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The single failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 (“360º” peaked at #68). Songs like “Check The Resume,” “Honey Don’t Front”, “Lickshot,” “Ya Know How It Goes,” “Soul Controller,” “Back It Up” and “Baby What’s Your Name” could be heard blaring from cars, jeeps, Walkmans and radios all across the nation.

Unfortunately, most only remember that Grand Puba’s lead single “360º (What Goes Around)” hit #1 on the Rap charts and that the video introduced the Hilfiger, Girbauds & backpack aesthetic to those outside the Hip-Hop Nation via MTV’s airwaves. What they missed was a classic album devoid of any obvious pandering or attempts of grabbing a crossover audience although Puba was all but poised and set up to take a stab at it. Whenever the subject of Grand Puba was brought up to Dante Ross on Twitter he often remarked that Puba had unrealized potential to blow up. However, the artist often got into his own way and didn’t capitalize on opportunities that were afforded to him both musically and business wise in those critical years.

Cats seem to forget that Grand Puba produced classics for Positive K back in the days. He produced two tracks for MC Lyte’s 1989 classic Eyes On This and wrote bars and did production for many other notable artists over the years. Grand Puba was easily one of the most influential and innovative MCs and producers of the early 90’s. You can easily go cop Grand Puba’s classic 1992 album Reel To Reel on iTunes or go to the record store and seek out a physical copy to hear those chops, hard drums and clever rhymes spit deftly over great production. Brand Nubian dropped their classic sophomore album In God We Trust in February 1993 and it had a much more aggressive and militant edge to it. It was dope but definitely missed that balance Grand Puba’s bars and effortless flow would’ve possibly provided.

One.

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