Brand Nubian
Fire in the Hole
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Brand Nubian was one of the most respected rap troupes of the “golden age” era, but like so many acts at the time, the Afrocentric group had trouble making itself heard over the din of gangsta rap. The group scattered for solo careers in the mid-’90s, reuniting for 1998’s “Foundation,” but now Brand Nubian is back, featuring Grand Puba, Lord Jamar and Sadat X–three of hip-hop’s most overlooked MCs. Considering the group’s pedigree, perhaps it’s no surprise that “Fire in the Hole” (produced by Lord Jamar and Brand Nubian stalwart DJ Alamo) sounds utterly fresh and oddly timeless, as comfortable in today’s hip-hop milieu as it would have been back in 1990.
Take away: Call it a comeback
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Edited by Cara Dipasquale ([email protected]) and Victoria Rodriguez ([email protected])