From the Mint Factory

Released in 1993 on Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis's Perspective Records, 'From the Mint Factory' is Mint Condition's sophomore effort and arguably their most cohesive work. While their debut introduced them as the rare self-contained band in a New Jack Swing world, this album sees them leaning harder into their jazz-fusion and funk roots. Led by the virtuosic vocals and drumming of Stokley Williams, the band crafts a sound that is both technically proficient and commercially accessible. The album features the hit 'U Send Me Swinging,' which showcases their ability to blend complex time signatures with soulful hooks. Critically, the album is noted for its 'hand-played' quality, a stark contrast to the sample-heavy production of 1993. It solidified their position as the torchbearers of the Minneapolis funk tradition, bridging the gap between Prince's eclectic arrangements and the smooth R&B of the mid-90s.