You probably know Eddie Floyd from his major hit “Knock on Wood“. But he actually performed many great tunes under Stax Records in 70’s. Like “Check Me Out” for instance.
It was released in 1973. It is the kind of song that many sampled because it never lost its greatness. And it won’t. It is made to last. As long as eternity.
That’s Soul music!
Eddie Floyd – Check Me Out (sample appears at 0:00)
First to have sampled Mr Floyd, The Firm and their mafia attitude.
Actually, the track “La Familia” appeared on the single “I’ll Be” from Foxy Brown in 1996. But all members of the gang are present to drop a verse on “Check Me Out” guitar riff, flute and piano pitched a little.
The Firm – La Familia
I don’t have much to say on next one. And Google is not even helping.
I ran into this underground band someday lingering on YouTube passing from associated videos to another. I reminded “One and One” while writing this post.
And I’m glad I did because this is the sh**.
Same year, same sample, but female voice on chorus, hard lyrics and catchy flow all mix together leave us with an awesome tune.
One and One – Phenomenon
This is obviously the track that made that loop famous.
And who’s on the turntables? DJ Premier for sure. When a fine beat like this one comes out, Primo is never far away.
Year 2000, Afu-Ra bring his Martial Arts influences into rap game and releases his debut album “Body of the Life Force”.
DJ Muggs, True Master, Da Beatminerz, Primo on the production. Cocoa Brovaz (Smif N Wessun changing name), M.O.P, GZA, Ky-Mani Marley, Masta Killa among the guests. With a bunch of artists like that taking care of beatmaking and featuring, you’re expecting something high. And it is.
It remains from my point of view one of best Hip Hop albums ever recorded.
But the song we’re interested in today, “Equality”.
It features Bob Marley’s son, Ky-Mani. The loop from Eddie Floyd is pushed forward by Primo.
Is Hank Crawford familiar to you ? I didn’t know that much about the jazzman before doing some searching.
But what I knew about him is a sample strolling around from MC’s to MC’s since almost twenty years.
“Wildflower” released in 1973 on the album of the same name is for sure a gift made to Hip-Hop producers.
He couldn’t guess his saxophone’s riff and xylophone notes will be sampled over and over but he must have lived a peaceful life due to numerous royalties he’d received till he died in 2009.
Hank Crawford – Wildflower (sample appears at 0:00)
So among tracks which contains Hank Crawford, I picked five and according to name on the list, the former musical director of Ray Charles had a financial secured life.
Incarcerated for sexual abuse in 1994, Tupac Shakur met Suge Knight who offeredhim to pay his bail (1.3 million $. In return, 2Pac had to sign a deal at Death Row Records and release three albums under label’s name.
Pac wanted to fulfill his contract obligations as soon as possible to be free from Death Row hold. Even though, he recorded “All Eyez on Me” in a hurry, the double CD album figures among the greatest of all time.
And because we’re interested in Hank Crawford’s track “Wildflower”, “Shorty Wanna Be a Thug” instrumental is based on it.
He really gave birth to this loop (high-pitched here) which would be covered over and over talking about youngsters acting like gangsters on this one.
2Pac – Shorty Wanna Be a Thug
A year later in 1997, a white kid from Detroit City is releasing his second project after “Infinite” in 1996.
Marshall Mathers aka Eminem just before signing on Dr Dre’s new label Aftermath really launched his carreer with his first EP “Slim Shady EP”.
It contains 10 tracks and one rise above the others: “No One’s Iller” featuring his former friends from the 313. And you surely guessed it, it samples “Wildflower”, but sax is less present leaving space to the ambiant bassline all along the track.
Eminem – No One’s Iller
Next on the list, Dynospectrum. Probably never heard of it, but you might know his leader.
Slug from Atmosphere formed what we call a supergroup (really fashionable those days) but an underground one. Major figures from Minneapolis rap scene joined it (Musab, I Self Divine, Ant). The band recorded only one eponym album but what an album.
Ant, co-founder of RhymeSayers Entertainment and DJ-producer for Atmosphere took care of the whole production of the album released in 1998.
“Anything is Everything” is the song we’ll look for. And no need to precise the sample, but notice the heavy snare behind the loop carries it powerfully.
Dynospectrum – Anything is Everything
Here we go again.
Don’t worry, there’s only two left. As a French dude, I try to honour my flag as much as I can through this blog. And MC Solaar will help me with that.
Claude M’Barali (real name) is known as a rap precursor in France. Since his debut in 1990 he has been criticized or acclaimed. But he remained engaged in his lyrics and kept his accurate feather all his carreer long.
In 2001, the Senegal native released “Cinquième As”, which represent from far his best album sells. Thanks to tracks like “Dégats Collatéraux”, MC Solaar achieved to talk to the new generation at the new millenium dawn and created a sort of bridge between the two decades.
“Un peu comme si ici on ne faisait que souffrir Pire que depuis des décennies y’avait pas eu un sourire Sais-tu qu’ici qu’un gros salaire est le SMIC On peut même pas se payer une mort tragique sur le Titanic”
Mc Solaar – Dégats collatéraux
OK, last one is Kanye West. I apologize for that, but we got to admit that he sometimes had some genius thought in the past.
Like “Drive Sow” for instance, out his second album “Late Registration” contains of course the Hank Crawford famous sample. Song’s theme is a metaphor of car driving. He gives advice about taking things slow in life, not to rush into stuffs, and be careful about life’s danger.
I chose to put the “Late Orchestration” version of “Drive Slow”, an album full of live records of some of his most famous songs. A sort Best of live.
The music on the footage is played by a orchestra; melody got even better with a dozen of violins players and a DJ set.
In 1994, The Notorious B.I.G told us he was ready to die. He revealed the end of the movie. It’s incredible to see how death was such a recurrent theme for the two main rappers from that era Biggie and Tupac. They knew they won’t be able to live long.
Picture Credit: sampledat
Anyway, I didn’t mention enough the BedStuy kid in this blog. Shame on me. So today, Ready to Die, the eponym track on charts.
We could assume it’s a Puff Daddy work. It ain’t. Easy Mo Bee was behind the machines to produce this track. Actually he produced the other half of the album, more underground (Gimme The Loot, Warning, The What, Machine Gun Funk and so Ready To Die).
First, he picked the whole instrumental from Willie Hutch, Hospital Prelude of Love Theme, appearing in the 1974 Foxy Brown movie (which inspired Jackie Brown to Tarantino and Foxy Brown to choose her rapper’s alias).
The throbbing air of guitar of the bluesman is a solid base for what comes next.
Willie Hutch – Hospital Prelude of Love Theme (sample appears at 0:50)
Then, Mo Bee needed of course a nice drum to go with. And Funk music is always a nice place to dig when looking for kick and snare. The Honey Drippers got famous in their time for Impeach the President, but got even more famous with the use of the starting drums in a long, long list of Hip-Hop songs.
Just for your knowledge: the song was released in 1973. An impeachment process has been engaged against American President Richard Nixon in 1974 for the Watergate scandal. Sound like a fair ask.
The Honey Drippers – Impeach the President (sample appears at 0:00)
Next sample comes from Ohio Players, an extremely popular American funk band from the 1970’s. Singing in the Morning marked the beginning of success in 1972 out of their second album Pain.
Still digging into Funk music, Mo Bee certainly thought an alarming trumpet on chorus could give more weight and suits the theme of the track. And that yah-yah that follows the trumpet sound.
Notice, the funk squad from LeBron’s native land even inspired the CD cover with the black baby on it. The original covers is taken from the Best of The Early Years of Ohio Players.
Picture Credit: innerspaceboy
Ohio Players – Singing in the Morning ( sample appears at 2:36)
At last, after mixed the whole thing up, you might get to this unflagging instrumental. And if you have a voice like Christopher Wallace to put it on it, this is jewel.
Even with a gorgeous and intense beat like this, what remains in your head is the one and only Biggie’s flow and sharped lyrics.
By the way, there’s some extra vocal sample from Mary J and Ice Cube I could have post here, but the three main samples were the most important.
While listening to Nas latest album “Life is Good” released , I recognized a piano loop I’ve heard so many times. I instantly remember where but I was stuck to find out the sample.
And then as I was looking for it, I ran into an old friend. Isaac Hayes! Who else could it be?
The legend of Soul got known on so many levels: one of the greatest songwriters ever (“Soul Man” performed by Sam & Dave), a incomparable voice (“The Look of Love”) and a genius ability to compose various rhythm (“Hung up on my baby”). In his last years, he also lent his voice for the character Chef in “South Park”.
But what’s important is these melancholic piano chords playing in my ears right now.
After some trumpets riffs to gets you in the mood, he switches to this melody all of the sudden. That’s why he named his song “Ike’s Mood”: no one could make your mood vary this way in a second.
Isaac Hayes – Ike’s Mood (sample appears at 1:45)
So here’s the three tunes that came to my mind hearing those notes in Nas’ track in chronological order. I figured out there was plenty of rappers who dropped verse on this sample.
First to have ever sampled it: Biz Markie. The funny rapper (nicknamed “Clown Prince of Hip Hop” for his humouristic tone) from Juice Crew made that beat work in 1988.
“Make the music with your mouth, Biz” was his lead-single for his debut album “Goin’ Off”. Human beatbox precursor as well, the Biz demonstrates his beatboxing skills on that one, finishing the track with kick and snare from his vocals.
Biz Markie – Make the Music With YourMouth, Biz (sample appears at 0:05)
In 1992, a young girl called Mary Jane Blige, aged 21 sign a deal at Uptwon Records with an even younger executive producer named Sean Combs aka Puff Daddy, 19 at that time.
Two years later, she tried herself on this particular Hayes composition. Mary J Blige managed to keep the loop raw without frills as its purest part. She also delivered a remix featuring the underground rap band, Smif N Wessun. It worths ear kick.
Mary J Blige – I Love You (sample appears at 0:00)
Another female sang on it. Or should I say rap on it.
Foxy Brown in 1996 made this beat even more famous. The Firm (supergroup composed of Nas, Nature, Az and Foxy) affiliated lady released “Ill Na Na”, certified platinum in the U.S (a million copies sold).
It contains brilliant collaborations like Jay-Z, Method Man, Havoc from Mobb Deep. The Brooklyn native is showing up valuable skills on the microphone and has nothing to envy to her featurings. Well, on that album.
She achieved to overpass her gender despite difficulty for a woman to succeed into rap scene.
Mostly with this tribute payed to her crew.
Foxy Brown – Letter to The Firm (sample appears at 0:00)
And so, I might have kept best for last.
Nas, you know Nas. A few months ago, his 11th studio album was on charts.
Now, he’s approaching the forty, and everyone interested enough in Hip-Hop knows that’s it’s a hard cap to pass. Either, you’re still rocking it. Either you’re just being ridiculous. And Nas is smart enough to anticipate those clichés as he leaked the best line to sum up what I’m trying to say:
“When you’re too hood to be in them Hollywood circles,
And you’re too rich to be in that hood that birthed you”
Stuck between two globes, Nasty Nas proved once again that he’s still lyrically on top. And he does what he does best: kicking rhymes with infinite flows on several instrumentals.
Mary J Blige brings her contribution on chorus, almost twenty years after her first release. It stayed in the family.
Nas feat Mary J Blige – Reach Out (sample appears at 0:48)
So which one do you prefer? Got to admit, last one is off the hook. None has ever rap like that before Nas on this Isaac Hayes sample.
A freakin electric guitar loop has been playing in my ears for the whole week so I decided to do something about it. Post it in here.
And who else did sample that majestic loop ?
The guitar player I’m talking about is Jimmy Ponder. The kind of jazz guitarist you wish you’d known before. His style could be compared to George Benson. He’s also appreciated by jazz enthusiasts for his numerous collaborations with great Jazz artists as Donald Byrd, Lonnie Smith, Dizzy Gillespie, B.J Thomas.
He describes himself as “a very aggressive guitarist.”
“I don’t regard the guitar as a singular – it is an orchestra” as he analyzed his music.
Now that you know the guy a little bit, push play on this. The long awaited riff comes at 2:39. Common’s waiting for you just beneath.
Jimmy Ponder – Jennifer (sample appears at 2:39)
After his firsts two phenomenon pieces, Common was back in the charts in 1997 with his third album “One Day it’ll All Make Sense”.
Even though, there’s some irregularities all along the tracklist, No I.D, usual producer for Common, is doing a great job behind the scenes. He took this groovy riff from Jimmy Ponder, and left Common taking care of the rest of the business.
How can you not like it ?
Common – Invocation
I know, another Gramatik tune. Well, it’s great music, so there’s nothing wrong in music abusing right ?
The Slovenian DJ shows once again that his music is pure. Not too much, not too less ingredients. Only this guitar strains flowing in your eardrums. “What More Can I say?”. Nothing, music speaks for itself.
Gramatik – What More Can I say ?
Last one sample same song, but different part.
MF Grimm deserves some attention because his life has been filled with uncommon events.
As a child, Morgan Freeman, his neighbor, introduced him to Sesame Street, a TV serie for children.
But even with this tiny success (he played for four years), Percy Carey, his real name, went on to become a drug dealer. And a pretty dangerous one. “He was a fucking murderer. What do you want me to say?” witnessed his high-school friend Sebastian Rosset.
In 1994, after got shot seven times in reckoning with rival drug dealers, he has to sit on a wheelchair, paralyzed for the rest of his life. He had already received three bullets in 1986.
His first EP was released in 2000 with MF Doom collaboration, his childhood friend. Later, they got into a beef, after MF Grimm went to prison while Doom was attracted spotlight. He felt abandoned.
In 2006, he’s the first to release a triple CD album in Hip-Hop history, “American Hunger”. Large Professor, among others, contributed to the production of this project.
“Scars and Memories” is the eponym track of the 2005 album and sample guitar loop appearing at 0:56 of Jimmy Ponder’s song. On top of that, his MC’s abilities are off the hook.
Looking at the CD cover, MF Grimm snub everyone’s judgement by standing up.
Here’s the promised rock samples after the first edition of this post. You’ll see various samples of rock songs (vocal samples, bassline, drum loop etc) into Hip Hop from various era.
1994 like almost every year during the 90’s was very productive. If we were talking about wine, we could say it’s a great vintage. Notorious B.I.G, Organized Konfusion, Common, Method Man and Outkast to name a few were releasing an album.
I focused on the last one to find out a pretty nice sample out of their first CD ” Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik”. Yep one word. The jewel comes out on 8th track. Big Boi and Andre 3000 served themselves in “The Window” performed by the Steve Miller Band in the 70’s to rap on a perfect bassline.
Atlanta and San Francisco finally reunited.
Outkast – Claimin’ True
Steve Miller Band – The Window (sample appears at 0:22)
Speaking of bassline, Ice Cube, still in that 1994 year, sent a message to those who would try to kill him. “U Ain’t gonna take my life” is composed with a bassline from another legendary Californian band, Red Hot Chili Peppers and its bassist Flea.
Paranoia or reality, the purpose of the song worked. Ice Cube’s still alive.
Ice Cube – U ain’t gonna take my life
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Sir Psycho Sexy (sample appears at 0:00)
Keeping up with RHCP, the powerful guitar echo from Otherside got sampled. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis payed tribute to rapper Pimp C found dead in L.A in 2007 using the famous guitar riff. Many tributes were made after death of the founder of UGK, but this one might be the most touching.
“Gone, get another bottle just to get a couple swallows
Headed towards the bottom couldn’t get off it
Didn’t even think he had a problem
Though he couldn’t sleep without gettin’ nauseous
Room spinnin’, thinkin’ he might of sipped just a little bit too much of that cough syrup
His eyelids closed shut”
Note: cough syrup refers to the purple drank, a beverage made of codeine and narcotic. Registered as a drug.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – OtherSide
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Otherside (sample appears at 0:00)
I consider next one as a genius to me. Danger Mouse is capable of doing almost everything in music industry, and he does everything well. Mostly, he’s practicing his skills on song composition and DJeeing. Like Midas, he turns what he’s touching into gold.
Picture Credit: sampledat
Remember Gnarls Barkley? Demon Days from Gorillaz? Black Keys “Attack & Release” and “El camino” albums? All produced by this thirty American. First works that got him famous is his 2004 mashup album “The Grey Album”.
A mashup is basically a superposition of two or more whole track samples. The Grey album is a combination of Jay-z’ “Black Album” (for the verses) and Beatles’ “White Album” (for the instrumentals). So that leaves us with this great tune.
“While my guitar gently weeps” suits Jay-Z’ voice pretty well.
Danger Mouse – What More can I say
Beatles – While my Guitar Gently weeps
UN stated a rule for the international peace. If there’s a Beatles’ song in your post, you have to put a Rolling Stones’ song. So to preserve myself from getting hacked, “Miss you” will fill this need.
The 1978 hit was used by Snoop Dogg in 2000. From far, “Tha Last Meal” takes place number 2 in Snoop’s discography behind Doggystyle. “Y’all gone miss me” ends the disc in a subtle way : a different D.O double G to find. Singing on the same melody as the Stones, the Long Beach native delivers an usual but efficient speech to those who left too early, aimed at 2pac.
You’ll recognize the Stones vocals, sang by Snoop on the chorus.
Rolling Stones – Miss you
Snoop Dogg – Y’all gone miss me
There’s always a place for Rock music into Hip-Hop. It continued to impact in numerous ways. They are truly connected. So related we could change something like: “Sex Drugs Rock n’ Roll & Hip-Hop ?”
Today’s song review is “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud”. The title is very eloquent and was later used as a hymn for Civic Rights movement. It also correspond to the funk period of James Brown when he released this one in 1968.
It is also the first collaborations with trombonist Fred Wesley who’ll become later the leader of the J.B’s (James Brown orchestra) along with Maceo Parker and Pee Wee Ellis on the saxophone.
James Brown – Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud
I’ve already mentioned Brand Nubian a couple of times here.
Simply because the three MC’s Sadat X, Grand Puba and Lord Jamar had always leaked positive vibes and smooth instrumental. On their first album “One for All” (like the musketeers motto), Grand Puba payed tribute to those who contributed to Hip-Hop evolution like Biz Markie, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, EPMD and Kid Capri to name some.
You surely guessed it samples James Brown’s drum from above.
“What more can I say ? I wouldn’t be here today if the old school didn’t paved the way”
Brand Nubian – Dedication (sample appears at 0:02 and throughout)
Many others producers satisfied themselves within a simple sample from the first second of the JB track. Really simple indeed, but you’ll see an onomatopoeia could make a difference.
Best example of it, “Insane the Brain” performed by Cypress Hill in 1993. The little “uh” from South Carolina’s native looks like a cherry on top of cake.
Cypress Hill – Insane the Brain (sample appears at 0:07 and throughout)
Same thing for Gang Starr (them again). On their less-appreciated album, The Ownerz released in 2003, some tunes on tracklist are still worth it.
For instance, “Same Team No Games” featuring NYGZ, is a good example of a Primo stamped beat. Clean cuts to match the instrumental, minimalist jazzy sample, an efficient snare and so this “uh” caught at the very beginning of “Say it Loud”.
Gang Starr feat NYGZ – Same Team No Games (sample appears at 0:01)
Wednesday 5th of December 2012 is a sad day for the music community. Especially Jazz community. The world losts one of his best Jazz performers : Dave Brubeck. The American pianist died at the age of 91, on the eve of his 92nd birthday. He’s known all over the world for his uncommon rhythm on the piano and for some great pieces of Jazz with the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
To participate to the wave of tribute, here’s some compositions made from Dave Brubeck’s music. Four tracks, four genres, three nationalities.
Intellekt (MC) & Dirty Digits (DJ), a band based on the format MC/DJ like GangStarr, Eric B & Rakim or Pete Rock & CL Smooth. This one’s a great find. They got various influences mostly from Jazz music but also the one cited above. I found this record “Phenom Mental” from 2004 while I was lingering on YouTube someday.
It samples Dave Brubeck’s piano loop from his masterpiece “Take Five” performed with the Quartet.
Intellekt & Dirty Digits – Phenom Mental
Dave Brubeck Quartet – Take Five
Two others sampled the same song in two other genres.
First, Quantic, an English DJ and composer known for his eclectic creations using many kinds of music and mostly funk, jazz, soul and bossa nova. I assume that the kid grew up listening to the chief leader of the Quartet, so on his first album he had to put a sample of him. He did on “Life in the Rain”.
Quantic – Life in the Rain (sample appears at 1:11)
Barrington Levy is a legend as well in his area. Reggae is his playing field and he’s one the greatest at it. Dave Brubeck is often quoted among the big influences of Reggae vibes. As a Jamaîcan, ambassador of Reggae music, Barrington Levy chose to ride on “Take Five” saxophone riff slowed down to fit with the rhythm.
Barrington Levy – Captivity (sample appears at 0:16)
Nicolas Jaar, precocious (first maxi at eighteen) American electro DJ, achieved to turn a Jazz samples into something electro but respectful to the main genre.
In 2009, “Mini Calcutta” samples piano loop from “Calcutta Blues”. And what the young boy recorded during two minutes and a half with the original extract is high-leveled. Instrumental rises up along with percussions and piano riff speeded and intense.
Dave Brubeck – Calcutta Blues (sample appears at 0:01)
Maybe the greatest sampler of all time. The greatest Hip-Hop DJ. The guy’s a living legend.
DJ Premier got known in Brooklyn due to the collaboration with Guru to form the band Gangstarr. But he was born in Houston, Texas.
The list of all the MC’s he produced is too long to stand on the page. From underground artists to majors killers of the microphone, it is always easy to recognize a beat stamped “Preemo”.
First beat Premo mentions is Salute Part II, track available on M.O.P’s third album “First Family 4 Life”. The hardcore rap band from Brownsville collaborates many times with DJ Premier. Bass line sample comes from “Keep the Faith” by Mel & Tim, unknown soul duo who lived from the wealth of one single.
MOP feat Gang Starr – Salute Part II
Mel & Tim – Keep the Faith (sample appears at 0:00)
Mass Appeal
“Money’s growin like grass with the mass appeal“
Wise hook sampled by Premo for one of his most well-achieved beats. Released in 1994 on “Hard to Earn” beside “Code of the Streets”, it crushed the charts the second it hit the trays. This time I put the sample first, because it’s amazing how he extracted a few synthesizer notes from the instrumental background to give birth to an incredible beat.
Vic Juris – Horizon Drive (sample appears at 3:36)
Gang Starr – Mass Appeal
Full Clip
If I say “Big L rest in peace”, you say “Full Clip”. Premier leak an anecdote about this production:
“I made it the day Big L died (15th of February 1999), I was litterally just on my way in and heard the news straight after it happened. I call the right people to know if it was official or not. I wanted to make sure every DJ cut that “Big L rest in peace” at the top. When it came out during 1999 (Full Clip), every DJ was “Big L rest in peace”. It was non stop.”
You got it, Preemo was hurt when one of the best underground lyricist died. Here’s his tribute and it will blow up your ears.
Gang Starr – Full Clip
Cal Tjader – Walk On By (sample appears at 0:25)
Boom
“That record… He really fucked my head with the lyrics (Royce Da 5’9″) and those cuts… They match. Everything go together. Boom bam god damn. That’s DJ shit! That’s how much we’re still into it. The age thing has nothing to do with it. We’re still junkies for it.”
He might get really enthusiastic about his beats. But he’s right on one point. Even if it gets older and older, it’ll still works.
Royce Da 5’9” – Boom
Marc Hannibal – Forever is a Long, Long Time (sample appears at 0:06)
N.Y State of Mind
Probably my favorite one. In 1994, a young kid aged 21 from QueensBridge releases what some Hip-Hop observers consider as the best Hip-Hop album of all time: Illmatic by Nas.
The beat is minimalist but catch you the first second and never fly out of your brain for 4:54 minutes. One piano note repeat itself like a metronome and a deep and dark piano riff looped make the day. For the drum part, he looked into Kool and the Gang’s “N.T”. On the top of that, Nas is tearing it up. Once again, the half of Gang Starr delivers a great moment from behind the scene.
“Him (Nas) just writing it and he said: “I don’t know how to start this ?”I’m counting and go. And the count of 2, 3 and he goes “Rappers, I monkey flip em’ with the funky rhythm … ” And we were all looking stunned, this was youngsters. He did all first verse in one take. And he finished first verse and he said how was that that was okay ? He was all shy and we were like Yooo! “
Nas – N.Y state of Mind
Joe Chambers – Mind Rain (sample appears at 1:05)
An another point to show how big is DJ Premier’s magnitude: he turned unknown tracks into popular one only because he sampled those. That’s the mark of the great.
James Brown surely belongs to the “greatest musician’s club” in History and his legend’s still living throughout Hip-Hop producers abilities.
The other day I was mentioning the Godfather of rap, here comes the Godfather of Soul. Even thought he operated in different musical types of music such as Funk, Soul, Jazz and R&B, he caught this nickname in the 70’s and never let it go.
For starters, he’s the most sampled artist of all time considering all types of music according to Rolling Stone Magazine. The website WhoSampled registered 2476 samples!
Almost every Hip-Hop albums contain a James Brown’s sample or interpolation.
Instead of listing some of his most famous works, I’ll focus on one song at a time.
The single was released on March 1970 and lasts for seven minutes. It is known to be the most sampled song of all time, especially the drum solo part at 5:35.
James Brown – Funky Drummer
Speaking of the drum loop which appears at 5:35, Eric B and Rakim the great duet from Long Island, went on rapping on it in 1988 for “Lyrics of Fury”, but the loop is pitched and goes with a guitar from Funkadelic. You should appreciate Rakim’s ability on writing awesome rhymes.
Eric B & Rakim – Lyrics of Fury
Here’s the same sample (drum loop) used for LL Cool J’s classic tune “Mama Said Knock You Out” from 1990 when he was at the top of his carreer in Def Jam.
You’ll noticed the flow of “Ladies Love Cool James” is perfectly adapted to the drum this time as the original tempo was conserved.
LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out
Let’s move on a year forward to 1991, synonym of Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s debut with their first EP “All Souled Out”. Still pushing up the precious drum in the foreground, “Go with the Flow” beat leaves some space to a flute sampled from reggaeman Burning Spear.
If you need a scratch demonstration, it comes at 2:08.
Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Go with the Flow
Last example of the drum loop use off the “Funky Drummer” and another great Hip-Hop slaughter. Well, slaughter might not be the right word. Digable Planets had always performed smooth songs and “Where I’m From” probably is the smoothest.
This Brooklyn based trio is unmistakable due to Butterfly’s (the main MC) voice and his little accent.
Digable Planets- Where I’m From
Lesson to be learned today: if you need a drum loop, use your MPC and get the job done at 5:35 of “Funky Drummer”. According to what we’ve been listening, it works a hundred percent times.
Sample Dat 