Source Material: Roy Ayers Ubiquity 'Change Up the Groove'

Over ten years into his recording career, Roy Ayers released his Ubiquity album 'Change Up the Groove' in 1974. This post will examine the producers and artists that sampled Roy Ayers's 1974 album for their own works.

Among many of the tracks sampled by Madlib for his Quasimoto album 'The Unseen' is Ubiquity's 'Sensitize' sampled on 'Come on Feet'. Large Professor produced the hit single 'Keep on Rollin'' in 1993 for A Tribe Called Quest by sampling Ubiquity's 'Feel Like Making Love' from 'Change Up the Groove'.

The most sampled track on the album however is the album's closing cut 'The Boogie Back'. The song was sampled by Ced Gee for the Ultramagnetic MCs song 'Funky' from the classic 1988 album 'Critical Beatdown'. In the same year on the West Coast, the song was sampled for another classic hip-hop album: N.W.A.'s 'Straight Outta Compton'. A sample of 'The Boogie Back' appears on the caustic cut 'F--- Tha Police' produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella. Six year later, 'The Boogie Back' would back the West Coast sound again when it appeared as a sample on Coolio's 1994 album 'It Takes a Thief' on the Dobbs the Wino produced single 'County Line'.

Look for more posts outlining Roy Ayers' career. For people lucky enough to be in or around Seattle this summer, catch Roy Ayers at the annual Bumbershoot Festival.

The Lowdown:
Roy Ayers Ubiquity 'Sensitize', 'Feel Like Making Love', and 'The Boogie Back'
from 'Change Up the Groove' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Quasimoto 'Come On Feet'
from 'The Unseen' (2000) (MP3/CD)
A Tribe Called Quest 'Keep it Rollin''
from 'Midnight Marauders' (1993) (MP3/CD)
Ultramagnetic MCs 'Funky'
from 'Critical Beatdown' (1988) (MP3/CD)
N.W.A. 'F--- Tha Police'
from 'Straight Outta Compton' (1988) (MP3/CD)
Coolio 'County Line'
from 'It Takes a Thief' (1994) (MP3/CD not available)

Related Posts:
Five On It: February 2009 (Roy Ayers Ubiquity Appearance)
Rewind: Quasimoto 'The Unseen' (Part 1)
Rewind: Quasimoto 'The Unseen' (Part 2)
Rewind: Quasimoto 'The Unseen' (Part 3)

The Breaks: Myra Barnes 'Message from the Soul Sisters'

For our last post during James Brown Week, I thought we'd take a look at one of the many hits produced by James Brown for other artists. Today's post will cover Myra Barnes' hit single 'Message from the Soul Sisters' from 1970. Myra Barnes, who also performed under the name Vicki Anderson, joined the James Brown Revue in 1965 and would later be replaced by another legendary James Brown produced female singer: Marva Whitney. 'Message from the Soul Sisters' is among one of her best known tracks and is a go-to sample source for some of hip hop's finest producers.

DJ Premier and Guru sampled Barnes for the title track to their 1989 debut album 'No More Mr. Nice Guy'. A year later, Dr. Dre and Lay Law sampled the song for Above the Law's 'Freedom of Speech' and the Geto Boys sampled the song for their track 'City Under Seige'. Perhaps the track most known for sampling 'Message from the Soul Sisters' is the album cut 'Vamos a Rapair' produced by Large Professor and Pete Rock for Main Source's modern day classic debut album 'Breaking Atoms'. Rashad Smith used the sample again in 1995 for LL Cool J's track 'God Bless' from the album 'Mr. Smith.

In addition to being a part of the James Brown Revue, Myra Barnes was quite literally family: she married Bobby Byrd, a long time Brown collaborator. Music was also apparently apart of Byrd and Barnes' DNA as their daughter Jhelisa scored a few 90s hits in the UK.

The Lowdown:
Myra Barnes 'Message from the Soul Sisters'
from 'Message from the Soul Sisters' 7" (1970) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Gang Starr 'No More Mr. Nice Guy'
from 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' (1989) (MP3/CD)
Above the Law 'Freedom of Speech'
from 'Livin' Like Hustlers' (1990) (MP3/CD)
Geto Boys 'City Under Siege'
from 'The Geto Boys' (1990) (MP3/CD)
Main Source 'Vamos a Rapair'
from 'Breaking Atoms' (1991) (MP3/CD)
LL Cool J 'God Bless'
from 'Mr. Smith' (1995) (MP3/CD)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Above the Law 'Livin' Like Hustlers' (Part 1)
Rewind: Above the Law 'Livin' Like Hustlers' (Part 2)
Rewind: Main Source 'Breaking Atoms' (Part 1)
Rewind: Main Source 'Breaking Atoms' (Part 2)

Source Material: James Brown 'Black Caesar' (Part 2)

Welcome to part two of our look at James Brown soundtrack for 'Black Caesar'.

Sure, 'Down and Out...' and 'The Boss' are obvious tracks to sample, but hip-hop's finest have made use of some of 'Black Caesar''s lesser known album cuts too. Large Professor assisted Kool G Rap on the production of 'Play it Again, Polo' which used a sample of 'Black Caesar''s album cut 'Make it Good to Yourself'. James wrote and produced much of Lyn Collins' output, including her vocal contribution to 'Black Caesar' titled 'Mama Feelgood'. The blazing funk of 'Mama Feelgood' was used by Marley Marl for Big Daddy Kane's 1988 track 'Raw' from the album 'Long Live Kane'. Primo dips into James Brown's back catalog again for the beat to Gang Starr's 'I'm The Man' from their classic 'Daily Operation' album. DJ Premier sampled the 'Black Caesar' album cut 'White Lightning (I Mean Moonshine)' for 'I'm the Man'.

The film 'Black Caesar' was a success, as was the soundtrack. The team behind the film quickly started to develop a sequel that was released in late 1973 and titled 'Hell Up in Harlem'. James Brown was originally attached for the score, but (as the legend goes) had his music reject as it was not "funky enough" for the film. The song that was rejected would later be the title track to his 1974 album 'The Payback'. Notably, the soundtrack to 'Hell Up in Harlem' was ably handled by Edwin Starr, Fonce Mizell, and Freddie Perren - look for a future post regarding the 'Hell Up in Harlem' soundtrack.

The Lowdown:
James Brown 'Make it Good to Yourself' and 'White Lightning (I Mean Moonshine)'
from 'Black Caesar' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Kool G Rap and DJ Polo 'Play it Again, Polo'
from 'Wanted: Dead or Alive' (1990) (MP3/CD not available)
Lyn Collins 'Mama Feelgood'
from 'Black Caesar' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Big Daddy Kane 'Raw'
from 'Long Live Kane' (1988) (MP3 not available/CD)
Gang Starr 'I'm the Man'
from 'Daily Operation' (1992) (MP3/CD)

Producer Profile: Large Professor (Part 2, 1993-1999)

Following the success of Main Source's debut album 'Breaking Atoms', Large Professor's production work became sought after and, although there would be long breaks in his work, he'd go on to produce some stunning tracks.

In 1993, he contributed the beat for 'Keep it Rollin'' on A Tribe Called Quest's album 'Midnight Marauders'. The beat is pinned by a sample of Roy Ayer's Ubiquity era track 'Feel Like Making Love' from his 1974 album 'Change Up the Groove'. Large Professor's next high profile work would come on the debut of Nas, who made his debut appearance on 'Breaking Atoms'. Large Professor produced three of 'Illmatic''s tracks including the single 'It Ain't Hard to Tell'. The track contains a drum sample from Kool and the Gang's 'N.T.' and also contains a clever sample of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' album cut 'Human Nature'.

Through 1995 and 1996, Large Pro worked on his solo album titled 'The LP', but it was shelved in 1996 (it was later released as a promo in 2002). This major label limbo led to a brief dead spot in his career with scant production for Common, Organized Konfusion, and a handful of underground acts until the turn of the century. One of those production credits is for X-Ecutioners DJ Rob Swift who tapped Large Professor for his 1999 single 'Dope on Plastic'. 'Dope on Plastic' incorporates samples from Quincy Jones' 'Ironside' and a huge beat from Grand Funk Railroad's surprisingly huge 'Nothings the Same' from 1969's 'Closer to Home'.

Check back for part 3 of Large Professor's producer profile where we'll cover his production credits from after the year 2000.

The Lowdown:
A Tribe Called Quest 'Keep it Rollin''
from 'Midnight Marauders' (1993) (MP3/CD)
Roy Ayers Ubiquity 'Feel Like Making Love'
from 'Change Up the Groove' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD)
Nas 'It Ain't Hard to Tell'
from 'Illmatic' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'It Ain't Hard to Tell'
Kool and the Gang 'N.T.'
from 'Live at PJ's' (1971) (MP3/CD not available)
Michael Jackson 'Human Nature'
from 'Thriller' (1982) (MP3/CD)
Rob Swift 'Dope on Plastic'
from 'Dope on Plastic' (1999) (MP3/CD not available)
Quincy Jones 'Ironside'
from 'Smackwater Jack' (1970) (MP3/Import CD)
Grand Funk Railroad 'Nothings the Same'
from 'Closer to Home' (1969) (MP3/CD)

BONUS CUTS:
Get your remix on: Rob Swift's 'Dope on Plastic' (Instrumental) and 'Dope on Plastic' (Acapella).

Producer Profile: Large Professor (part 1, 1990-1992)

In 1990, under the tutelage of producer Paul C, Harlem-born Large Professor programmed beats behind the scenes for Eric B. and Rakim's album 'Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em' at the age of 17. In the following years, Large Professor would lend production to two of hip-hop's most influential albums of all time: 'Breaking Atoms' and 'Illmatic'.

Large Professor produced two tracks for Cold Chillin' rap unit Kool G Rap and DJ Polo's album 'Wanted: Dead or Alive'. The album's opening track, 'Streets of New York' contains a sample of the Fatback Band's 'Gotta Learn How to Dance'. Large Pro's stock hit the stratosphere in 1991 when 'Breaking Atoms' by Main Source was released (the album was covered extensively in two past posts in this blog here and here). One of 'Breaking Atoms''s biggest tracks is 'Live at the Barbeque'; built on a crushing sample of Bob James' 'Nautilus', it also introduces the world to Nas. Though 'Illmatic' was not released until 1994, Nas' first single 'Halftime' (originally released under the name Nasty Nas) was released in 1992. 'Halftime' contains drum samples from Average White Band's 'School Boy Crush. I'm personally not the biggest fan of AWB, but 'School Boy Crush' is an absolutely essential open drum track.

Check back to this blog for part 2 of the Large Professor Producer Profile for coverage of Nas and ATCQ.

The Lowdown:
Kool G Rap and DJ Polo 'Streets of New York'
from 'Wanted: Dead or Alive' (1990) (MP3/CD not available)
The Fatback Band 'Gotta Learn How to Dance'
from 'Yum Yum' (1975) (MP3 not available/CD)
Main Source 'Live at the Barbeque'
from 'Breaking Atoms' (1991) (MP3/CD)
Bob James 'Nautilus'
from 'One' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Nas 'Halftime'
from 'Illmatic' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Halftime'
Average White Band 'School Boy Crush'
from 'Cut the Cake' (1975) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: Main Source 'Breaking Atoms' (Part 2)

Main Source's 'Peace is Not the Word to Play' was the fourth single released from the album 'Breaking Atoms', and though it failed to chart, it is still a strong cut (which goes without saying for this album). 'Peace' picks a sample from Miles Davis' 'Right Off' from another classic album, 1970's 'A Tribute to Jack Johnson'. Additional sample sources include MFSB's 'T.L.C. Tender Loving Care' and beats from 'Britches' by the immortal Meters from their heavily sampled album 'Struttin''. 'Vamos a Rapiar', co produced by Pete Rock, plucks a sample from the James Brown produced Myra Barnes cut 'Message from the Soul Sisters'.

One of the most famous posse cuts in hip-hop history is the Large Professor produced 'Live at the Barbeque', which introduces the world to Nasty Nas (later, of course, Nas) and Akinyele (whose career didn't amount to much more than songs about putting things in peoples' mouths... their motherf---ing mouths). The driving beat of 'Live at the Barbeque' is from Bob James' 'Nautilus', the only reason you need to pick up that copy of 'One' from a garage sale.

Unfortunately, 'Breaking Atoms' would be the only album released with it's classic line-up (their second album, 'F--- What You Think', was delayed and finally released in 1994 after the group's second line up had broken up and just before the Wild Pitch label went under). Large Professor would go on to contribute to Nas' debut album 'Illmatic' and would run into his own label problems when his second solo album, 'The LP', was shelved in 1996 (to this day, the album has never officially been released).

The Lowdown:
Main Source 'Peace is Not the Word to Play', 'Vamos a Rapiar', and 'Live at the Barbeque'
from 'Breaking Atoms' (1990) (MP3/CD)
Miles Davis 'Right Off'
from 'A Tribute to Jack Johnson' (1970) (MP3/CD)
MFSB 'T.L.C. Tender Loving Care'
from 'Universal Love' (1975) (MP3 unavailable/CD unavailable)
The Meters 'Britches'
from 'Struttin'' (1970) (MP3/CD)
Myra Barnes 'A Message from the Soul Sisters'
Bob James 'Nautilus'
from 'One' (1974) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: Main Source 'Breaking Atoms' (Part 1)

'Breaking Atoms' has all of the ingredients of a modern day myth. It is the debut album of the short-lived rap unit Main Source, highly acclaimed upon release and leading to no less than five singles that went out of print as its stock started to rise. Add Nas (here as Nasty Nas) and early beats by super producer Large Professor to the mix and the interest in one of East Coast hip-hop's mostly widely recognized classics is risen.

One of 'Breaking Atoms'' indisputable classic cuts is the single 'Just Hangin' Out' that cribs samples from Gwen McCrae's '90% of Me Is You', Ike and Tina Turner's 'Bold Soul Sister', and most famously 'Bam Bam' by Sister Nancy (which was covered extensively in a past post on this blog). 'Looking at the Front Door' is the album's first and highest charting single, reaching #1 on the Billboard rap charts. 'Front Door' features, among other samples, bits of 'Think Twice' from Donald Byrd's 1975 album 'Stepping into Tomorrow' produced by Larry Mizell. Main Source's album cut 'Scratch and Kut' has the notable drum break from Kool and the Gang's live version of 'N.T.' from their album 'Live at P.J.'s' (the 'N.T.' drum break is a cornerstone of Large Pro's sound).

Check back for part 2 of 'Breaking Atoms', which will include the track that broke Nas to the rap world.

The Lowdown:
Main Source 'Just Hangin' Out', 'Looking at the Front Door', and 'Scratch and Kut'
from 'Breaking Atoms' (1990) (MP3/CD)
Gwen McCrae '90% of Me Is You'
from 'Rockin' Chair' (1975) (MP3 not available/CD)
Ike and Tina Turner 'Bold Soul Sister'
from 'Hunter' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD)
Sister Nancy 'Bam Bam'
from 'One, Two' (1982) (MP3/CD not available)
Donald Byrd 'Think Twice'
from 'Stepping into Tomorrow' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Kool and the Gang 'N.T.'
from 'Live at P.J.'s' (1972) (MP3/CD not available)

Source Material: Sister Nancy 'Bam Bam'

The Stalag Riddim (covered in the last post) is the basis for one of dancehall's biggest singles: 'Bam Bam' by sister Nancy. Not only was 'Bam Bam' a huge hit for Sister Nancy and for the dancehall genre, but it had (and still has) huge crossover appeal. Nearly a decade after the single first appeared, 'Bam Bam' became a prime source for hip-hop sampling.

In 1990, Large Professor sampled 'Bam Bam' for Main Source's single 'Just Hangin' Out' from the now classic and rare album 'Breaking Atoms' (word is 'Breaking Atoms', along with all of Wild Pitch's vaults, will be rereleased in 2008). 'Just Hangin' Out' is my personal favorite from 'Breaking Atoms', which has several essential hip-hop cuts. The Stalag Riddim provides a mellow groove to 'Hangin' Out' while the turntable cuts of 'Bam Bam' in the center of the track provide a great nod to Sister Nancy. 'Bam Bam' was used again in 1992 by Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth on 'The Basement' from the fantastically produced 'Mecca and the Soul Brother'. Pete Rock and C.L. have, not surprisingly, been a staple of this blog and a producer profile for Pete Rock is slated for a future post.

Dancehall made a strong comeback in the late 90s and early 00s, leading to more hip-hop tracks incorporating Stalag samples. 2004's single for Biggie-soundalike Guerilla Black, 'Compton', was a bit of a flash in the pan, but still had apt production from Carlos Broady.

The Lowdown:
Sister Nancy 'Bam Bam'
from 'One, Two' (1982) (MP3/CD not available)
Main Source 'Just Hangin' Out'
from 'Breaking Atoms' (1990) (MP3/CD not available)
Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth 'The Basement'
from 'Mecca and the Soul Brother' (1992) (MP3/CD)
Guerilla Black 'Compton'
from 'Guerilla City' (2004) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Compton'