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)

Rewind: Freeway 'Philadelphia Freeway' (Part 1)

Philly stand up! One of the best albums released during Just Blaze and Kanye West's time as Roc-a-fella's in house production wizards is 2003's 'Philadelphia Freeway', the debut album by Freeway. This two part post will cover the sample sources of this album.

The album's biggest hit, which is still a vital mid 00s hip-hop banger, is Just Blaze's awesomely produced 'What We Do' with Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z. Blaze uses a deep crate sample from 'I Just Can't See Myself Without You' by Creative Source from the album 'Migration'. The beat to this one sounds as fresh today as it did five years ago and has become an East Coast classic. Ruggedness produced the beat for Freeway's 'Life' utilizing the most bizarre sample on the album: Eddie Money's 'Life for the Taking' from his 1977 rock album of the same name. Free's 'Victim of the Ghetto' with Roc vocalist Rell, produced by Bink, uses a sample from 'We Belong Together' by the Spinners and Dionne Warwick.

Check back for part 2 of our look at 'Philadelphia Freeway'.

The Lowdown:
Freeway 'What We Do', 'Life', and 'Victim of the Ghetto'
from 'Philadelphia Freeway' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit:'What We Do', 'Life', and 'Victim of the Ghetto'
Creative Source 'I Just Can't See Myself Without You'
from 'Migration' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Eddie Money 'Life for the Taking'
from 'Life for the Taking' (1977) (MP3/CD)
The Spinners and Dionne Warwick 'We Belong Together'
from 'The Spinners' (1971) (MP3/CD)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Kanye West 'College Dropout' (Part 2) (Freeway Appearance)

Rewind: Kanye West 'College Dropout' (Part 2)

Welcome to our second look at Kanye West's 'The College Dropout'.

One of 'College Dropout''s standout album tracks is Kanye's 'School Spirit' sampling Aretha Franklin's 'Spirit in the Dark' from her 1970 album of the same name. Knowledge jewel: 'School Spirit' is edited for language because one of Aretha Franklin's stipulation for using the sample is there was no cursing over it. The Kanye, Freeway, and Mos Def posse cut 'Two Words' features a sample from Mandrill's 'Peace and Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) - Movement IV' from their self-titled 1970 album. Look for future posts about both Free and Mos this month on this blog.

The album's lead single is the outstanding 'Through the Wire', which put Kanye on the map as a rapper in addition to a producer. The track samples and interpolates Chaka Khan's 'Through the Fire' from her hit album 'I Feel for You' from 1984. West's 'Family Business' cuts a sample from 'Fonky Thang' by the Dells from 1972's 'Sweet as Funk Can Be'. The album ends with the track 'Last Call', co-produced by Porse. West's story of joining the Roc thematically uses a loop from Bette Midler's 'Mr. Rockefeller' from her album 'Songs for the New Depression'.

In addition to 'The College Dropout', Kanye produced a grip of great single in 2004 and returned in 2005 with his sophomore album 'Late Registration' (look for a multi-post arc about 'Late Registration' in the future).

The Lowdown:
Kanye West 'School Spirit', 'Two Words', 'Through the Wire', 'Family Business', and 'Last Call'
from 'College Dropout' (2004) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'School Spirit', 'Two Words', 'Through the Wire', 'Family Business', and 'Last Call'
Aretha Franklin 'Spirit in the Dark'
from 'Spirit in the Dark' (1970) (MP3/CD)
Mandrill 'Peace and Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) - Movement IV'
from 'Mandrill' (1970) (MP3 not avialable/CD)
Chaka Khan 'Through the Fire'
from 'I Feel for You' (1984) (MP3/CD)
The Dells 'Fonky Thang'
from 'Sweet as Funk Can Be' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Bette Midler 'Mr. Rockefeller'
from 'Songs for the New Depression' (1976) (MP3 not available/CD not available)

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'.