Rewind: Metal Fingers 'Special Herbs Vol. 4, 5, and 6'

It's no secret that MF Doom has a vast catalog of beats, so another look at his beats should not come as a surprise to readers. This post will cover the beats and samples from MF Doom's 'Special Herbs Vol. 4, 5, and 6' as Metal Fingers.

The Metal Fingers track 'Galangal Root' samples the huge breakbeat track 'Walk on By' from Isaac Hayes and the 1987 pop / R&B track 'Always' by Atlantic Starr from their album 'All in the Name of Love'. The beat was previously used by MF Doom on his track 'Gas Drawls' from 1999's 'Operation Doomsday'. 'Spikenard' from the album uses a sample from the Spinners' 1973 album 'Mighty Love': the track 'Ain't No Price on Happiness'. This track also appeared on 'Operation Doomsday' as the song 'Go with the Flow'. Doom samples Galt MacDermot on the track 'Cinquefoil', using the track 'Space' from his sought after 1969 album 'Woman is Sweeter'. The cut 'Valerian Root' samples New Birth's 'Do it Again' from 1974's 'Comin' from All Ends'. Finally, Isaac Hayes is sampled by Doom again for Metal Fingers' 'Patchouly Leaves' which uses Isaac's 'Our Day Will Come'. The instrumental backed 'Operation: Doomsday''s 'Operation: Greenbacks'.

Check back for further looks at MF Doom's discography.

The Lowdown:
Metal Fingers 'Galangal Root', 'Spikenard', 'Cinquefoil', 'Valerian Root', and 'Patchouly Leaves'
from 'Special Herbs Vol. 4, 5, and 6' (2003) (MP3/CD not available)
Isaac Hayes 'Walk on By'
from 'Hot Buttered Soul' (1969) (MP3/CD)
Atlantic Starr 'Always'
from 'All in the Name of Love' (1987) (MP3/CD)
MF Doom 'Gas Drawls', 'Go with the Flow', and 'Operation: Greenbacks'
from 'Operation: Doomsday' (1999) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
The Spinners 'Ain't No Price on Happiness'
from 'Mighty Love' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Galt MacDermot 'Space'
from 'Woman is Sweeter' (1969) (MP3/CD not available)
New Birth 'Do it Again'
from 'Comin' from All Ends' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD)
Isaac Hayes 'Our Day Will Come'
from '...To Be Continued' (1969) (MP3/CD)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Metal Fingers 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (Part 1)
Rewind: Metal Fingers 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (Part 2)

Five On It: April 2009's Essentials

Welcome to the latest installment of Five On It, where we look at the best breaks of the month. There was a lot to choose from since April was full of great albums, so these five are all sureshots.

Unbelievably, this track has not gained Five On It status, but Isaac Hayes' 'The Look of Love' is both a soul classic and a hip-hop necessity. It was one of the sources from our review of Mary J. Blige's 'My Life', but it is also the basis for many other notable hip-hop tracks. This blog's review of Massive Attack's 'Blue Lines' yielded three of our breaks of the month: 'Sneakin' in the Back' by Tom Scott and the L.A. Express, the Donald Byrd produced 'Rock Creek Park' by the Blackbyrds, and the opening break of 'I'm Glad You're Mine' by Al Green. On our review of DOOM's 'Born Like This', MF Doom sampled Galt MacDermot's 'Princess Gika'. Look below for some more on MacDermot and the artists that have sampled him.

The Lowdown:
Isaac Hayes 'The Look of Love' (Radio Edit)
from '...To Be Continued' (1969) (MP3/CD)
Tom Scott and the L.A. Express 'Sneakin' in the Back'
from 'Tom Scott and the L.A. Express' (1973) (MP3/CD not available)
The Blackbyrds 'Rock Creek Park'
from 'City Life' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Al Green 'I'm Glad You're Mine'
from 'I'm Still in Love with You' (1972) (MP3/CD)
Galt MacDermot 'Princess Gika'
from 'Woman is Sweeter' (1969) (MP3/CD not available)

Bonus Cuts:
Galt MacDermot's 'Woman is Sweeter' is a highly sought after crate digger pick (and available from Amazon in MP3 format - score) and the source for some of hip-hop's finest. Rashad Smith sampled MacDermot's 'Space' for Busta Rhymes' breakout single 'Woo-Hah! Got You All in Check' from 1996. MF Doom also sampled 'Space' for his Metal Fingers track 'Cinquefoil'.

Rewind: DOOM 'Born Like This' (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of our look at MF Doom's latest album 'Born Like This' as DOOM.

Sure it's been used and abused to death since its release, but no amount of freestyles can diminish J Dilla's original 'Lightworks' from his 'Donuts' album. DOOM uses the beat on 'Born Like This' for his own take on 'Lightworks'. The beat is made up of Raymond Scott's early electronic music works 'Bendix 1: The Tomorrow People' and 'Lightworks' compiled on the album 'Manhattan Research, Inc.' in the year 2000. DOOM's track with Empress Stahrr titled 'Still Dope' reuses Doom's previous Metal Fingers beat 'Passion Flower' which samples Brazilian artist Arthur Verocai's 'Seriado' from his self titled 1972 album. Finally, the track 'That's That' also reuses a Metal Fingers instrumental: 'Hyssop' from 2003's 'Special Herbs vol. 4'. The song samples Galt MacDermot's song 'Princess Gika' from his highly sought after 1969 album 'Woman is Sweeter'. More MacDermot on this blog is inevitable!

Check back for more Doom in future posts on this blog.

The Lowdown:
DOOM 'Lightworks', 'Still Dope', and 'That's That'
from 'Born Like This' (2009) (MP3/CD)
J Dilla 'Lightworks'
from 'Donuts' (2006) (MP3 not available/CD)
Raymond Scott 'Bendix 1: The Tomorrow People' and 'Lightworks'
from 'Manhattan Research, Inc.' (2000) (MP3/CD)
Metal Fingers 'Passion Flower'
from 'Special Herbs 9+0' (2005) (MP3/CD)
Arthur Verocai 'Seriado'
from 'Arthur Verocai' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Metal Fingers 'Hyssop'
from 'Special Herbs vol. 4' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Galt MacDermot 'Princess Gika'
from 'Woman is Sweeter' (1969) (MP3/CD not available)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Metal Fingers 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (Part 1)
Rewind: Metal Fingers 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (Part 2)

Rewind: DOOM 'Born Like This' (Part 1)

After three years of near silence after a flurry of releases, MF Doom returned to Earth with 2009's 'Born Like This' under his new pseudonym DOOM. This two part blog post will cover the music and samples of Doom's latest album.

The album's opening track, 'Supervillain Intro, recycles a past Doom beat from 2005's 'Special Herbs 9+0': 'Coca Leaf' as Metal Fingers. DOOM's 'Gazzillion Ear' uses a posthumous J Dilla beat that utilizes samples from Giorgio Moroder's '(Theme from) Midnight Express' from the 'Midnight Express' soundtrack from 1987 and an early Brenton Wood single titled 'Trouble'. Raekwon takes center stage on 'Yessir!, floating on MF Doom's beat constructed from ESG's b-boy break 'UFO'. Madlib provides production for DOOM's 'Absolutely' uses a grip of producer go to tracks. Madlib samples Joe Tex's 'Tramp' answer track 'Papa Was Too', Ramsey Lewis' 'Sun Goddess', and Earth, Wind and Fire's essential party starter 'Brazilian Rhyme'.

Check back for part two of our look at 'Born Like This'.

The Lowdown:
DOOM 'Supervillain Intro', 'Gazzillion Ear', 'Yessir!', and 'Absolutely'
from 'Born Like This' (2009) (MP3/CD)
Metal Fingers 'Coca Leaf'
from 'Special Herbs 9+0' (2005) (MP3/CD)
Giorgio Moroder '(Theme from) Midnight Express'
from 'Midnight Express' (1987) (MP3/CD not available)
Brenton Wood 'Trouble'
from 'Baby You Got It' (1967) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
ESG 'UFO'
from 'ESG' (1981) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Joe Tex 'Papa Was Too'
from 'Papa Was Too' 7" (1966) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Ramsey Lewis 'Sun Goddess'
from 'Sun Goddess' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Earth, Wind and Fire 'Brazilian Rhyme'
from 'All 'n All' (1977) (MP3/CD)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Madvillain 'Madvillainy' (Part 1)
Rewind: Madvillain 'Madvillainy' (Part 2)

Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 7, 2006)

Although J Dilla's career was cut tragically short on February 10th of 2006, his legacy as one of hip-hop's most forward thinking producers was already concrete. For the non-believer, there were two more examples of J Dilla's skill released in 2006: his broken-beat magnum opus 'Donuts' and his final (to date) solo album 'The Shining'.

'Donuts' was released on February 7th of 2006, Dilla's final birthday. The album is comprised of 31 short instrumentals that blend into a stunning album. One of the standout tracks on 'Donuts' is the propulsive 'Lightworks' which utilizes samples from electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott's 'Bendix 1: The Tomorrow People' and, of course, 'Lightworks'. Dilla's original instrumental was used in its entirety for DOOM's 'Lightworks' from 2009's 'Born Like This' (check back for a full look at 'Born Like This' later this week). Similarly, Ghostface Killah used Dilla's 'Hi.' as the backing for his song 'Beauty Jackson' from 2006's 'Fishscale'. The basis for both tracks is the Three Degrees' 'Maybe' from their 1970 album 'Maybe'.

'Donuts' was followed by 'The Shining' four months later in August of 2006. The album was not finished by Dilla, after his death the album was completed by Karriem Riggins. One of the standout tracks from 'The Shining' is 'So Far to Go' with Common. The track samples the Isley Brothers' 'Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)' and was featured as 'Bye.' on Dilla's 'Donuts' album. The track would appear in a slightly different version as Common's 'So Far to Go' on his 2007 album 'Finding Forever'.

Dilla lives on through his music and is frequently cited by producers and given tributes by his friends and peers. Future posts on this blog will cover his material in greater depth.

The Lowdown:
J Dilla 'Lightworks', 'Hi.', and 'Bye.'
from 'Donuts' (2006) (MP3 not available/CD)
Raymond Scott 'Bendix 1: The Tomorrow People' and 'Lightworks'
from 'Manhattan Research, Inc.' (2000) (MP3/CD)
DOOM 'Lightworks'
from 'Born Like This' (2009) (MP3/CD)
Ghostface Killah 'Beauty Jackson'
from 'Fishscale' (2006) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Beauty Jackson'
The Three Degrees 'Maybe'
from 'Maybe' (1970) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
J Dilla 'So Far to Go'
from 'The Shining' (2006) (MP3/CD)
The Isley Brothers 'Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)'
from 'Go All the Way' (1980) (MP3 not available/CD)
Common 'So Far to Go'
from 'Finding Forever' (2007) (MP3/CD)

Related Posts:
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 1, 1995)
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 2, 1996-1997)
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 3, 1998-1999)
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 4, 2000)
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 5, 2001-2003)
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 6, 2004-2005)

Rewind: Madvillain 'Madvillainy' (Part 2)

Welcome to the second installment of our two part look at Madlib and MF Doom's 2004 album 'Madvillainy'.

On 'Operation Lifesaver AKA Mint Test', Madlib samples a pair of tracks from George Duke's 1974 album 'I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry': the title track 'I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry' and 'Prepare Yourself'. Additionally, Madlib pulls some beats from Schoolly D's classic drum machine propelled 'PSK (What Does it Mean)'. More pscyh-rock breaks abound on Madvillain's 'Strange Ways', which samples 'Funny Ways' from Gentle Giant's self-titled 1970 album. Madlib samples 'That Ain't the Way You Make Love' by Z.Z. Hill on 'Fancy Clown'. For 'Eye' with Stacy Epps, Madlib samples 'So Good' from the Whispers' 1984 album of the same title. Finally, Madvillain samples Stevie Wonder's rare instrumental side project Eivets Rednow on 'Great Day'. The track uses a sample from 'How Can You Believe' from Eivets Rednow's 1968 self titled album.

Madlib and MF Doom are slated to return with a new album as Madvillainy, but to date nothing but a remix album of this album's tracks has been released.

The Lowdown:
Madvillain 'Operation Lifesaver AKA Mint Test', 'Strange Ways', 'Fancy Clown', 'Eye', and 'Great Day'
from 'Madvillainy' (2004) (MP3/CD)
George Duke 'I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry' and 'Prepare Yourself'
from 'I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Schoolly D 'PSK (What Does it Mean)'
from 'Schoolly-D' (1985) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Gentle Giant 'Funny Ways'
from 'Gentle Giant' (1970) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Z.Z. Hill 'That Ain't the Way You Make Love'
from 'Keep on Loving You' (1975) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
The Whispers 'So Good'
from 'So Good' (1984) (MP3 not available/CD)
Eivets Rednow 'How Can You Believe'
from 'Eivets Rednow' (1968) (MP3/CD)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Metal Fingers 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (Part 1)
Rewind: Metal Fingers 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (Part 2)

Rewind: Madvillain 'Madvillainy' (Part 1)

In 2004, Madlib and MF Doom's two year project 'Madvillainy' was released on the indie hip-hop label Stones Throw. The album was mostly produced by Madlib (excluding one track) and features mostly MF Doom on vocals. In this two part arc, we will cover Madlib's deep crate breaks used for the tracks in 'Madvillainy'.

The opening track titled 'The Illest Villains' samples 'Beach Trip' by Morton Stevens and His Orchestra from the soundtrack to the television show 'Hawaii Five-O' in addition to the classic b-boy break 'Jam on the Groove' by Ralph MacDonald. 'Accordian' samples fellow blunted hip-hop SoCal artist Daedelus by using elements from the track 'Experience' from his 2002 album 'Invention'. Madlib flips the often used 'I Keep Forgettin'' by Michael McDonald on the Madvillain track 'Bistro', which also features a sample of 'Second to None' by Atlantic Starr. For the boastfully titled 'America's Most Blunted', MF Doom, Madlib and Quasimoto rhyme over a melange of Fever Tree's psych-rock song 'Ninety Nine and a Half (Won't Do)' and the Dramatics' 'In the Rain'. On 'Rainbows', Madlib samples two tracks from exploitation director Russ Meyer's 60s movies. The track samples 'Psycho Brahmin' from 1965's 'Motor Psycho' and 'Kelly' from 1968's 'Finders Keepers Lovers Weepers'.

Check back for part 2 of our look at 'Madvillainy'.

The Lowdown:
Madvillain 'The Illest Villains', 'Accordian', 'Bistro', 'America's Most Blunted', and 'Rainbows'
from 'Madvillainy' (2004) (MP3/CD)
Morton Stevens and His Orchestra 'Beach Trip'
from 'Hawaii Five-O' (1970) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Ralph MacDonald 'Jam on the Groove'
from 'Jam on the Groove' 12" (1977) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Daedelus 'Experience'
from 'Invention' (2002) (MP3/CD not available)
Michael McDonald 'I Keep Forgettin''
from 'If That's What it Takes' (1981) (MP3/CD)
Atlantic Starr 'Second to None'
from 'Yours Forever' (1983) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Fever Tree 'Ninety Nine and a Half (Won't Do)'
from 'Fever Tree' (1968) (MP3 not available/CD)
The Dramatics 'In the Rain'
from 'Whatcha See in Whatcha Get' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter 'Psycho Brahmin'
from 'Motor Psycho' (1965) (MP3 not available/CD)
Marvin Elling, William Loose, and Stu Phillips 'Kelly'
from 'Finders Keepers Lovers Weepers' (1968) (MP3 not available/CD)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Quasimoto 'The Unseen' (Part 1)
Rewind: Quasimoto 'The Unseen' (Part 2)
Rewind: Quasimoto 'The Unseen' (Part 3)

Rewind: Metal Fingers 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (Part 2)

Welcome to our second look at Metal Fingers' 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2'.

'Nettle Leaves' contains a sample of the ever-present 'It's a New Day' break by Skull Snaps in addition to a sample of 'Eastern Market' by Yusef Lateef from his 1969 album 'Yusef Lateef's Detroit'. Dumile peppers 'Mugwort' with a sample from Coke Escovedo's 'Hangin' On'. Doom's 'Lovage' takes a sample from Faze-O's late 70s album 'Riding High' and the track 'True Love'. Finally, 'Myrrh' contains bits of Ronnie Laws' 'Friends and Strangers' from the 1977 album of the same name.

'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' are followed by eight more volumes of instrumentals from MF Doom as Metal Fingers. Future posts on this blog will cover more Doom and more Special Herbs collections.

The Lowdown:
Metal Fingers 'Nettle Leaves', 'Mugwort', 'Lovage', and 'Myrrh'
from 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (2002) (MP3/CD)
Skull Snaps 'It's a New Day'
from 'Skull Snaps' (1973) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Yusef Lateef 'Eastern Market'
from 'Yusef Lateef's Detroit' (1969) (MP3/CD)
Coke Escovedo 'Hangin' On'
from 'Comin at Ya'' (1976) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Faze-O 'True Love'
from 'Riding High' (1977) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Ronnie Laws 'Friends and Strangers'
from 'Friends and Strangers' (1977) (MP3 not available/CD not available)

Related Posts:
Five On It: November 2008's Essentials (More on Skull Snaps)

Rewind: Metal Fingers 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (Part 1)

After KMD and Daniel Dumile's return to music as MF Doom in 1998, Doom started the Special Herbs project as Metal Fingers. 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' was released in two parts in 2001 and 2002, part 1 released on Female Fun records and parts 1 and 2 released on one disc on High Times Records. This post will cover the tracks and sample sources of 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2'.

Dumile's track 'Saffron' samples 'Hogin' Machine' from Les Baxter's 1969 motorcycle exploitation soundtrack 'Hell's Belles'. 'Hell's Belles' is a highly sought after soundtrack that has been sampled numerous times and has been repressed by a handful of shady companies, be on the lookout for legit copies. 'Zatar' samples Anita Baker's 'Been So Long' from her 1986 album 'Rapture' to some pleasant results. This may cause some comment ruckus, but I'm not a fan of Quincy Jones' 1979 album 'The Dude', but Doom used 'One Hundred Ways' on 'Monosodium Glutamate' very well. Finally, one of the essential early breaks, 'Rocket in the Pocket' by Cerrone is used on Metal Fingers' 'Red #40'.

Check back for our second look at Metal Fingers' 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' produced by MF Doom.

The Lowdown:
Metal Fingers 'Saffron', 'Zatar', 'Monosodium Glutamate', and 'Red #40'
from 'Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2' (2002) (MP3/CD)
Les Baxter 'Hogin' Machine'
from 'Hell's Belles' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Anita Baker 'Been So Long'
from 'Rapture' (1986) (MP3/CD)
Quincy Jones 'One Hundred Ways'
from 'The Dude' (1979) (MP3/CD)
Cerrone 'Rocket in the Pocket'
from 'Cerrone IV - The Golden Touch' (1978) (MP3 not available/Import CD)

Bonus Cut:
Both Doom and Dilla were tapped for beats by Ghostface Killah for his album 'Fishscale' (full review soon). Ghost used some older beats by both producers, including a few from Doom's 'Special Herbs' series. One of those beats is 'Monosodium Glutamate' which was used as the backing for Ghostface Killah's 'Clipse of Doom'.