Emerging in the early 1970s, Hip Hop would rise from the streets of the Bronx to become a recognized art form in mainstream society by the mid-1980s. With many pioneers paving the way in the early years, including Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Melle Mel of the Furious Five, and Kool Moe Dee, as the ‘80s took off, others such as Run-DMC, Eric B. & Rakim, and Public Enemy emerged. However, the genre’s iconic figures go far beyond a few names, and one of them is the lyrical master Grand Puba.
Emerging in the late 1980s from the New York City area, Grand Puba was part of Masters of Ceremony (which released Dynamite in 1988) before forming the influential Brand Nubian at the end of the 1980s. Releasing the exceptional album One for All in 1990 with Brand Nubian, Grand Puba was still growing and opted to pursue a solo career shortly thereafter, putting out his sensational debut, Reel to Reel, in 1992. An album that peaked at #28 on the Billboard 200 and #14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, while featuring the popular hit “360° (What Goes Around),” he also broadened the world attention to the award-winning R&B Vocalist Mary J. Blige on the single “Check It Out,” before going on to co-wrote for her debut 1992 album What’s the 411?.
A truly vital figure in Hip Hop, Grand Puba would find even greater success in 1995 with his album 2000, which was one of the biggest Hip Hop albums of the year and one of the most beloved of the ‘90s. However, Grand Puba still had much more to give, returning to Brand Nubian in 1997 to be part of the reunion album Foundation in 1998, then releasing his album Understand This in 2001, before Retroactive in 2009. Remaining busy, he returned in 2016 with Black from the Future (an album that proved Grand Puba was still among the most lyrically sharp), before focusing on live performances and securing his legacy.
Extremely passionate about putting out the best work he possibly can, 2024 arrived with the collaborative album The Brooklyn Premiere (featuring the likes of Grandmaster Melle Mel and Cappadonna), while also teaming Grand Puba with his son Stunna Gang on tracks like “Ain’t No Big Thing” and “Think Twice.” Very much feeling as if Grand Puba was beginning to pass the torch along to a new generation of talent, he is still prime for one final hurrah. That being said, 2025 found Grand Puba plotting what you would call a retirement plan as he began playing farewell shows, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 3rd Annual Hip-Hop Grandmaster Awards, and released an EP titled The Origin.
Released on May 16, 2025, The Origin – The Retirement Package, Vol. 1 is said to be the first installment of a three-part farewell EP series for Grand Puba. With the release of Volume 2 and 3 yet to be announced, The Origin Volume 1 is available on various streaming services and in physical formats such as vinyl, CD, and cassette through Diggers Factory. For those who may have missed the EP’s initial premiere last spring, it is time you are brought up to speed.
A collection of 10 tracks, The Origin is a classic-sounding Hip Hop record with plenty of thoughtful lyrics and signature rhymes from Grand Puba. As smooth as ever on the microphone, Grand Puba teamed with Cainaan on production, offering a mix of old-school grit and modern techniques. Featuring some really compelling beats and melodies, above all, what makes the record shine is Grand Puba’s lyrical prowess. Always known for his socially conscious words, he touches on many topics throughout the album, such as on “Odyssey,” which explores communication, resolution, and finding humanity in the darkness of a modern world. Furthermore, “Soul Baby” raps about enlightenment, while “Love Is Love” (featuring vocals by Bena Dwech) spreads a positive message.
Altogether, the entire EP is filled with memorable moments with an even flow and great hooks. Also including collaborations with Kool Keith on the potent “Back By Popular Demand” and his son, Stunna Gang, for “It Aint No Big Thing,” The Origin Volume 1 is a fitting addition to Grand Puba’s discography. Curious what Volume 2 and Volume 3 will hold, Cryptic Rock gives The Origin – The Retirement Package, Vol. 1 5 out of 5 stars.
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