Pitchfork

As the 80s turned into the 90s, the sharp, sparse, clattering electro of hip-hop pioneers like Eric B & Rakim and Run-D.M.C. gave way to a smoother sound lifted largely from the jazz-funk of roughly two decades previous.

That horn-and-organ soaked boom bap largely made up the sound of the groovy Native Tongues hip-hop that flourished in the period: A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and others. The source material for classic tracks from these formidable acts and a mess of others is collected on Droppin' Science: Greatest Samples From the Blue Note Lab, due February 12 on veteran jazz label Blue Note.

The disc includes ten classic cuts (with three bonus tracks on the LP/downloadable version) from the likes of Grant Green, Donald Byrd, Lonnie Smith, and others. In addition to the compilation, a series of ringtones based on the looped samples will also be issued. So now there's no excuse to keep that friggin' "Sex and the City" song.

Droppin' Science:

01 Lou Donaldson: "It's Your Thing"
02 Ronnie Foster: "Mystic Brew"
03 Donald Byrd: "Think Twice"
04 David Axelrod/David McCullum: "The Edge"
05 Jack McDuff: "Oblighetto"
06 Joe Williams: "Get Out of My Life Woman"
07 Grant Green: "Down Here on the Ground"
08 Lonnie Smith: "Spinnin Wheel"
09 Jeremy Steig: "Howling for Judy"
10 Lou Donaldson: "Who's Makin Love (To Your Old Lady)"

Bonus:

11 Ronnie Laws: "Tidal Wave"
12 Monk Higgins: "Little Green Apples"
13 Donald Byrd: "Wind Parade"