The band started out over a decade ago as an instrumental act in the tradition of the Meters, the JB's, and Booker T. & the MG's - bands equally comfortable recording their own material or working with vocalists. From the Corner to the Block grew out of GALACTIC's experiences touring with artists like the Roots, Jurassic 5, Triple Threat DJ's and Gift of Gab. Though it features cameos from a "wish list" of fan-favorite MCs, this isn't a typical hip-hop album per se, but a contemporary funk record that just happens to feature hip-hop vocalists. "We never set out to make a rap record," explains Ellman, who produced the record with assistance from engineer extraordinaire Count (Halou, Quannum, DJ Shadow). "We wanted to kinda modernize the New Orleans sound," adds Mercurio.

The New Orleans legacy echoes throughout the album, indeed. The brassy "Bounce Baby" (featuring DJ Z-Trip) stirs up wah-wah guitar, a horn-driven melody, syncopated beats, and turntable wizardry into a potent rhythmic instrumental. "Tuff Love" (featuring Trombone Shorty) offers a taste of some of New Orleans' hottest young talent. "Second and Dryades," (featuring Big Chief Monk Boudreau), evokes the spirit of the Wild Magnolias - it's a percussion-laced Mardi Gras anthem for the digi generation, on which Boudreau relates the story of being an Indian on Mardi Gras day. The song sure to raise eyebrows though is the title track and first single, featuring the Soul Rebels Brass Band and platinum rapper Juvenile (who tapped GALACTIC to back him on the "Jimmy Kimmel Show"). Mercurio, for one, is happy with the outcome. "It sounds like it was all supposed to be there, this track was meant to happen" he says.

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