By the end of the 90s, rap had evolved far from its disco origins, on its way to an experimental digital future. But indie MCs like MF Doom and Aesop Rock were still finding inspiration in classic boom bap: Aesop sets his dazzling verbosity against a “Yes yes y’all...” chorus, and Doom pushes the sample-and-snare formula in brainy new directions (while giving DJ Cucumber Slice a platform for the greatest outro ad-libs ever). Meanwhile, rap’s world takeover had begun, setting the table for the likes of Senegal’s Daara J and India’s Panjabi MC.