Hashim - Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)

Agree with'yall. Gotta say this song ranks #1 in my greatest hip-hop/electro cuts of all time.
The incredibly thunderous bass synth showcases how daring and innovative Hashim was, sparkling with one single song hip hop subgenres such as Miami and Electro Bass.
Thank God for Discogs, where I can still find copies of this seminal 80's tune.
By the way, there's a remix on a Cutting Records compilation that is awesome too.
http://www.discogs.com/Various-Cutting-Remixes-Vol-1/release/48937

Cheers from Brazil.

No one can argue that this one single captures the soul of hip hop. I grew up wasting cardboard boxes and tearing holes in the knees of my addidas sweat pants listening to this cut. I get goosebumps whenever I hear the words "It's Tiiiime!" If you want to bring any party back in tempo just break out two of these and start cutting it up. And I have never heard a remix of this jam that has outdone the original.

This is one of those records where you have to say: thank God (or indeed Allah) for the re-press!
Without a doubt this song is timeless and maybe that is the reason why Rockstar Games used it in their game GTA: Vice City.
Hashim's Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) was an instant breakers anthem responsible for much worn lino, bald patches and twisted ligaments! Fat beats, ruuude bass synth and mad vocoder, who could resist! Al-Naafiysh's place was instantly assured in the Hip-Hop hall of fame....How many times have you heard those immortal lines "It's Time" and "Just Feel It" cut to oblivion on two decks?

I have to agree with jay - this is an amazing track for the year it was made, and the production is excellent. It has repetive scratching low in the mix. While scratching on a lot of these older records can be suicide, it's used quite well here to add a complex level of texture and rhythm. That's where the strong production comes in absolutely essential to the overall quality of the track. Soulful bassline and beautiful, athmospheric synth melody. The bass kick and snares are spot-on for an electro track. The sequencing is also nice: the track progresses from dry, straight up electro rhythm to dreamy, melodic electro and back again. Actually, I shouldn't even say "sequencing" - this was probably recorded live! Hashim definitely had skills.

Why even bother making straight-up electro today? It was perfected in 1983!

After 20 years, almost every tune sounds dated, not just electronica. Now, throw this on the decks and listen to it...I'll wait...Can you believe your ears? Without a doubt, one of the TOP 10 all time electro songs. This song established the future of all dance music. Its trance-like sounds, the scratching...God (or was it Allah?) smiled on Hashim!