Hand On the Torch

Template:Use dmy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Broadway & 52nd1997AlbumHand on the TorchHand_On_The_Torch.jpgUs316 November 1993Flame Studios, LondonJazz rap54:49Blue NoteMel Simpson, Geoff Wilkinsonx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Hand on the Torch is the debut studio album by British jazz rap group Us3. It received widespread attention due to its mixture of jazz with hip-hop music, with material from popular jazz musicians of the 20th century being reimagined. The samples used on the album are from old Blue Note Records classics: the most famous was Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island", which Us3 used on the track "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)". It came out as a single having two different music videos.

In 2003, The Ultimate Hand on the Torch was released, including many of the songs used as sampling material on Hand on the Torch.

The album was a critical success and reached a widespread audience, with the work being nominated for a Grammy Award. It also was the first platinum-certified album put out by Blue Note Records.

Critical reception

Template:Album ratings The Boston Globe listed Hand on the Torch among the best albums of 1993, writing: "Of all the CDs exploring the hybrid of rap, hip-hop and jazz, none hit the target the way this one did."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2016, the musical publication MusicRadar labeled the release a "hip-hop tour de force".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Track listing

1. "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" (Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson, Herbie Hancock) - 4:39
2. "I Got It Goin' On" (Powell, Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson, Reuben Wilson) - 5:18
3. "Different Rhythms Different People" (Simpson, Wilkinson) - 1:16
4. "It's Like That" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Parker, Sonny Rollins) - 3:41
5. "Just Another Brother" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Freddie Hubbard) - 3:42
6. "Cruisin'" (Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson) - 3:30
7. "I Go to Work" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Thelonious Monk) - 4:06
8. "Tukka Yoot's Riddim" (Taylor, Simpson, Wilkinson, Don Covay, Steve Cropper) - 5:41
9. "Knowledge of Self" (Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson) - 4:18
10. "Lazy Day" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Joe Sample) - 4:40
11. "Eleven Long Years" (Taylor, Simpson, Wilkinson, Horace Silver, Hancock) - 3:47
12. "Make Tracks" (Powell, Simpson, Wilkinson, Silver, Duke Pearson) - 4:45
13. "The Darkside" (Kelly, Simpson, Wilkinson, Larry Mizell) - 5:19

Sampling

• "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" features samples from "Cantaloupe Island" as performed by Herbie Hancock, and the introduction by Pee Wee Marquette from "A Night in Birdland, Vol. 1" by Art Blakey Quintet.
• "I Got It Goin' On" features a sample from "Ronnie's Bonnie" as performed by Reuben Wilson.
• "Different Rhythms Different People" features vocal samples from "Art Blakey's Comment On Ritual" and "At The Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2" by The Jazz Messengers.
• "It's Like That" features samples from "Alfie's Theme" as performed by Big John Patton and "Cool Blues" as performed by Lou Donaldson.
• "Just Another Brother" features samples from "Crisis" as performed by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.
• "I Go To Work" features samples from "Straight No Chaser" as performed by Thelonious Monk.
• "Tukka Yoot's Riddim" features samples from "Sookie Sookie" as performed by Grant Green.
• "Lazy Day" features a sample from "Goin' Down South" as performed by Bobby Hutcherson.
• "Eleven Long Years" features samples from "Song For My Father" as performed by Horace Silver and "Blind Man, Blind Man" as performed by Herbie Hancock.
• "Make Tracks" features samples from "Filthy McNasty" as performed by Horace Silver and "Jeannine" as performed by Donald Byrd.
• "The Darkside" features a sample from "Steppin' Into Tomorrow" as performed by Donald Byrd.

Personnel

• Rap – Rahsaan Kelly and Kobie Powell (guest Tukka Yoot on Tukka Yoot's Riddim and Eleven Long Years)
• Trumpet – Gerard Presencer
• Trombone – Dennis Rollins
• Tenor Sax – Mike Smith
• Soprano and Tenor Sax – Ed Jones
• Guitar – Tony Remy
• Piano – Matt Cooper

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart

Weekly chart performance for Hand on the Torch

Chart (1993–1994)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>Template:Cite Ryan</ref>	51
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	31
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	21

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Hand on the Torch

Chart (1994)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	61