Rewind: Madlib 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2' (Part 3)

Welcome to our third and final look at Madlib's 2006 album of movie soundtrack beat sketches titled 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2'.

For the track 'Understanding (Comprehension)', Madlib samples Black Ivory's 1972 cut 'You and I' from their album 'Don't Turn Around'. Madlib samples another soul joint on 'Snake Charmer (Heads Up)', which uses bits of the Stylistics' 'You're as Right as Rain' from their album 'Round 2'. On 'Old Age (Youngblood)', Madlib samples the similarly titled rock cut 'Old Age' from Rhinoceros' 1970 album 'Better Times are Coming'. Always messing with material considered unsampleable, Madlib again shines by using 'Hitler was a Vegetarian' by the Residents on his track 'Fukwitus (The Eights)'. Moving back to classic soul, 'Whutkanido (Can Do It)' samples the Sam Cooke single 'You Were Made for Me'. The Residents appear again with their track 'End of Home' from 1980's bugged out (and possibly sample-laden in the right hands) 'Commercial Album' which was used for 'The Forest (Greens)'. Finally, the track 'Outerlimit (Space Ho)' cuts up 'An Afterthought' from Black widow's eponymous 1970 album.

To date, Madlib has 6 installments in his Beat Konducta series with further installments in the works. Look for more information on Madlib's production work in upcoming posts on this blog.

The Lowdown:
Madlib 'Understanding (Comprehension)', 'Snake Charmer (Heads Up)', 'Old Age (Youngblood)', 'Fukwitus (The Eights)', 'Whutkanido (Can Do It)', 'The Forest (Greens)', and 'Outerlimit (Space Ho)'
from 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2' (2006) (MP3/CD)
Black Ivory 'You and I'
'Don't Turn Around' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
The Stylistics 'You're as Right as Rain'
from 'Round 2' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Rhinoceros 'Old Age'
from 'Better Times are Coming' (1970) (MP3/CD)
The Residents 'Hitler was a Vegetarian'
from 'The Third Reich n' Roll' (1977) (MP3/CD)
Sam Cooke 'You Were Made for Me'
from 'You Were Made for Me' 7" (1958) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
The Residents 'End of Home'
from 'Commercial Album' (1980) (MP3/CD)
Black Widow 'An Afterthought'
from 'Black Widow' (1970) (MP3 not available/Import CD)

Rewind: Madlib 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2' (Part 2)

Welcome to our second look at the sample sources of Madlib's expansive beat tape 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2'.

For the heavy diggers, Madlib doesn't disappoint by sampling Lotti Golden's 'Motor-Cycle Michael' on 'Gold Jungle (Tribe)'. By contrast, the source for 'Pyramids (Change)' is the hit single 'Risin' to the Top' from Keni Burke's post-Five Stairsteps 1982 album 'Changes'. Madlib samples Raymond Scott again, this time using the bizarre 'IBM MT/ST: The Paperwork Explosion' for 'West Coast (Coastin')'. For 'Box Top (Cardboard Dues)', Madlib samples 'Trapped' from Elmer Bernstein's soundtrack to the 1974 film 'Gold'. The early solo Diana Ross cut 'Keep an Eye' from her self titled album is the source for Madlib's 'Friends (Foes)'. 'Too Fat (Ghettozone)' uses a sample of Garland Green's 'I Can't Believe You Quit Me' from his 1969 album 'Jealous Kind of Fella'. Finally, the rock band Vanilla Fudge is sampled on 'Money Hugger (Gold Diggin')', which takes part of the 'Rock and Roll' album cut 'Street Walkin' Woman'.

Check back for our third and final look at Madlib's 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2'.

The Lowdown:
Madlib 'Gold Jungle (Tribe)', 'Pyramids (Change)', 'West Coast (Coastin')', 'Box Top (Cardboard Dues)', 'Friends (Foes)', 'Too Fat (Ghettozone)', and 'Money Hugger (Gold Diggin')'
from 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2' (2006) (MP3/CD)
Lotti Golden 'Motor-Cycle Michael'
from 'Motor-Cycle' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Keni Burke 'Risin' to the Top'
from 'Changes' (1982) (MP3/Import CD)
Raymond Scott 'IBM MT/ST: The Paperwork Explosion'
from 'Manhattan Research Inc.' (2000) (MP3/CD)
Elmer Bernstein 'Trapped'
from 'Gold' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Diana Ross 'Keep an Eye'
from 'Diana Ross' (1970) (MP3/CD not available)
Garland Green 'I Can't Believe You Quit Me'
from 'Jealous Kind of Fella' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Vanilla Fudge 'Street Walkin' Woman'
from 'Rock and Roll' (1969) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: Madlib 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2' (Part 1)

'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2' released in 2006 is the first two releases in a series of beat tapes produced by Madlib, containing a series of short instrumentals. This installment of the series is based around 'movie themes' and features some excellent sampling. This blog's three part look at 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2' will decode Madlib's sample sources.

The album begins with Madlib's 'The Comeback (Madlib)' which features a sample of Dee Dee Sharp's 1965 single 'I Really Love You'. It's been sampled to death, but James Brown's 'The Payback' gets an inventive flip on Madlib's 'The Payback (Gotta)', turning the intro's background vocals into a soul banger. 'Face the Sun (Africa)' finds Madlib sampling 'Time to Face the Sun' from BLO's 1973 album 'Chapter One'. On 'Open (Space)', Madlib interpolates the melody to Kraftwerk's famous b-boy cut (by way of Afrika Bambaataa) 'Trans-Europe Express' from the 1977 album of the same name. As could be easily decoded from it's name, 'Stax (Strings)' has a sample of a Stax artist: Carla Thomas on her 'Memphis Queen' album track 'I've Fallen in Love with You'. A year after J Dilla sampled Raymond Scott on 'Donuts', Madlib also sampled Scott on 'Electric Company (Voltage-Watts)' by cutting up 'Wheels That Go' and 'Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.' (Take 1), both from Raymond Scott's fantastic retrospective 'Manhattan Research, Inc.'. Madlib digs deep for 'Left on Silverlake (Ride)''s sample source: 'The All Golden' from Van Dyke Parks' 1968 LP 'Song Cycle'.

Check back for part 2 of our look at 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2'.

The Lowdown:
Madlib 'The Comeback (Madlib)', 'The Payback (Gotta)', 'Face the Sun (Africa)', 'Open (Space)', 'Stax (Strings)', 'Electric Company (Voltage-Watts)', and 'Left on Silverlake (Ride)'
from 'Beat Konducta Vol 1-2' (2006) (MP3/CD)
Dee Dee Sharp 'I Really Love You'
from 'I Really Love You' 7" (1965) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
James Brown 'The Payback'
from 'The Payback' (1973) (MP3/CD)
BLO 'Time to Face the Sun'
from 'Chapter One' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Kraftwerk 'Trans-Europe Express'
from 'Trans-Europe Express' (1977) (MP3 not available/CD)
Carla Thomas 'I've Fallen in Love with You'
from 'Memphis Queen' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Raymond Scott 'Wheels That Go' and 'Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.' (Take 1)
from 'Manhattan Research, Inc.' (2000) (MP3/CD)
Van Dyke Parks 'The All Golden'
from 'Song Cycle' (1968) (MP3/CD)

Source Material: The Electric Prunes 'Release of an Oath'

Following the Electric Prunes' third album, 'Mass in F Minor', which featured mostly studio musicians filling in for the band members, the band released 'Release of an Oath' in 1968, again recorded by studio musicians with the Prunes only submitting vocals. This album may only have been a footnote in history, a cash-in recording for a band that had all but broken up, if it weren't for the songwriting and production prowess of one David Axelrod. 'Release of an Oath' is less of an Electric Prunes album than it is a David Axelrod album. With it's open drums, jazz influence, and funky basslines; the album became a sought after treasure for beat diggers the world over. Thankfully, within the last decade, the album has been easier to find due to re-releases (and now, MP3s). This post will cover the producers and artists who have sampled the Axelrod produced fourth album by the Electric Prunes.

One of the album's stand out tracks is 'Holy are You', which is a favorite of beat heads and psych rock listeners alike. The track was sampled by Joe Fatal for Fat Joe and Raekwon's team up 'Respect Mine' on his 1995 album 'Jealous One's Envy'. Five years later, the same track was sampled by Madlib on his Quasimoto album 'The Unseen' for the cut 'Return of the Loop Digga'. The album's funkiest cut is the bouncy bass-heavy 'General Confessional', which has become the most sampled cut on this release. In 1997, the Beatnuts sampled 'General Confessional' for 'N----z Know' on 'Stone Crazy' while DJ Scratch sampled the cut for Rampage and Busta Rhymes' single 'Flipmode iz da Squad'. In 2000, Madlib sampled this track as well for his song 'B.S.' from the Quasimoto single 'Basic Instinct' while the RZA sampled the song for 'The Monument' which finds Busta Rhymes cameoing again on the beat alongside the Wu-Tang Clan. 'The Adoration' from 'Release of an Oath' was also plundered by the Beatnuts for the song 'World's Famous' from their 1993 release 'The Intoxicated Demons'.

At the end of 'Release of an Oath', the Electric Prunes were almost done. The band, by name only and featuring none of the original members, released a fifth album that made no waves. Axelrod, however, was just at the beginning of his solo career. 1968 saw the release of his debut solo album, 'Song of Innocence', which led to a decade of beat digger coveted albums.

The Lowdown:
The Electric Prunes 'Holy Are You', 'General Confessional', and 'The Adoration'
from 'Release of an Oath' (1968) (MP3/CD)
Fat Joe 'Respect Mine'
from 'Jealous One's Envy' (1995) (MP3 not available/CD)
Quasimoto 'Return of the Loop Digga'
from 'The Unseen' (2000) (MP3/CD)
The Beatnuts 'N----z Know'
from 'Stone Crazy' (1997) (MP3 not available/CD)
Rampage 'Flipmode iz da Squad'
from 'Scouts Honor By Way of Blood' (1997) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Quasimoto 'B.S.'
from 'Basic Instinct' (2000) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Wu-Tang Clan 'The Monument'
from 'The W' (2000) (MP3 not available/CD)
The Beatnuts 'World's Famous'
from 'The Intoxicated Demons' (1993) (MP3 not available/CD)

Bonus Cut:
The Verve's Richard Ashcroft, a fan of Axelrod's work with the Electric Prunes, recorded an excellent live version of 'Holy Are You' with Axelrod conducting a symphony.

Related Posts:
Producer Profile: David Axelrod (Part 2, 1968-1969)
Rewind: Quasimoto 'The Unseen' (Part 1)
Rewind: Quasimoto 'The Unseen' (Part 2)
Rewind: Quasimoto 'The Unseen' (Part 3)

Rewind: Mos Def 'The Ecstatic' (Part 1)

Following two disappointing LPs for Geffen, Mos Def rocketed himself back into underground hip-hop's radar with 2009's 'The Ecstatic'. With this album, he returned to form backed with some of hip-hop's best beatmakers. This two part post will demystify 'The Ecstatic''s sample sources.

'The Ecstatic''s opening track and first video single is the Oh No produced 'Supermagic'. Mos Def rhymes over a beat formerly used by Oh No on his own track 'Heavy' from 2007's 'Dr. No's Oxperiment'. The beat samples obscure Turkish singer Selda Bagcan (or just Selda)'s song 'Ince Ince' from her 1976 album 'Selda'. One of the album's standout tracks is 'Auditorium' where Mos trades verses with the ruler Slick Rick. The two ride Madlib's previously released instrumental 'Movie Finale' from his India themed album 'Beat Konducta 3 and 4: In India' from 2007. Madlib also provides the beat for Mos Def's 'Wahid' by sampling Bobby Hebb's 1970 track 'Flower'. Mos Def selected a beat from French producer Mr. Flash for 'Life in Marvelous Times'. The same backing track was previously used on Mr. Flash's own single 'Champions' which included a vocal cut with French rapper TTC and an instrumental version.

Check back for our second look at Mos Def's 'The Ecstatic'.

The Lowdown:
Mos Def 'Supermagic', 'Auditorium', 'Wahid', and 'Life in Marvelous Times'
from 'The Ecstatic' (2009) (MP3/CD)
Oh No 'Heavy'
from 'Dr. No's Oxperiment' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Selda 'Ince Ince'
from 'Selda' (1976) (MP3/CD)
Madlib 'Movie Finale'
from 'Beat Konducta 3 and 4: In India' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Bobby Hebb 'Flower'
from 'Love Games' (1970) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Mr. Flash 'Champions' and 'Champions' (Instrumental)
from 'Champions' (2006) (MP3/CD not available)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Mos Def 'Black on Both sides' (Part 1)
Rewind: Mos Def 'Black on Both sides' (Part 2)

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)

Rewind: Jaylib 'Champion Sound' (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of our two part look at J Dilla and Madlib's collaborative album 'Champion Sound' as Jaylib.

For the Jaylib track 'The Official', Madlib takes a piece of the title track from Gap Mangione's 1968 album 'Diana in the Autumn Wind'. One of the odder sample sources from 'Champion Sound' is Dilla's selection of industrial music pioneers Throbbing Gristle's song 'Persuasion' for 'The Heist'. Madlib rhymes over J Dilla's beat on 'Strip Club', which samples jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius' 'Opus Pocus' from his 1976 album 'Jaco Pastorius'. Lastly, Dilla samples the late career album cut 'Stars are Out Tonight' from the relatively unknown Starcastle and the Isley Brothers' 'For the Love of You' for the Jaylib track 'Starz'.

Despite frequent leaks, the album was released in 2003 by Stones Throw and later repackaged in 2007 in a deluxe format in 2007 with instrumentals, bonus tracks, and remixes by Madlib.

The Lowdown:
Jaylib 'The Official', 'The Heist', 'Strip Club', and 'Starz'
from 'Champion Sound' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Gap Mangione 'Diana in the Autumn Wind'
from 'Diana in the Autumn Wind' (1968) (MP3 not available/CD)
Throbbing Gristle 'Persuasion'
from '20 Jazz Funk Greats' (1979) (MP3 not available/CD)
Jaco Pastorius 'Opus Pocus'
from 'Jaco Pastorius' (1976) (MP3/CD)
The Isley Brothers 'For the Love of You'
from 'The Heat is On' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Starcastle 'Stars are Out Tonight'
from 'Reel to Real' (1979) (MP3/CD)

Bonus Cuts:
Deluxe edition instrumental cuts: 'The Official' (Instrumental), 'The Heist' (Instrumental), 'Strip Club' (Instrumental), and 'Starz' (Instrumental).

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

Rewind: Jaylib 'Champion Sound' (Part 1)

When given a tape of J Dilla's beats in 2000, Madlib rapped over the beats starting the Jaylib project without J Dilla's initial knowledge. After trading beats and meeting only twice, the lone Jaylib album titled 'Champion Sound' was completed and released in 2003. This two part blog post will cover the sampled material from Dilla and Madlib's collaboration.

The opening track 'L.A. to Detroit' produced by both J Dilla and Madlib contains a sample of the drums from Mountain's live version of 'Long Red' from 1973 their album 'Live (The Road Goes Ever On)'. 'McNasty Filth' featuring raps by Dilla and Frank-N-Dank finds Madlib using a sample from Paul Muriat's 1971 album 'El Condor Pasa''s album cut 'Melancholy Man'. Due to a cease and desist order, the sample of Cris Williamson's 'Shine On, Straight Arrow' does not appear on the rerelease version of the Dilla produced cut 'The Red'. Madlib kicks some dub knowledge by sampling Herman Chin-Loy's 'Heavy Duty' (featuring melodica by dub pioneer Augustus Pablo) on the track 'Heavy' with lyrics by Dilla.

Check back for part 2 of our look at 'Champion Sound'.

The Lowdown:
Jaylib 'L.A. to Detroit', 'McNasty Filth', 'The Red', and 'Heavy'
from 'Champion Sound' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Mountain 'Long Red'
from 'Live (The Road Goes Ever On)' (1972) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Paul Mauriat 'Melancholy Man'
from 'El Condor Pasa' (1971) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Cris Williamson 'Shine On, Straight Arrow'
from 'Cris Williamson' (1970) (MP3/CD)
Herman Chin-Loy 'Heavy Duty'
from 'Aquarius Dub' (1975) (MP3 not available/CD not available)

Bonus Cuts:
Instrumental versions, get your rap on: 'McNasty Filth' (Instrumental), 'The Red' (Instrumental), and 'Heavy' (Instrumental).

Related Posts:
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 5, 2001-2003)

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)

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)

Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 5, 2001-2003)

Welcome to our fifth look at the production career of the legendary, late J Dilla. It has only been three years since his untimely death, but his influence is felt more than perhaps any other time in history. Before I start with the post, I wanted to link up Stones Throw's Rase It Up for Ma Dukes! crossover campaign with Parra with proceeds going to Dilla's mother Maureen Yancey.

2001 saw the release of Dilla's first solo album, 'Welcome to Detroit' as Jay Dee on the excellent UK label BBE. The album's single 'Pause' with vocals by Frank-N-Dank uses a sample from Donald Byrd's 1974 album 'Stepping into Tomorrow' (produced by Larry Mizell) with the track 'Think Twice'. In 2002, Dilla and the other members of the Soulquarians appeared on the ambitious, yet ultimately critically ignored, album 'Electric Cricus' by Common. Two noteworthy non-singles from the album are the Dilla, James Poyser, and ?usetlove produced cuts 'New Wave' and 'Star 69 (PS with Love). 'New Wave' features guest vocals from Stereolab singer Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab was mentioned in Part 4 of our look at Dilla's production output) while 'Star 69' features vocals from fellow Soulquarian Bilal and Prince (yes, that Prince).

In 2003, Dilla's 'Ruff Draft' EP was released by the German label Groove Attack (the EP was later expanded and reissued by Stones Throw). One of the album's standout tracks is 'Wild', which samples 'Cum On Feel the Noize' by classic rock act Slade. Also in 2003, J Dilla and Madlib's project Jaylib saw the light of day with the supergroup's lone album 'Champion Sound'. 'Champion Sound''s single 'The Red' touts beats by Dilla and lyrics by Madlib and utilizes a sample of 'Shine On Straight Arrow' from Cris Williamson's self titled album from 1970.

Check back to this blog for our sixth look at Dilla's career, covering the years 2004 and 2005.

The Lowdown:
Jay Dee 'Pause'
from 'Welcome to Detroit' (2001) (MP3/CD)
Donald Byrd 'Think Twice'
from 'Stepping Into Tomorrow' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Common 'New Wave' and 'Star 69 (PS With Love)'
from 'Electric Circus' (2002) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit:'New Wave' and 'Star 69 (PS With Love)'
J Dilla 'Wild'
from 'Ruff Draft' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Slade 'Cum on Feel the Noize'
from 'Sladest' (1972) (MP3/CD not available)
Jaylib 'The Red'
from 'Champion Sound' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Cris Williamson 'Shine On Straight Arrow'
from 'Cris Williamson' (1970) (MP3/CD)

Bonus Cuts:
Reissue instrumental fever: 'Wild' (Instrumental) and 'The Red' (Instrumental)

Releated Posts:
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 4, 2000)