Rewind: Portishead 'Dummy'

On August 22, 1994, one of trip-hop's most genre-defining albums was released: Portishead's 'Dummy'. The trio is comprised of icy, torch-song vocalist Beth Gibbons, guitarist Adrian Utley, and producer Geoff Barrow (who had previously worked with the Wild Bunch collective and trip-hop peers Massive Attack). Following a self-produced short film titled 'To Kill a Dead Man', Portishead was signed and 'Dummy' was released.

One of Portishead's most pronounced influences and most sampled artists is the recently deceased Isaac Hayes (rest in peace). Portishead's smash single 'Glory Box' features a slinking string sample from Hayes' 'Ike's Rap II' from his double album 'Black Moses'. Additionally, Portishead's 'Wandering Star' samples another track from 'Black Moses', the excellent 'Going in Circles'. 'Wandering Star' also samples the song 'Magic Mountain' by Eric Burdon and War. The album cut 'Strangers' takes it's gloom from 'Elegant People', a track from Weather Report's 1976 album 'Black Market'.

Portishead followed with a self-titled album in 1997 and their third album (titled 'Third') in 2008. Though their sound has moved away from sample usage, it remains their signature style.

The Lowdown:
Portishead 'Glory Box', 'Wandering Star', and 'Strangers'
from 'Dummy' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Isaac Hayes 'Ike's Rap II / Help Me Love' and 'Going in Circles'
from 'Black Moses' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Eric Burdon and War 'Magic Mountain'
from 'Love is All Around' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Weather Report 'Elegant People'
from 'Black Market' (1976) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: Three 6 Mafia 'Da Unbreakables'

Three 6 Mafia's mainstream success was limited until the release of 'Da Unbreakables' released in 2003, over a decade after the group originally formed. Until 'Unbreakables', only 'Sippin' on Some Sizzurp' from 2000's 'When the Smoke Clears' made a splash outside of the Dirty South. The lone single from 'Da Unbreakables', putting Three 6 Mafia on the map, is 'Ridin' Spinners' with Lil' Flip. 'Spinners' incorporates samples from Eazy-E's 'Eazy-Duz-It' and features an awesome start-and-stop intro.

'Da Unbreakables' may only have one single, but that doesn't mean the rest of the album should be overlooked. 'F--- That S---', part of the one-two-three punch that opens the album in part to fantastic sequencing, samples the bassline from Portishead's 'Wandering Star'. DJ Paul and Juicy J use a sample from 'Make Me Say It Again, Girl' by the Isley Brothers for the mid-album track 'Ghetto Chick'.

Three 6 Mafia would later release the platinum album 'Most Known Unknowns' with the top 20 hit 'Stay Fly'. Additionally, Three 6 Mafia would win an oscar in 2006 for their track 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp' from the movie 'Hustle and Flow'. The attention they have finally been starting to receive has been a long time coming for one of rap's most overlooked production teams.

The Lowdown:
Three 6 Mafia 'Ridin' Spinners', 'F--- That S---', and 'Ghetto Chick'
from 'Da Unbreakables' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Eazy-E 'Eazy-Duz-It'
from 'Eazy-Duz-It' (1988) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Eazy-Duz-It'
Portishead 'Wandering Star'
from 'Dummy' (1994) (MP3/CD)
The Isley Brothers 'Make Me Say It Again, Girl'
from 'The Heat Is On' (1975) (MP3/CD)