FruitToAttractBears said:

He was more influential on the scene than most realize.

FruitToAttractBears said:

co-Dilla

Im tempted to say Madonna, since her 'Ray of Light' album put electronica in the forefront of pop music. But I think after her, the Gorillaz and Missy Elliot have done alot for music as far as originality.

I'd agree with the mentions of Radiohead and Bjork.

I think Timbaland and Missy deserve some props, too. They turned R&B/hip-hop on its ear in the late-1990s.

Giovanni777 said:

I know all of this, already. Reread my post and understand that I'm talking about a bigger picture, not trying to discern who was the first to fuse the sacred and the secular.

DJ Shadow
Timbaland
BT
[Edited 8/6/06 18:49pm]

newskin69 said:

*coug cough* william orbit *cough cough*

Michael Jackson's 'off the wall' and 'thriller' had a huge!!! impact in the way music sounds, more so than other record ever. but who is the be cridted with that? Michael, Quincy or .....

.
[Edited 8/7/06 0:32am]

twink69 said:

Well, Prince came along at or around the same time, so MJ might not be the "last innovator in music."

As for credits, I've spoken on that and I don't wanna rile up the MJ contingent.

sosgemini said:

If THAT'S the case: Daft Punk

namepeace said:

I dont think anything in music has made an impact sonically as those two albums have had, since then it has remained the template for modern rythmic music.

DILLA!!!!!
and MADLIB!!!!!

twink69 said:

For my . . .

Off The Wall was superior to Thriller, but both albums are testatments to Quincy Jones' brilliance as a pop producer. We agree on their impact.

But I wouldn't co-sign the first part of your post. Other albums have made similar impacts. One, for example, is It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back.

More on that later.

woogiebear said:

exactly.

I think The Mars Volta is a very talented band!!!! They have takin music to a whole differnt level. I don't know if a lot of you have heard of them but they are just badass and seeing them perform live is just nuts. The are in my top 3 favorite live performers and I have been to A LOT of concerts.

Nelson4Life said:

I will second this motion anyone fortunate enough to be seeing the chilli peppers current tour will realize that the guys opening up for them The Mars Volta (who also kick when they were at the drive in and in their side project band defacto) will set a high standard for the Peppers to follow.

An INNOVATOR is someone that changes music by creating a new sound and influencing other artists to use that sound.

Jimi Hendrix innovative playing of the electric guitar changed how many rock and roll bands perform.

The Sex Pistols is credited for the rise of Punk music.

Russell Simmons put Rap (the origin of Hip Hop) on the map and created a new genre when Run DMC mixed Rap with Rock (Aerosmith's 'Walk This Way').

Nirvana innovated the music industry with a new category called Grunge/Alternative.

Tricky put Trip Hop on the map and a lot of producers used his sound under Hip Hop artists we heard throughout the 90s. Trip Hop gets its origins from Jungle (Drum and Bass), which gets its origins from House music (disco and bass with European R&R samples).

People like Meshell Ndegeocello had no genre category, so the Academy created a new category called 'Urban Alternative.' WTF?

What Prince contributed to the innovation of music is the different genres his albums could be placed. He tends to fall into the Pop/R&B/Jazz categories. However, the 'Dirty Mind' album has always been rock/soft punk oriented.

I'm waiting to hear the next innovator in the music industry.