TRACKLIST
A1 Clin D'Oeil 7:04
A2 Ease My Mind 5:28
A3 I Am Hip Hop 4:43
B1 When The Clock Ticks 4:54
B2 Genius At Work 4:30
B3 Indonesia 6:03
B4 The Process 5:27
C1 The Return 5:14
C2 U Do 5:38
C3 Cool Down 5:21
C4 Take A Time 5:11
D1 Vacation 4:52
D2 Speak The Language 6:00
D3 Qidar 4:05
DESCRIPTION
★ With Obi-Strip
★ Limited Edition Vinyl
★ 2xLP
Back in the days, there was bebop. And now, there’s hip-hop”. The spoken words from Tre Hardson at the tail end of album opener and title track “Clin d’oeil” summarizes in one phrase what Clin d’oeil embodies.
The debut album from French three-piece producer unit Jazz Liberatorz, starts with subdued bass and handclaps under a spoken word section. As the smooth tones of a vibraphone and instantly recognizable hip-hop drum beats replace the handclaps, it becomes clear that this is as much a jazz album as it is a hip-hop album. The beats are always mellow, with muted horns and lounge-esque piano licks playing as much a role as the drums. The features from 90s hip-hop royalty such as The Pharcyde’s Fatlip, and Tre Hardson, Buckshot from Black Moon, and Brand Nubian’s Sadat X, are just as smooth, with buttery rhymes that seem to meld with quiet electric piano riffs and subtle upright bass. Reissued on limited edition vinyl as a double LP, this 2008 classic from Jazz Liberatorz is one for the collectors! With album artwork inspired by legendary spiritual jazz label Black Jazz Records, and an obi-strip to match, this LP has never looked this good!