was anyone making music like this, before it?
most of the critics seem to dislike it for not being hip-hop enough, but it is banging hip-hop. even common dismisses it, maybe because he wants to forget erykah badu.
timbaland laid the foundation for commercial hip-hop. on electric circus, dilla and ?uestlove showed a way forward for the underground, beyond premo/ pete rock.
listen to the psychedelic hip-hop since then...
andre 3000's the love below was massive commercially and with critics, as was the roots phrenology.
sa-ra held the torch for a while, now flying lotus are doing it.
rustie and hudson mohawke are the future.