Herbie Hancock-Future Shock (1983)

Like other musicians such as Miles Davis and David Bowie, Herbie Hancock always embraced the new musical trends of his time, sometimes yielding great results, though often not so much. This was the case with his thirtieth studio album, "Future Shock", where the African American keyboardist radically altered his career by fusing hip-hop, electronic boogie, and danceable rhythm and blues. Amidst the effervescent hip-hop movement of that era, influenced by African beat sounds and Black American music, Hancock crafted an album that, beneath his signature funk/jazz rhythms, incorporated other avant-garde sonic elements, creating a contagious and addictive work. Part of the album's success is also due to bassist and producer Bill Laswell, who rose to prominence in New York's creative post-punk jazz scene and from there to superstardom with the massive success of this release. Similarly, another driving force behind the album was Grand Mixer DST, who transformed the newfound skill of scratching into an art form and added cutting-edge, creative soundscapes to most of the tracks. Between Herbie, DST, and Bill, they created an album brimming with unforgettable melodies and rhythms. The catchy tune of "Rockit", the elegant, exotic fusion of "Earth Beat", and the electro-funk of "Autodrive" helped secure this album a privileged place in music history, far beyond the 1980s.