The Decade of Darkness

The Decade of Darkness
Studio album by
Afrika Bambaataa
Released1991
GenreHip hop
LabelEMI
Afrika Bambaataa chronology
The Light
(1988) 		The Decade of Darkness
(1991) 		Don't Stop... Planet Rock (The Remix EP)
(1992)

The Decade of Darkness, also referred to as 1990–2000 The Decade of Darkness, is an album by the American musician Afrika Bambaataa, released in 1991.[1][2] Bambaataa is credited with his backing musicians, the Family.[3] The Decade of Darkness was Bambaataa's first album for EMI Records.[4]

The first single was "Just Get Up and Dance", which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.[5][6] It peaked at No. 45 on the UK Singles Chart.[7]

Production

The album was recorded in Italy, where Bambaataa worked with producers with backgrounds in Italian disco.[8][9] "Say It Loud (I'm Black, I'm Proud)" is a version of the James Brown song.[10] "Sweat" was inspired by Prince's song "Head".[11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Calgary HeraldB[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[10]
Entertainment WeeklyB[14]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[11]
Spin Alternative Record Guide6/10[15]

The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "another smoking mix of funk, rock, hip-hop and world beats and street-smart social commentary."[16] The Washington Post called it "a package of ambient, hip-house Euro-dance tracks."[8] The Calgary Herald wrote that the "first side is incendiary... Prime dance music, sorta like a '90s version of Chic packing heat."[13] Entertainment Weekly noted that, "unlike most of the trendy hip-house imitators currently working, [Bambaataa] has grit and soul... This album is one good street party, put together by an old master."[14]

AllMusic stated: "Fueled by righteous social commentary throughout the songs, the record showed that he wasn't creatively spent."[12]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Just Get Up and Dance" 
2."Taste the Funk" 
3."Sweat" 
4."Save the World" 
5."Can't Give You Up" 
6."Power Boy Power" 
7."Steppin' Hard Zulu Nation" 
8."Freedom" 
9."Soca Fever (Rock It)" 
10."In a Minute" 
11."Electro Funk Express" 
12."Say It Loud (I'm Black, I'm Proud)" 

References

  1. ^ Murphy, Bill (November 1, 2004). "Return of the Funk Renegade". Remix.
  2. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa Biography by John Bush". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  3. ^ Gross, Jason. "Afrika Bambaataa". Perfect Sound Forever. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  4. ^ McAdams, Janine (Oct 12, 1991). "Real Rappers". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 41. p. 24.
  5. ^ Heim, Chris (4 Oct 1991). "For Afrika Bambaataa, it's been A Decade of Darkness...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
  6. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa". Billboard. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Afrika Bambaataa". Official Charts. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b Griffin, Gil (18 Oct 1991). "Hip-Hop Procedure: Parliamentary Funk". The Washington Post. p. N16.
  9. ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 53.
  10. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  11. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 8, 9.
  12. ^ a b "1990-2000: The Decade of Darkness Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. ^ a b Tremblay, Mark (20 Oct 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C7.
  14. ^ a b Fox, Marisa (October 18, 1991). "The Decade of Darkness". Entertainment Weekly.
  15. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. pp. 27, 28.
  16. ^ Heim, Chris (13 Sep 1991). "Afrika Bambaataa, Thursday at Ka-Boom!". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. J.