Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality

Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
Studio album by Guru
Released	July 18, 1995
Recorded	1994-1995
Genre	Jazz rap
Length	69:27
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Guru, Ronny Jordan, Donald Byrd, DJ Premier, Nikke Nicole, Solsonics, Mark Sparks, True Master
Guru chronology
Hard to Earn (1994) Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality (1995) Moment of Truth (1998)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, was the follow-up to the well-received Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1. This second release to the Jazzmatazz series slightly toned down the jazz rap punch that made the first volume memorable. It was nevertheless critically acclaimed in its own right. Guests featured on this release include Freddie Hubbard, Donald Byrd, Ramsey Lewis, Kool Keith, Patra and Jamiroquai; other musicians reprising their roles from the previous release include Branford Marsalis, Courtney Pine and Ronny Jordan.

According to Billboard music charts, this album slightly outpeformed its predecessor; it peaked at #16 and #73 on Billboard's "Top R&B / Hip Hop Albums and "Billboard 200" albums charts respectively. The single, "Watch What You Say" (featuring Chaka Khan), peaked at #13 and #93 on the Billboard's "Hot Dance Music / Maxi-Singles" and "Hot R&B / Hip Hop Singles & Tracks" charts respectively.

Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality was released on July 18, 1995, via the Chrysalis imprint.

Track listing

1. "Intro [Light It Up] Jazzalude I" – 1:44
2. "Lifesaver" – 4:13
3. "Living in This World" – 4:29
4. "Looking Through Darkness" – 4:48
5. "Skit A [Interview] Watch What You Say" featuring Chaka Khan – 5:00
6. "Jazzalude II - Defining Purpose" – 1:02
7. "For You" featuring Meshell Ndegeocello – 4:10
8. "Insert A [Mental Relaxation] Medicine" featuring Ini Kamoze – 4:19
9. "Lost Souls" featuring Jamiroquai - 4:12
10. "Insert B [The Real Deal] Nobody Knows" with Shara Nelson – 3:58
11. "Jazzalude III - Hip Hop As A Way Of Life" – 1:17
12. "Respect The Architect" – 4:51 featuring Bahamadia and Ramsey Lewis
13. "Feel the Music" – 3:57
14. "Young Ladies" – 4:12
15. "The Traveler" – 4:01
16. "Jazzalude IV - Maintaining Focus" – 1:18
17. "Count Your Blessings" – 4:02
18. "Choice Of Weapons" – 4:24
19. "Something in the Past" – 3:19
20. "Skit B [A lot On My Mind] Revelation" – 4:35

Samples Used

• "Lifesaver" contains a sample of "Django" by Cal Tjader
• "Feel the Music" contains a sample of "Revival" by Martine Girault
• "Respect The Architect" contains samples from "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash & "Nobody Beats the Biz" by Biz Markie
• "Choice Of Weapons" contains a sample of "It's A New Day" by Skull Snaps
• "Count Your Blessings" contains a sample of "Your Love" by Skool Boyz
• "Something in the Past" contains samples from "What You Won't Do For Love" by Bobby Caldwell & "You're A Customer" by EPMD
• "Looking Through Darkness" contains samples from "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Otis Redding & "Slippin' into Darkness" by War
• "Insert B [The Real Deal] Nobody Knows" contains a sample of "You Are My Starship" by Norman Connors
• "Watch What You Say" contains a sample of "The Midnight Sun Will Never Set" by Quincy Jones
• "Medicine (Mental Relaxation)" contains a sample of "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)" by Nas

Personnel

• Marc Antoine — Guitar
• Bahamadia — Vocals
• Baybe — Vocals
• Carlos Bess — Engineer, Mixing
• Big Shug — Vocals
• Bu — Vocals
• Donald Byrd — Trumpet, Producer
• Rob Caprio — Engineer
• Choko — Creative Input
• Mike Chukes — Engineer
• Jez Colin — Producer, Bass
• Wallace Collins — Didjeridu
• Derrick Davis — Flute, Sax (Alto)
• Tony Dawsey — Mastering
• DJ Premier — Producer
• DJ Red Handed — Scratching, Turntables
• DJ Scratch — Scratching, Turntables
• DJ Sean-Ski — Scratching, Turntables
• Bill-Dog Dooley — Engineer
• Neale Easterby — Executive Producer
• Keith Elam — Executive Producer
• Paul "Sequence" Ferguson — Piano, Keyboards & Guitar
• Gordon Franklin — Creative Input
• Darren Galea — Sax (Tenor)
• Kenny Garrett — Saxophone, Fender Rhodes
• Steve Gursky — Engineer, Mixing
• Guru — Arranger, Composer, Vocals, Producer, Mixing
• Gus Da Vigilante — Vocals
• Brian Holt — Bass, Guitar, Keyboards
• Freddie Hubbard — Trumpet
• Kenneth Ifill — Engineer
• Jason Kay — Vocals
• J.B. — Engineer
• Ben Jones — Engineer
• Benny Jones — Engineer
• Ronny Jordan — Guitar, Producer
• Ini Kamoze — Vocals
• Chaka Khan — Vocals
• Jan Kincaid — Piano
• Kool Keith — Vocals
• Thierry Le Goues — Photography
• Dee C. Lee — Vocals
• Shawn Lee — Drums
• Ramsey Lewis — Synthesizer, Piano, Moog Synthesizer
• Lucien — Vocals
• Henry Marquez — Art Direction
• Branford Marsalis — Saxophone
• Willie McNeil — Drums
• Dennis Mitchell — Keyboards, Engineer
• Sikken Moov — Vocals
• Leo Morris — Engineer
• Leo Swift Morris — Engineer
• Patrick Moxey — Executive Producer
• Me'Shell NdegéOcello — Bass, Vocals
• Shara Nelson — Vocals
• Nikke Nicole — Producer
• Panchi Da Wild Comanchi — Creative Input
• Mica Paris — Vocals
• Patra — Vocals
• Courtney Pine — Flute, Saxophone
• Bernard "Pretty" Purdie — Drums
• Joe Quinde — Engineer
• Dennis Rodriguez — Keyboards
• J. Rodriguez — Clarinet, Flute
• Mike Rone — Creative Input
• Eddie Sancho — Engineer, Mixing
• Solsonics — Producer
• Mark Sparks — Producer
• Sweet Sable — Vocals
• True Master — Vocals, Producer
• Yoram Vanan — Engineer
• Kieran Walsh — Engineer
• Reuben Wilson — Organ
• Stuart Zender — Bass

Album reviews

• Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality at AllMusic