1994 by Free Tillman
When I finished my last album “My Way Home” I took a month off and when I got back to beat-making everything I was making sounded like a dirty hallway in Park Hill or the last subway car on the 2AM F train.
The first quarter of this album was inspired by Diamond D, Large Professor, Peat Rock, Q-Tip, RZA, DJ Premier, etc.
The album title was inspired by a year in hip hop that birthed some of the genres’ most classic output: Ready to Die, Illmatic, Southernplayalisticcadillacmuzik, Resurrection, etc. No shade to any rappers in 2018 but in 1994 you could walk into a record store blindfolded and come out with your new favorite album. There were great albums before and great albums after but nothing beats 1994. Come at me bro!
The album kicks off with an homage to 90s rap album intros. Things start off rugged and raw with plenty of soul and jazz loops over thundering drums but smooths out by the time we get to “12AM Looters”.
After “Into the Night” we enter the next phase of the album. This part represents what my sound is now. Still soulful and jazzy but a little more experimental. These aren’t just random beats. Like all my albums there’s a thread from song to song if you pay attention. The most obvious one being the “Gotta Try Love” / “Don’t Have A Kid” section. But even if you mix it up it all still works.
Enjoy.
Tracklist
| 1. | Introducing | 0:37 |
| 2. | There is a Dark Side | 2:03 |
| 3. | Woo Woo Woo | 2:24 |
| 4. | Dumb Body | 3:01 |
| 5. | RZA Bumps | 2:32 |
| 6. | 12AM Looters | 2:44 |
| 7. | Into the Night | 2:08 |
| 8. | Work First (Slow Build) | 2:32 |
| 9. | Red Eye | 2:55 |
| 10. | Alexander The Great (Help The Bear) | 3:07 |
| 11. | The Turn up | 1:39 |
| 12. | 1970 Too Lit To Quit | 1:31 |
| 13. | Sunshine | 2:13 |
| 14. | Gotta Try Love | 2:08 |
| 15. | Heartbreak | 2:04 |
| 16. | Don't Have A Kid | 2:11 |
| 17. | Family Ties ft. Heel | 2:14 |
| 18. | Shift | 2:21 |
| 19. | RUN! | 1:45 |
| 20. | Too Soon | 1:56 |
| 21. | The Beach | 2:08 |
