.

Quincy Jones embraced the youth's popular culture, while blending many genres into cohesive excellence with this one.

tinyurl.com/2lrwjd