Too Blue Lou

Too Blue Lou and the Groove: The Birth of Hip Bop

by Woodrow Wilkins
August 1, 2008

Not all attempts to blend jazz with rap are successful. Often, it's R&B or hip-hop packaged in a way that fools people into thinking it is jazz when it isn't. Once in a while, a merger of these genres works. The Birth of Hip Bop, by Too Blue Lou and the Groove, is one such merger.This small ensemble describes itself as a unique blend of groove-oriented improvisation, scat vocals and rap, played over heavy beats and a traditional ...