| The Decade of Darkness | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Afrika Bambaataa |
| Cover: | The Decade of Darkness.jpg |
| Released: | 1991 |
| Genre: | Hip hop |
| Label: | EMI |
| Prev Title: | The Light |
| Prev Year: | 1988 |
| Next Title: | Don't Stop... Planet Rock (The Remix EP) |
| Next Year: | 1992 |
The Decade of Darkness, also referred to as 1990–2000 The Decade of Darkness, is an album by the American musician Afrika Bambaataa, released in 1991.[1] [2] Bambaataa is credited with his backing musicians, the Family.[3] The Decade of Darkness was Bambaataa's first album for EMI Records.[4]
The first single was "Just Get Up and Dance", which peaked at No. 4 on Billboards Dance Club Songs chart.[5] [6] It peaked at No. 45 on the UK Singles Chart.[7]
The album was recorded in Italy, where Bambaataa worked with producers with backgrounds in Italian disco.[8] "Say It Loud (I'm Black, I'm Proud)" is a version of the James Brown song. "Sweat" was inspired by Prince's song "Head".
The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "another smoking mix of funk, rock, hip-hop and world beats and street-smart social commentary."[9] The Washington Post called it "a package of ambient, hip-house Euro-dance tracks."[10] The Calgary Herald wrote that the "first side is incendiary... Prime dance music, sorta like a '90s version of Chic packing heat." Entertainment Weekly noted that, "unlike most of the trendy hip-house imitators currently working, [Bambaataa] has grit and soul... This album is one good street party, put together by an old master."
AllMusic stated: "Fueled by righteous social commentary throughout the songs, the record showed that he wasn't creatively spent."