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Guru's Jazzmatazz - The Timebomb [Back to the Future]Album Review by:
Danielle Stolich
Saturday, February 2, 2008
 Guru's success an innovator and legend in Hip-Hop cannot never be denied. Since its inception in 1993, Guru's critically-acclaimed Jazzmatazz series has featured interesting collaborations with some of Hip-Hop, soul and jazz music's greatest icons. He and producer Solar (not to be confused with France's MC Solaar) now return in 2008 with The Timebomb/Back to the Future Mixtape (7 Grand Records), a nostalgic offering of underground Hip-Hop with a modern twist. While not a total departure from Guru's trademark Hip-Hop jazz sound, Timebomb is more Hip-Hop than Bebop. The album features some of Hip-Hop's finest including the legendary DJ Doo Wop (who also hosts the mixtape), DJ Tony Touch, left coast lyricist Aceyalone, Mr. Lif and Lord Tariq (Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz).
The sparse yet head-nodding "The Game Needs Me" features scene-stealing cameos from newcomers Blue Scholars and Common Market waxing poetic about the current state of Hip-Hop. Over an upbeat horn-heavy track, Guru and Common flow heavenly on the mixtape's best song "State of Clarity" (Solar Remix). The track's perfect balance between the jazzy production and dope lyrics embody the essence of why the originality and quality Guru's Jazzmatazz albums are so necessary for Hip-Hop. Other gems include the DJ Doo Wop-assisted "Who Got It On Lock" (which borrows Black Moon's classic "Who Got the Props") and "So What It Do Now"
featuring Aceyalone. While the lineup is very promising, the mixtape's greatest strength (bridging the gap between today's Hip-Hop and the'Golden Era') is also its only weakness. Solar's production is superb but it relies too heavily on recreating instrumentals of popular 90's Hip-Hop classics ( A Tribe Called Quest's "Electric Relaxtion", Eric B. & Rakim's "Know the Ledge" and Black Moon's "How Many MCs" just to name a few) which create redundancy within an otherwise dope release.
While the "Golden Era' deserves its props, an originator and innovator such as Guru need not repeat history to make his mark. Despite that aspect, Timebomb/Back to the Future Mixtape is perfect for underground enthusiasts who yearn for the boom-bap and intricate lyricism of the good ole days.
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