Five On It: June 2009's Essentials

Welcome to our latest installment of Five On It, the five essential beats covered in the last month that you need to add to your library of samples. Five On it has been running strong, every month I worry about picking five new breaks that haven't been given Five On It status before, but we always easily come up with five more, June being no exception.

This track is the second early hip-hop joint given Five On It status, but it's huge: Kurtis Blow's 'The Breaks'. Whether it's the opening handclap shout outs or its many breakdowns, 'The Breaks' is full of samples and still rocks the party hard. This track was sampled by DJ Premier for KRS-One. Next is another big 80s tune that still resonates with kids who were born after the 80s: Mtume's 'Juicy Fruit', famously sampled by the Notorious B.I.G. and Warren G. Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter III' is responsible for breathing a little more life into Nina Simone's already amazing read of 'Don't Let Me Be Understood'. Look below for more on this classic song. Dilla sampled the hitting song 'I Got Some' by Billy Garner, one of my favorite funk cuts which has a solid intro break and a memorable sample. Finally, we had a post dedicated to Edwin Starr's 'Easin' In'. More blaxploitation bangers are sure to follow, we've covered a few, but there are plenty more to talk about.

The Lowdown:
Kurtis Blow 'The Breaks'
from 'Kurtis Blow' (1980) (MP3 not available/CD)
Mtume 'Juicy Fruit'
from 'Juicy Fruit' (1983) (MP3/CD)
Nina Simone 'Don't Let Me Be Understood'
from 'Broadway - Blues - Ballads' (1964) (MP3/CD)
Billy Garner 'I Got Some'
from 'I Got Some' 7" (1971) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Edwin Starr 'Easin' In'
from 'Hell Up In Harlem' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD not available)

Bonus Cuts:
Even though Nina Simone was the first person to record the song 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood', the recording is probably best known for its versions by the Animals (1965) or Joe Cocker (1969). I'm usually not into disco songs and especially disco covers, but Santa Esmeralda delivered a quality version of 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' in 1977. Bonus, a new re-release of the single features instrumental and acapella versions of Santa Esmeralda's cut.

Rewind: Warren G 'Regulate... G Funk Era'

This one was released 15 years ago as of the 7th of June, but it still has a few essential summertime cuts and sample its share of summertime bangers. This post will look at the songs and source material of Warren G's 1994 debut album 'Regulate... G Funk Era'.

The album's biggest single is the West Coast classic cut 'Regulate', which famously samples Michael McDonald's 1981 single 'I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)' as well as the title track from Bob James' 1981 album 'Sign of the Times'. On 'Do You See', Warren G and Nate Dogg rhyme over samples of Junior's hit single 'Mama Used to Say' and Mtume's hit single 'Juicy Fruit'. Warren G samples Cameo's 'Why Have I Lost You' and One Way's 'Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)' on 'Super Soul Sis'. Finally, for 'Runnin' Wit No Breaks', Warren G uses the ever useful break from Kool and the Gang's 'N.T.' as well as Les McCann's 'Go On and Cry' from his 1974 album 'Another Beginning'.

Upon release, the album garnered high critical praise as well as swift opening week sales.

The Lowdown:
Warren G 'Regulate', 'Do You See', 'Super Soul Sis', and 'Runnin' Wit No Breaks'
from 'Regulate... G Funk Era' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Michael McDonald 'I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)'
from 'If That's What it Takes' (1981) (MP3/CD)
Bob James 'Sign of the Times'
from 'Sign of the Times' (1981) (MP3/CD)
Junior 'Mama used to Say'
from 'Ji' (1982) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Mtume 'Juicy Fruit'
from 'Juicy Fruit' (1983) (MP3/CD)
Cameo 'Why Have I Lost You'
from 'We All Know Who We Are' (1977) (MP3/CD not available)
One Way 'Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)'
from 'Lady' (1984) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Kool and the Gang 'N.T.'
from 'Live at P.J.'s' (1971) (MP3/CD not available)
Les McCann 'Go On and Cry'
from 'Another Beginning' (1974) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: Notorious B.I.G. 'Ready to Die' (Part 2)

The track that introduced much of the world to B.I.G. was the album's lead smash single 'Juicy', which would go gold by the end of 1994. For one of Biggie's trademark songs, Sean "Puffy" Combs and Jean Oliver looped segments of Mtume's 80s hit 'Juicy Fruit'. More than a decade after its release as a single, 'Juicy' is still one of the necessary tracks in every DJ's arsenal: it is an essential party mover.

The Bluez Brothers produced 'Everyday Struggle' samples smooth jazz icon Dave Grusin's 1979 song 'Either Way' from his album 'Mountain Dance'. 'Ready to Die''s second single was another smash hit, the Sean "Puffy" Combs / Chucky Thompson produced 'Big Poppa' launched into the Billboard top 10 in 1995. The track famously mines 'Between the Sheets' by the Isley Brothers to fantastic results. Combs and Oliver dissect George McCrae's 'I Get Lifted' for Biggie's 'Respect'. 'Respect' features guest vocals from Diana King, who would receive a record deal due to this appearance and go on to have a solo hit with 'Shy Guy'.

Check back for part 3 of 'Ready to Die'.

The Lowdown:
Notorious B.I.G. 'Juicy', 'Everyday Struggle', 'Big Poppa', and 'Respect'
from 'Ready to Die' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'Juicy', 'Everyday Struggle', 'Big Poppa', and 'Respect'
Mtume 'Juicy Fruit'
from 'Juicy Fruit' (1982) (MP3/CD)
Dave Grusin 'Either Way'
from 'Mountain Dance' (1979) (MP3/CD)
The Isley Brothers 'Between the Sheets'
from 'Between the Sheets' (1982) (MP3/CD)
George McCrae 'I Get Lifted
from 'Rock Your Baby' (1974) (MP3 unavailable/CD)

BONUS CUT:
Of course, Biggie was not the only one to use 'Juicy Fruit' as a sample. Warren G's self-produced singles 'Do You See' and 'This D.J.' both pluck 'Juicy Fruit' (and both slightly pre-date 'Ready to Die', although both albums were probably produced around the same time). Several B.I.G. referencing tracks also use 'Juicy Fruit', like the Faith Evans' 2001 album title track 'Faithfully and the 2007 hit 'Let it Go' by Keyshia Cole produced by Missy Elliott who also appears along with Lil' Kim.