Make the Road by Walking

Released in 2008 on Dunham (a subsidiary of Daptone), 'Make the Road by Walking' is the debut album from Menahan Street Band, a supergroup featuring members of The Dap-Kings, Antibalas, and El Michels Affair. Recorded in Thomas Brenneck's bedroom in Bushwick, the album became a cornerstone of the modern soul revival. Its sonic identity is defined by a 'dusty' production style that mimics 1970s library music and blaxploitation soundtracks. The title track gained massive cultural recognition after being sampled by Jay-Z for his hit 'Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)'. Beyond its life as a sample source, the album is a cohesive instrumental narrative that balances funk's rhythmic urgency with a brooding, cinematic melancholy. It remains a definitive example of the 'Brooklyn Soul' sound, bridging the gap between classic analog recording techniques and hip-hop's rhythmic sensibilities.