BBNG

Released in 2011, BBNG is the self-titled debut (often referred to as BBNG1) from the Toronto trio. It served as a manifesto for their 'hip-hop-as-jazz' philosophy, largely consisting of covers and medleys of tracks by Tyler, The Creator, Slum Village, and Nas, alongside video game themes. The recording is famously raw, capturing the trio in a live setting with minimal overdubs, which results in a gritty, high-energy sound that contrasts with the more refined 'chamber jazz' leanings of their later work. Critically, it was a viral sensation that helped bridge the gap between the jazz world and the burgeoning 'internet rap' scene of the early 2010s. It remains a foundational text for the nu-jazz revival, proving that traditional instrumentation could be used to articulate the aesthetics of modern beat-making without losing its improvisational soul.