Source Material: James Brown 'Hell' (Part 2)

Welcome back to James Brown Week and our second look at James Brown's 1974 album 'Hell' and the producers and artists who sampled it.

One of James' earlier hits was suped up for the excellent 'I Can't Stand It '76', which was sampled by Lord Finesse on his own album 'Return of the Funky Man' for the track 'Funk on the Fast Tip'. James' single 'Papa Don't Take No Mess' spawned a series of sampled tracks through out hip hop's history. Kool Moe Dee sampled it in 1986 on 'I'm a Player', but Eric B. and Rakim had a much bigger his in 1987 using the same sample for their classic 'Move the Crowd' from the album 'Paid in Full'. In 1988, Marley Marl sampled 'Papa Don't Take No Mess' for Biz Markie's single 'Vapors' from the album 'Goin' Off' and 7A3 sampled the song for their track 'Mad Mad World' from the soundtrack to the movie 'Colors'. Finally in 1993, Puff Daddy and Tony Dofat sampled the same song for Mary J. Blige's 'You Don't Have to Worry', a single with Craig Mack that hovered in the upper reaches of the Billboard 100.

'Hell' may not be as sought after as other albums from the era, but its a burner with an unlikely latin flavor. 1974 was a banner year, like any other, for James also released his legendary album 'The Payback' (another double album) during the same year.

The Lowdown:
James Brown 'I Can't Stand It '76' and 'Papa Don't Take No Mess'
from 'Hell' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Lord Finesse 'Funk on the Fast Tip'
from 'Return of the Funky Man' (1992) (MP3/CD not available)
Kool Moe Dee 'I'm a Player'
from 'How Ya Like Me Now' (1986) (MP3/CD)
Eric B. and Rakim 'Move the Crowd'
from 'Paid in Full' (1987) (MP3/CD)
Biz Markie 'Vapors'
from 'Goin' Off' (1988) (MP3/CD)
7A3 'Mad Mad World'
from 'Colors Soundtrack' (1988) (MP3/CD not available)
Mary J. Blige 'You Don't Have to Worry'
from 'What's the 411? Remix' (1993) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: Mary J. Blige 'My Life' (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of our two part look at Mary J. Blige's Puffy and the Hitmen produced album 'My Life' from 1994.

The album's biggest hit was its fourth single, 'I'm Goin' Down'. The track is a cover of Rose Royce's single 'I'm Going Down' from the soundtrack to the movie 'Car Wash' (better known for its title track). 'I Love You', a top 40 R&B single, samples Isaac Hayes' 'The Look of Love' and 'Ike's Mood I', both from Hayes' essential 1971 album '...To Be Continued'. Finally, the album's first single 'Be Happy' features a sample of Curtis Mayfield's 'You're So Good to Me' from his later career album 'Heartbeat' and also uses Jimmy Spicer's early 80s single 'Money (Dollar Bill Ya'll)'.

'My Life' was another bona fide success for Mary J. Blige and Puff Daddy's camp, producing a handful of singles and staying on top of the Billboard R&B album charts for eight consecutive weeks. However, with Uptown records falling apart, this would be her final album produced with such large input from the Hitmen production team.

The Lowdown:
Mary J. Blige 'I'm Goin' Down', 'I Love You', and 'Be Happy'
from 'My Life' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Rose Royce 'I'm Going Down'
from 'Car Wash' (1976) (MP3/CD not available)
Isaac Hayes 'The Look of Love' (Radio Edit) and 'Ike's Mood I' (Radio Edit)
from '...To Be Continued' (1969) (MP3/CD)
Curtis Mayfield 'You're So Good to Me'
from 'Heartbeat' (1979) (MP3/CD not available)
Jimmy Spicer 'Money (Dollar Bill Ya'll)'
from 'Money' 12" (1983) (MP3 not available/CD not available)

Rewind: Mary J. Blige 'My Life' (Part 1)

Following the runaway success of her debut album, Mary J. Blige returned two years later with her second album titled 'My Life' which was produced almost entirely by Puff Daddy and the Hitmen and generated six singles. This two part arc will cover the hits and samples from Mary's 'My Life'.

The album's second single 'Mary Jane' samples the Rick James produced 80s hit 'All Night Long' by the Mary Jane Girls. 'You Bring Me Joy', which floated just outside of Billboard's Top 50 singles in 1995, samples Barry White's hit 'It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me' from his breakout hit album 'Sings a Song for Someone You Love' from 1976. As an aside, doesn't 'Sings a Song...' have one of the worst covers from the 70s - a locket on some discolored shag carpeting? Damn. The album track 'I'm the Only Woman' samples Curtis Mayfield's 'Superfly'-era single 'Give Me Your Love', a standout from his film soundtrack.

Check back for our second batch of Mary J. Blige tracks from 'My Life' and their sample sources.

The Lowdown:
Mary J. Blige 'Mary Jane', 'You Bring Me Joy', and 'I'm the Only Woman'
from 'My Life' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Mary Jane Girls 'All Night Long'
from 'Mary Jane Girls' (1983) (MP3 not available/CD)
Barry White 'It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me'
from 'Sings a Song for Someone You Love' (1976) (MP3/CD)
Curtis Mayfield 'Give Me Your Love'
from 'Superfly' (1972) (MP3/CD)

Related Posts:
Source Material: Curtis Mayfield 'Superfly'

Source Material: Marvin Gaye 'I Want You'

Following the success of his breakthrough album 'What's Going On' and two successful pop albums ('Let's Get It On' and 'Diana and Marvin'), Marvin Gaye released 'I Want You' in 1976. With writer/producer Leon Ware, Gaye created some of his most erotic music. Marvin has always been a favorite of hip-hop producers for sample sources, so 'I Want You' features a series of well used samples placed in hip-hop history.

The album's fantastic lead single 'I Want You' was a top 20 pop hit and is the blueprint for the 80s quiet storm sound. In 1994, 'I Want You' was used twice: once by 88 X Unit for Ice Cube's 'What Can I Do?' and once by Puff Daddy and the Hitmen for Mary J Blige's hit single 'Be Happy'. In 2001, a then new Three 6 Mafia, produced by production team DJ Paul and Juicy J, sampled 'I Want You' for 'Long Nite' from their debut album 'Mystic Stylez'.



The album's second track 'Come Live with Me Angel' was sampled in 2003 by Red Spyda for one of G-Unit's few charting hits: 'Wanna Get to Know You' with R&B singer Joe. The album's second single 'After the Dance' was again used by Ice Cube (via the Boogiemen production team) in 1991 for the single 'Steady Mobbin'' from 'Death Certificate'. Seven years later, 'After the Dance' was sampled by Salaam Remi for Canibus' 'Get Retarded' from his debut album 'Can-I-Bus'. Finally, L.A. Jay and SlimKid3 sampled Marvin's 'Since I Had You' for the Pharcyde's 'Otha Fish' from their debut album 'Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde'.

The Lowdown:
Marvin Gaye 'I Want You', 'Come Live with Me Angel', 'After the Dance', and 'Since I Had You'
from 'I Want You' (1976) (MP3/CD)
Ice Cube 'What Can I Do?'
from 'Lethal Injection' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'What Can I Do?'
Mary J. Blige 'Be Happy'
from 'My Life' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Three 6 Mafia 'Long Nite'
from 'Mystic Stylez' (2001) (MP3/CD)
G-Unit and Joe 'Wanna Get to Know You'
from 'Beg for Mercy' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Wanna Get to Know You'
Ice Cube 'Steady Mobbin''
from 'Death Certificate' (1991) (MP3/CD)
Canibus 'Get Retarded'
from 'Can-I-Bus' (1998) (MP3/CD)
The Pharcyde 'Otha Fish'
from 'Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde' (1992) (MP3/CD)

Bonus Cuts:
There are a series of decent covers of 'I Want You' (none as good as the original in my opinion), but I thought I'd throw this one out there: Madonna enlisted Massive Attack to produce her version of 'I Want You' to pretty good results (don't hate me for saying so!).

Related Posts:
Source Material: Marvin Gaye 'Trouble Man'
The Breaks: Marlena Shaw 'California Soul' (Marvin Gaye appearance)