Blue Prints - the Sampled Soul of Massive Attack

Long before “digging” meant buying records, Bristol’s The Wild Bunch were chasing a different rhythm. DJs, MCs, producers, graffiti artists and B-Boys from the West Country, they built a local reputation before going global as the soundsystem nobody wanted to clash with.

That crew would become Massive Attack, reshaping modern music with their debut, Blue Lines. Rather than follow the obvious UK rap and soul touchstones of the time, they pulled from jazz, funk, soul, reggae and world music, drawn to dusty crackle as much as groove.

Here are a few of the records that helped sketch the blueprint:

Billy Cobham – Stratus
Wally Badarou – Mambo
Tom Scott – Sneakin In The Back
Lowrell – Mellow Mellow Right On
Al Green – I’m So Glad You’re Mine
Lewin Bones Lock – Five Man Dub
Mahavishnu Orchestra – Planetary Citizen, You Know, You Know
JJ Johnson – Parade Strut
The Blackbyrds – Rock Creek Park
Isaac Hayes – Ike’s Mood