Gang Starr - "Jazz Thing"

Gang Starr probably had the "jazziest" jazz-rap songs out there. A Tribe Called Quest made rap songs with jazz samples. The Roots are a jazz band, more or less. Digable Planets said nursery rhymes over boho jazz beats. But Gang Starr made songs that could sound like jazz songs, and used "real" jazz samples.

I don't know if saying that DJ Premier revolutionized sampling is either an overstatement or blatantly obvious. But this song shows everything great about his style, finding the best groove in a jazz song and riding it. Plus, Guru gives a very nice survey of the giants of jazz music.

In the 40's came bebop, the first bebop
The real bebop, so let me talk about
Diz and Byrd, givin' the word
Defining how a beat could be so complete
Playing with ferocity, thinkin with velocity
About ornathology, or anthropology
and even efficiency, and this is real history
Theolonious Monk, a melodious thunk
No mistakes were made with the notes he played
His conception, was recondite
A star glowing bright among dim lights
The critics did cite that he sounded alright
Charlie Mingus, such nimble fingers
Droppin the bass, all over the place
and Max Roach, cymbals socking
Bass drum talking, snare drum rocking
Restructuring.. the metaphysics
Of a jazz thing