The Herbaliser, Phi Life Cypher

Combining deft midtempo beats, well-chosen jazz and funk figures, sparse scratching, and even the odd rap, British group the Herbaliser emerged during the mid-'90s, bridging the gap between dusty B-side instrumental hip-hop and London's school of psychotropic beat scientists. They were signed to Ninja Tune for a decade, and were among the most popular (and purely hip-hop-oriented) acts on the label's roster of sample-based pocket-funk. Gradually, as they moved to other labels, they expanded their sound to include more live instrumentation, even touring and recording as a full ...