”Now if you check my pulse it beats Skull Snaps.”
—Beastie Boys

Skull Snaps is a legendary funk album that has long been shrouded in obscurity. The band recorded their self-titled debut and a handful of singles in 1973, and then vanished without a trace. In recent years, their vinyl has become ubiquitously sampled and highly collectible. The monstrous break that opens up their classic cut, "It’s A New Day", furnished the beat for countless hip-hop hits of the mid-‘90s (along with James Brown’s "Funky Drummer "and Sly & the Family Stone’s "Sing A Simple Song", "It’s A New Day" contains the most sampled break in music history).

More than just a treasure trove for the Hip Hop community, though, Skull Snaps stands as a classic in pure funk and soul. The band's irresistible sound embraces the black vocal group sound of early ‘70s Temptations, Chi-Lites, and Dramatics, cut with an unmistakable originality. Every song is blessed with a gospel-soaked call and response dynamic that contrasts gritty lead vocals with the band’s perfect harmonies.

Heavily bootlegged, Aztec Music’s reissue of Skull Snaps is the first release that has been officially sanctioned by the band. This deluxe version has been digitally remastered, with extensive liner notes containing new interviews and rare photos, and contains 2 bonus tracks – packaged in a 6 panel digi-pak.