Dream Warriors, the innovative hip-hop duo formed by Frank Allert (Capital Q) and King Lou (Louie Robinson), alongside Richard Rodwell, gifted the world with a truly Boombastic Song in 1991: “My Definition.” This track wasn’t just another hip-hop tune; it was a cultural fusion, skillfully blending their Caribbean roots – Allert and Robinson from the Caribbean, Rodwell with Jamaican immigrant parents – with the burgeoning Canadian hip-hop scene. This unique background allowed them to infuse Jamaican and Trinidadian musical sensibilities into the genre, setting them apart.
“My Definition” stands out as a boombastic song because of its ingenious combination of hip-hop rhythms with the smooth sounds of American jazz. The song prominently samples Quincy Jones’s 1962 instrumental hit, “Soul Bossa Nova,” a track known for its catchy flute and horn melodies. This sample choice wasn’t random; it was a deliberate move to create a magical jazz-rap fusion, a sound that was both cool and captivating. The genius of this boombastic song lies in its clever juxtaposition of the old and the new. It places modern rap verses against a backdrop of 1960s jazz-pop instrumentation, reminiscent of the twist dance craze era. Yet, despite these vintage elements, “My Definition” remains unequivocally a rap song, complete with repetition, sample manipulation, intricate wordplay, and chanted, rhyming lyrics that are hallmarks of the genre.
Jazz sampling wasn’t a novel concept in hip-hop, having roots in the New York City scene. However, “My Definition” marked a significant milestone as the first of its kind in Canada. The Toronto rap scene, geographically and culturally distinct from its American counterpart, had been striving for recognition. Dream Warriors’ emergence with this boombastic song was a breakthrough moment.
Richard Rodwell himself acknowledged their pioneering role in an interview with a Toronto radio station: “The Dream Warriors were really the first ones to go international…. It was definitely the first of its kind. Everything was hardcore rap back then, and we were coming from a different perspective.” They consciously steered away from the prevailing themes of violence, profanity, and misogyny in rap, offering a refreshing and sonically innovative alternative. This new, positive sound resonated deeply with listeners, contributing to the boombastic song’s widespread appeal.
The pairing of bossa nova and rap in this boombastic song proved to be exceptionally natural and timely. Brazilian bossa nova was considered exotic and gained considerable popularity in North America in 1962, mirroring the novelty and rising popularity of rap in the early 1990s. Dream Warriors recognized this parallel. Upon hearing Quincy Jones’s “Soul Bossa Nova,” they posed a simple yet brilliant question: “Why not combine the two?” The answer was “My Definition,” a boombastic song that, as the lyrics themselves proclaim, is “Once again with a new blend.”
The term “boombastic” itself perfectly encapsulates the song’s vibe. Originating in Jamaican rap, “boombastic” is a term used to describe something fantastic, extremely attractive, and radiating light-heartedness and excitement. It’s an ideal descriptor for the feeling evoked by Jones’s “Soul Bossa Nova” sample and, consequently, for “My Definition” as a whole. Indeed, “My Definition” is a truly boombastic song in every sense of the word.
