Nas
Magic

Prince’s “Raspberry Beret” was playing on the radio in his dad’s car when Stimulator Jones was in grade school, but the lyric he thought he heard on the hook was: “round spiritual ring.”That’s become the title of his new album. Round Spiritual Ring shows a more personal and vulnerable side than Stimulator’s debut Exotic Worlds and Masterful Treasures, with lyrics that touch on his struggles with depression and chronic pain. But Stimulator – aka Sam Lunsford – is an optimist at heart, and his album’s overarching message is that love and connection are the forces that will ultimately save us. The first track from the album, “Love Will Light Your Dreams,” carries this message: “It’s hard for you to see / When your life is empty / But that’s alright / Just close your eyes / And love will light your dreams.”Stimulator Jones now knows all the lyrics to “Raspberry Beret,” and can play the song on virtually any instrument, from bass to sitar. Round Spiritual Ring’s title does more than pay homage to one of his musical heroes; it also symbolizes the connectedness of everything, what Sam calls “repetitive forces in the world” – think DNA, the planets, or vinyl records.

While late-’80s East Coast rap was brimming with Afrocentrism through the Native Tongues collective and the quintessential B-boy flair of Run-DMC, Wu-Tang Clan rose from the ether as a minatory, philosophical force hailing from Staten Island. As the impetus of hardcore rap, 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)' was a succinct orchestration of mayhem and ruthless lyricism that introduced a new dawn of hip-hop brilliance. Over the sound of repetitive snapping and combative slamming, head honcho RZA is the introductory voice of the album on “Bring Da Ruckus.” Challenging all foes, the song is a nexus between Wu-Tang Clan and martial arts culture, aggressively daring hip-hop rivals to compete. As Wu-Tang Clan became a global sensation, the success of '36 Chambers' was a slow burn, but eventually certified Platinum in 1995. The forefathers of current-day venomous rappers and crews like Denzel Curry, Pro Era and A$AP Mob, Wu-Tang Clan revolutionized ’90s rap based on their volatile origins and street wisdom. On 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),' the once-overlooked posse emerged straight from the underground.