Rewind: Freeway 'Philadelphia Freeway' (Part 2)

Welcome to our second look at Freeway's debut album 'Philadelphia Freeway' released on this date in 2003.

Free's 'You Don't Know (In the Ghetto)', produced by Black Key, uses a sample from Minnie Riperton's remarkably descriptive, make-out anthem 'Inside My Love' from her post Rotary Connection 1975 album 'Adventures in Paradise'. Just Blaze samples 'Mystic Brew' by Ronnie Foster for Freeway's album cut 'Alright'. Finally, 'Hear the Song', produced by Kanye West, samples the Nile Rodgers / Bernard Edwards Chic cut 'Will You Cry (When You Hear This Song)' from their 1979 hit album 'Risqué'.

Check back for our review of Freeway's second album 'Free at Last' and continuing reviews of Just Blaze and Kanye West.

The Lowdown:
Freeway 'You Don't Know (In the Ghetto)', 'Alright', and 'Hear the Song'
from 'Philadelphia Freeway' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit:'You Don't Know (In the Ghetto)', 'Alright', and 'Hear the Song'
Minnie Riperton 'Inside My Love'
from 'Adventures in Paradise' (1975) (MP3 not available/CD)
Ronnie Foster 'Mystic Brew'
from 'The Two Headed Freap' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD)
Chic 'Will You Cry (When You Hear This Song)'
from 'Risqué' (1979) (MP3/CD)

Producer Profile: Kanye West (Part 3, 2003)

After placing beats on Jay-Z's 'The Blueprint', Kanye West became a sought after producer even before the release of 2004's 'The College Dropout'. Part one of this three part post will cover the beats and samples from Kanye West's 2003 production credits.

West had two beats on Jay-Z's 'Black Album' from 2003, Jay's short-lived retirement farewell address. Kanye's production for 'Encore' samples John Holt's 'I Will' from his album '2000 Volts of Holt'. Another reggae sample appears on Jay-Z's 'Lucifer' via Max Romeo's classic Lee Perry produced 'I Chase the Devil' (covered in depth on a previous post on this blog). West's work with Rocafella was not limited to Jay-Z in 2003, West also had a beat on Freeway's under-appreciated debut album 'Philadelphia Freeway'. The track 'Hear the Song' samples Chic's 'Will You Cry (When You Hear This Song)'.

One of Kanye's biggest production credits in 2003 was for Alicia Key's hit single 'You Don't Know My Name' peaking at #3 on the Billboard 100. The track is cleverly crafted from Main Ingredient's 'Let Me Prove My Love to You' from their 1975 album 'Shame on the World'.

Check back for the second part of our look at Kanye West's production credits of 2003.

The Lowdown:
Jay-Z 'Encore' and 'Lucifer'
from 'Black Album' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'Encore' and 'Lucifer'
John Holt 'I Will'
from '2000 Volts of Holt' (1976) (MP3/CD not available)
Max Romeo 'I Chase the Devil'
from 'War Ina Babylon' (1976) (MP3 not available/CD)
Freeway 'Hear the Song'
from 'Philadelphia Freeway' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Hear the Song'
Chic 'Will You Cry (When You Hear This Song)'
from 'Risqué' (1979) (MP3/CD)
Alicia Keys 'You Don't Know My Name'
from 'The Diary of Alicia Keys' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Main Ingredient 'Let Me Prove My Love to You'
from 'Shame on the World' (1975) (MP3 not available/Import CD)

BONUS CUT:
The original Jamaican mix of 'I Will' by John Holt'.