On October 20, 1992, Grand Puba released Reel to Reel, his first solo album, on Elektra Records. Thirty-four years later, it still sounds like New York in the early ’90s: loose, funky, full of jokes and name brands, and driven by one of the smoothest voices to ever touch a mic.
What It Was
Puba had already made his name fronting Brand Nubian on One for All, so expectations were sky high when he stepped out on his own. He handled much of the production himself, with help from the Stimulated Dummies, DJ Shabazz, Anthony Latief King, Kid Capri and the Brand New Heavies. The album was recorded across New York at Power Play Studios, Chung King House of Metal and The Hit Factory, according to Wikipedia.
Standout Tracks
Lead single “360° (What Goes Around)” was the one. Built on a Gladys Knight-sampled hook, it ran clubs and daytime radio and hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart (No. 68 on the Hot 100). “Check It Out” brought in a young Mary J. Blige on the hook and reached No. 13 on Hot Rap Songs. Deep cuts like “Lickshot,” “Soul Controller” and “Proper Education” are where heads still go, and “Back It Up” has Kid Capri with the album’s only guest verse.
The album that came out wasn’t quite the album Puba planned. As Albumism notes, songs sampling Steely Dan’s “Black Cow” and Hall & Oates’ “Sara Smile” were cut over clearance issues.
Charts and Reception
Reel to Reel peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard 200 and No. 14 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+, and RapReviews later scored it 8.5 out of 10. It didn’t reach the heights of One for All, and Brand Nubian’s In God We Trust, released a few months later, grabbed a lot of the spotlight.
The Legacy
Here’s where Puba’s influence goes beyond the charts. His brand drops on “360” (Girbaud) and on Mary J. Blige’s “What’s the 411?” (Girbaud and Tommy Hilfiger) reportedly helped move product, and Tommy Hilfiger publicly credited Puba with growing the brand in urban markets, per Rock The Bells. Long before rappers had brand deals, Puba was the walking campaign.
That’s the real story of Reel to Reel: an underrated MC with the ear of a producer and the eye of a stylist. Where does it rank for you among the early-’90s solo debuts? And if you’re on an anniversary kick, check out our look back at Scarface’s The Diary.
Sources: Wikipedia, Albumism, Rock The Bells
