Cymande

If, at any point, you have listened to what is now accepted as classic hip-hop, from the fledgling breakbeats of the late ’70s to The Score by the Fugees or “Change in Speak” by De La Soul, you have already enjoyed the wonders of Cymande. A short-lived group of African and Caribbean immigrants living in London in the early ’70s, Cymande made three astounding records in as many years. They had a hit in the States, shared stages with Al Green, and disbanded soon after, when they encountered the glass ceiling of British pop racism. But their records were perfectly crafted sets of politically positive funk, jazz, and psychedelia, the interplay between Steve Scipio’s bass and Patrick Patterson’s guitar creating an endless amount of prime instrumental fodder for DJs and producers. They are, arguably, the most sampled British group of all time and, inarguably, a founding source of hip-hop.

Buoyed by the use of their decades-old records, Cymande dipped in and out of multiple reunions this century. After the great 2022 documentary Getting It Back traced their origin story and impact, Cymande reconvened in earnest, with Scipio and Patterson rebuilding a big band after several early members either died or opted out due to health concerns. Their 2025 return, Renascence, offers plenty of reminders of the instrumental aplomb and efficiency that first made “One More” and “Bra” so important. “Road to Zion” is a beautifully aspirational tune built on Scipio’s perfect playing, while “Sweeden” is ascendant, aggressive funk. The hard-grooving “Coltrane” is an homage not only to its title character but also to the way music links past and present, us and them. For 50 years, even when they were inactive, Cymande has done exactly that.