Talkin' All That Jazz

Recorded for Stetsasonic’s 1988 album In Full Gear, with Prince Paul producing and the group’s core vocal lineup on the performance. The track was issued as a Tommy Boy single later in 1988. The song became one of Stetsasonic’s defining statements, answering critics of rap sampling while arguing for hip-hop’s musical legitimacy. It was singled out by Robert Christgau as one of the strongest tracks on In Full Gear. The track remained a touchstone for jazz rap and for hip-hop’s early defense of sampling as creative practice. Its message and groove have kept it in circulation through later reissues, remixes, and sampling-history discussions.