January 28 marks the 20th anniversary of "Return Of The Funky Man" by the legendary Lord Finesse.
The follow-up to Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth's "Funky Technician" from 1990, Return Of The Funky Man found Lord Finesse sharpening his skills even more and getting down with some of the best in the game.
As well as handling production on six of the 16 songs on the album, Lord Finesse also rhymed over tracks produced by DJ Aladdin, Diamond D, SLJ and Showbiz. Engineering for the album was handled by Jazzy Jay and Skeff Anselm.
We salute the legendary Lord Finesse and encourage hip hop fans worldwide to get Return Of The Funky Man into the collection. It's available for download at iTunes here http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/return-of-the-funky-man/id358064217 and is essential listening.
Be sure to also check out the 20 year anniversary celebration for Return Of The Funky Man on the latest edition of HIPHOPGODS Radio http://rapstation.com/shows/1117/can-you-hear-me-now-hiphopgods-radio.html which features a triple shot from the album.
Back in February of 1992, Matty C of The Source gave the album 3 1/2 mics and had this to say in the review:
Lord Finesse made a name for himself in New York the hard way - stepping on stage and ripping up the mic for stubborn audiences that never heard of him. Needless to say, the crowds loved him. After about two years of underground fame, it's time for Finesse to get his props and blow up.
Finesse is still at his best rhyming to that 'ole slow tempo, soul clap type of groove. He continues to flow with smooth rhymes and powerful punch lines. Cuts like "Stop Sweating the Next Man," "Save That Shit," and "Hey, Look At Shorty" are just a few examples.
Topically, Finesse never steers too far away from how funky he is, and how people that used to dis him are catching the vapors these days. But few other MCs can boost with the skills and conviction of Lord Finesse. Peep it: "When it comes to rhymes I give ya more than ya asked for/bring a whole task force/I rhyme my fuckin' ass off."
The production line-up includes DJ Aladdin, formerly of Low Profile, and two of Finesse's Uptown homeys, Showbiz and Diamond D, while Finesse goes for self on six cuts to create a nice variety of ill flavors.
The track that stands out the most by far is the posse cut, "Yes You May," produced by Showbiz. Homeboys Percee-P (watch out for him in '92) and Andre The Giant (Finesse's 5'3 freestyle accomplice) each get ill respectively.
Suffice to say, Lord Finesse's long awaited second album lives up to its title.
Return Of The Funky Man by Lord Finesse - 20th Anniversary
By Rapstation Editor for RAPstation.com — 01/28/2012
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