The masses are bound to soon hear one of the most official jazz funk/hip-hop album in history. The legendary Herbie Hancock, class-act keyboardist has recruited an inclusive line up of esteemed artists for his upcoming LP.
The album has no set release date or title yet, but Hancock has revealed he has been working with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Common, Snoop Dogg, Wayne Shorter, and Flying Lotus for the album which reflects his father like relationship with hip-hop culture. His 1983 electro-funk smash hit “Rockit” is one of the most sampled tracks in the history of classic hip-hop music. Despite being stamped as legendary, Hancock admits he is still learning the advanced aspects of creating music today from the young artists he works with.
“I’m learning a lot from the young people I’m working with,” Hancock tells San Diego Tribune. “Because they built the new structures, social media and that whole arena, and that affects how you get things out in front of the public to let them know you’re working on something.”
The funky trims of Hancock have not only deemed him as being a jazz legend but a pioneer of hip-hop classics. Not only did “Rockit” take over the sample waves, but many of Hancock’s signature jazzy keyboard grooves have been sampled in the hip-hop classics of coming generations such as Mobb Deep “Shook Ones II” and KRS-One “Rappaz R. N. Danja.”
