And Now the Legacy Begins is the debut album by Canadian hip hop duo Dream Warriors. It was released on April 23, 1991, by 4th & B'way Records, with an international release through Island Records. And Now the Legacy Begins is regarded as one of the finest alternative hip hop records of the golden era (1985-1995).

Singles

"My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style", the album's most successful single, sampled Quincy Jones' "Soul Bossa Nova" — which was also known to Canadian audiences as the longtime theme music of the television game show Definition and later was known as theme for the Austin Powers movie series. The song was a hit in both Canada and Europe, winning a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 1992. "Wash Your Face in My Sink" and "Ludi" were also notable singles.

Reception

Spin highly recommended the album, praising its "stunning, almost seamless sample-driven tracks." Robert Christgau of The Village Voice gave the album an honorable mention and quipped that it was "West Indian daisy age from boogie-down Toronto", choosing the tracks "Ludi" and "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" as highlights. The Edmonton Journal stated: "Drawing on their own roots and the music of Chinese, Spanish and Italian friends they grew up with, they've produced an original sound that capsulizes the ebb and flow of '90s dance music." Ned Raggett of AllMusic noted that "the duo plays around with any number of inspired samples and grooves, from jazz to harder-edged beats, with style and skill." It peaked at No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 34 in Canada, where it received gold certification. Over 800,000 copies were sold worldwide. In 2013, the album made Ballast's list of the top 50 Canadian albums of all time. In 2018, the album won the Polaris Heritage Prize Jury Award in the 1986-1995 category.

Track listing

Samples

Chart positions

Accolades

(*) signifies unordered lists

Personnel

Adapted credits from the liner notes of And Now the Legacy Begins.