Yea, there were hints of that sound on the *album cuts* of The Show, The Afterparty, The Hotel. Really vague hints. But that song sounded like NOTHING on the radio in 1996. Yea, it was kind of rooted in the singing of R&B songs over hip-hop beats, but at the same time the syncopated beat and sparse soundscape were a complete and utter departure for R&B and pop radio. We kind of forget it now because EVERYTHING on the radio sounded like that 2 years later.