Hand On the Torch

Hand on the Torch is the debut album by British jazz-rap group Us3. It received much attention because of its mix of jazz and rap, using live jazz musicians. All samples used on the album are from old Blue Note classics: the most famous being Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island", used on the track "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)", which was recorded with two different music videos.

Hand on the Torch
Studio album by
Us3
Released16 November 1993[1]
GenreJazz rap, alternative hip hop
Length54:49
LabelBlue Note
ProducerMel Simpson, Geoff Wilkinson
Us3 chronology
Hand on the Torch
(1993)		 Broadway & 52nd
(1997)
Singles from Hand On the Torch
  1. "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)"
    Released: October 10, 1992
  2. "Tukka Yoot's Riddim"
    Released: 1993
  3. "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)"
    Released: 1993 (UK reissue)
  4. "I Got It Goin' On"
    Released: 1994
  5. "Eleven Long Years"
    Released: 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rolling Stone[2]

In 2003, The Ultimate Hand on the Torch was released, including many of the songs used as sampling material on Hand on the Torch.

Track listing
  1. "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" (Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson, Herbie Hancock) - 4:39
  2. "I Got It Goin' On" (Powell, Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson, Reuben Wilson) - 5:18
  3. "Different Rhythms Different People" (Simpson, Wilkinson) - 1:16
  4. "It's Like That" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Parker, Sonny Rollins) - 3:41
  5. "Just Another Brother" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Freddie Hubbard) - 3:42
  6. "Cruisin'" (Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson) - 3:30
  7. "I Go to Work" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Thelonious Monk) - 4:06
  8. "Tukka Yoot's Riddim" (Taylor, Simpson, Wilkinson, Don Covay, Steve Cropper) - 5:41
  9. "Knowledge of Self" (Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson) - 4:18
  10. "Lazy Day" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Joe Sample) - 4:40
  11. "Eleven Long Years" (Taylor, Simpson, Wilkinson, Horace Silver, Hancock) - 3:47
  12. "Make Tracks" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Silver, Duke Pearson) - 4:45
  13. "The Darkside" (Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson, Larry Mizell) - 5:19

Sampling
  • "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" features samples from "Cantaloupe Island" as performed by Herbie Hancock, and the introduction by Pee Wee Marquette from "A Night in Birdland, Vol. 1" by Art Blakey Quintet.
  • "I Got It Goin' On" features a sample from "Ronnie's Bonnie" as performed by Reuben Wilson.
  • "Different Rhythms Different People" features vocal samples from "Art Blakey's Comment On Ritual" and "At The Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2" by The Jazz Messengers.
  • "It's Like That" features samples from "Alfie's Theme" as performed by Big John Patton and "Cool Blues" as performed by Lou Donaldson.
  • "Just Another Brother" features samples from "Crisis" as performed by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.
  • "I Go To Work" features samples from "Straight No Chaser" as performed by Thelonious Monk.
  • "Tukka Yoot's Riddim" features samples from "Sookie Sookie" as performed by Grant Green.
  • "Lazy Day" features a sample from "Goin' Down South" as performed by Bobby Hutcherson.
  • "Eleven Long Years" features samples from "Song For My Father" as performed by Horace Silver and "Blind Man, Blind Man" as performed by Herbie Hancock.
  • "Make Tracks" features samples from "Filthy McNasty" as performed by Horace Silver and "Jeannine" as performed by Donald Byrd.
  • "The Darkside" features a sample from "Steppin' Into Tomorrow" as performed by Donald Byrd.

Personnel
  • Rap – Rahsaan Kelly and Kobie Powell (guest Tukka Yoot on Tukka Yoot's Riddim)
  • Trumpet – Gerard Presencer
  • Trombone – Dennis Rollins
  • Tenor Sax – Mike Smith
  • Soprano and Tenor Sax – Ed Jones
  • Guitar – Tony Remy
  • Piano – Matt Cooper

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[6] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes
  1. Hand On the Torch at AllMusic
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "US3, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  4. "US3, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  5. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  6. "American album certifications – US3 – Hand On the Torch". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2 February 2021. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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