What makes Small Steps by Heiruspecs notable?

Small Steps received critical acclaim for its innovative approach to hip-hop, particularly noted by publications such as Pitchfork. The album's fusion of genres helped influence a wave of artists experimenting with live bands in hip-hop, contributing to a broader acceptance of genre-blending in the early 2000s. Released in 2002, Small Steps marked Heiruspecs' third studio album, following their breakthrough project, A Tiger Dancing. At this point in their career, they were gaining recognition for their unique fusion of hip-hop and live instrumentation, solidifying their place in the underground music scene.

How many songs are on Small Steps?

Small Steps has 14 tracks, running approximately 51 minutes.

Small Steps

Heiruspecs · 2002

51 min · 14 tracks · hip-hop

A dynamic blend of hip-hop and jazz-infused instrumentation creates a vibrant, introspective soundscape throughout the album.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Meters — This track showcases the band's signature blend of intricate rhythms and thoughtful lyrics, encapsulating the album's essence through its engaging hooks and jazzy undertones.
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Small Steps — The title track serves as a reflective centerpiece, combining deep introspection with a rich musical arrangement that highlights the group's artistic growth.
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All Fall Down — With its powerful narrative and layered instrumentation, this song exemplifies Heiruspecs’ ability to tackle complex themes while maintaining an infectious groove.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

The album's blend of live instrumentation and hip-hop creates a unique sound that stands out in its genre.

What we noticed

The album features live instrumentation throughout, with brass and woodwind sections complementing the rapped verses.
Several tracks incorporate extended instrumental sections that allow for improvisation, particularly in the transitions between verses.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 And 2:04
2 Meters 4:01
3 The Fall 2:13
4 Memory 2:03
5 In Regrets 5:17
6 Opus 1 1:54
7 June 4:06
8 All Fall Down 5:48
9 Small Steps 7:14
10 Commonwealth 2:23
11 The Part About the Treason 1:33
12 Work 3:24
13 Elliot 2:50
14 Traction 6:55

What to play next

Listen next

A Tiger Dancing

2004

Go back to

Antidisestablishmetabolism

2000

Full Heiruspecs discography Artists like Heiruspecs

hip-hop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata