Fan-tas-tic 1

The contributions of the late Detroit producer James DeWitt Yancey -better known to the

world as J Dilla- to the world of hip-hop can't be overstated, and nowhere is his legacy

more apparent than his work as a member of Slum Village. A founding member of the

trio, (Alongside rappers T3 and Baatin) Dilla provided the group's distinctly esoteric,

free-wheeling sound, built around winding basslines, quirky drumbeats, subtle low-end

frequencies, and classic jazz & soul samples. Against the backdrop of Dilla's rich

production, T3 and Baatin's free-flowing style of rhyming would also earn wide critical

praise, leading to comparisons as the successors to A Tribe Called Quest. (A label they

themselves have rejected.)

It's on Slum Village's 1997 studio debut, Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1, that all these elements

come together in the most proficient manner. An instant hit among Detroit's underground

hip-hop scene, the album seemed to combine all the best elements of the reigning

alternative and gangsta styles of hip-hop into one cohesive style that was a hit

among critics. Fan-Tas-Tic's influence extended far beyond Detroit, as its sound heavily

influenced the sounds of D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and The Roots just to name a few.

(Roots drummer ?uestlove has even declared that: "Hands down this album birthed the

neo-soul movement.")

Ne'Astra Media Group now presents the album reissued on vinyl, for the first time in

several years. Every wobbling bass note of J Dilla's production has been preserved and

every freestyle line of T3 and Baatin has been re-created, to maintain the legacy of a

late-90s rap classic, and the legend of one of hip-hop's greatest beatsmiths.