Track: Ma Foom Bey

Artist: Cultural Vibe

Year: 1986

Label: Easy Street Records

One of house music's first big hits, nothing before or after has ever sounded like Ma Foom Bey, brought to us by the Winston Jones project, Cultural Vibe.  The song was mixed and popularized by Tony Humphries at Club Zanzibar in Newark and soon after became a club hit in NYC.  A lot of its appeal is due to its super raw sound and minimal production.  The best description of the song I've heard is "one grumbling drum machine mounted by a burping synth."  Ma Foom Bey also features a hypnotic African-style chant which some say qualifies this as the earliest example of tribal house. 

Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/Cultural-Vibe-Feat-Keith-Thompson-Ma-Foom-Bey-2004/master/97770