Roy Hargrove, The RH Factor – Hard Groove (2xLP, Verve By Request Series, 180g)

Roy Hargrove's "Hard Groove" with The RH Factor is straight fire. This 2003 gem fuses jazz, hip-hop, funk, and soul into a slick, boundary-pushing sound. Hargrove’s trumpet game is on point, kicking off with the banging "Hardgroove" track. Collaborations with legends like Common on "Common Free Style" and Erykah Badu on "Poetry" take this album to another level. The beats are tight, the vibes are smooth, and the whole album just flows. "Hard Groove" is a dope mix that keeps it real, appealing to both jazz heads and the new school crowd. Don’t sleep on this one!