Rewind: Ghostface Killah 'The Big Doe Rehab' (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of our two part look at Ghostface Killah's most recent album 'The Big Doe Rehab'.

Ghost and Anthony Acid share production credits for 'Supa GFK', which samples Johnny 'Guitar' Watson's hit 'Superman Lover' from his well received 1976 album 'Ain't that a B----'. The Hitmen's LV and Sean C dig deep again for the sample of the Independents' 'It's All Over' for Ghostface's 'I'll Die For You'. Following that, LV and Sean C sample NYC's El Michels Affair for the Ghost and Raekwon team up 'Shakey Dog Starring Lolita'. El Michels Affair is noted for their covers of Wu classics, but this new Wu track was made from a sample of El Michels Affair's original track 'Musings to Myself' from their debut album 'Sounding out the City'. Finally, Ghostface and Anthony Acid sample Faze-O's single 'Riding High' from their album of the same title on Ghost, Method Man, and Masta Killa's 'Killa Lipstick'.

Though 'The Big Doe Rehab' was an album of new works, it fell mostly on deaf ears much to Ghostface's chagrin (as witnessed on an infamous Youtube video to his fans). This is the last album of new work from Ghost and is bookended by 2006's 'More Fish' and 2008's 'The Wallabee Champ', both made up of B-sides and unused tracks.

The Lowdown:
Ghostface Killah 'Supa GFK', 'I'll Die for You', 'Shakey Dog Starring Lolita', and 'Killa Lipstick'
from 'The Big Doe Rehab' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'Supa GFK', 'I'll Die for You', 'Shakey Dog Starring Lolita', and 'Killa Lipstick'
Johnny 'Guitar' Watson 'Superman Lover'
from 'Ain't That a B----' (1976) (MP3 not available/CD)
The Independents 'It's All Over'
from 'Chuck, Helen, Eric, Maurice' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
El Michels Affair 'Musings to Myself'
from 'Sounding out the City' (2005) (MP3/CD)
Faze-O 'Riding High'
from 'Riding High' (1977) (MP3 not available/CD not available)

Bonus Cuts:
El Michels Affair have recently released an album of their Wu covers and a couple are Ghostface Killah classics: check out rethought instrumental versions of 'Cherchez La Ghost' and Raekwon and Ghost cuts 'Criminology' and 'Glaciers of Ice'.

Rewind: Ghostface Killah 'The Big Doe Rehab' (Part 1)

In 2007, Ghostface Killah delivered his 7th major label solo album 'The Big Doe Rehab'. This two part arc will cover the sample sources, producers, and guests of Ghost's latest album to date.

Beanie Sigel and Styles P appear on Ghost's heavy hitting album cut 'Toney Sigel A.K.A. the Barrel Brothers' produced by the Hitmen production teams' LV and Sean C. Similar to the team's work on Jay-Z's 'American Gangster', this track relies on a deep crate sample: Al Wilson's 1971 single 'Falling in Love with You'. The team used a much more well known sample for the album's opening single 'We Celebrate' with Kid Capri. They use Rare Earth's huge 1971 hit 'I Just Want to Celebrate' from the album 'One World'. On 'Walk Alone', Anthony Acid uses Little Milton's 'Packed Up and Took My Mind' as a backing for Ghostface, Trife Da God, and Sun God. Scram Jones and Frequency provide the beat for Ghost's bizarre celeb-obsessed 'White Linen Affair (Toney Awards)' which lifts a sample from 'That's the Way It's Got to Be (Body and Soul)' from the Soul Generation's 1972 album 'Beyond Body and Soul'.

Check back for more tracks from 'The Big Doe Rehab' and their sources.

The Lowdown:
Ghostface Killah 'Toney Sigel A.K.A. The Barrel Brothers', 'We Celebrate', 'Walk Around', and 'White Linen Affair (Toney Affair)'
from 'The Big Doe Rehab' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'Toney Sigel A.K.A. The Barrel Brothers', 'We Celebrate', 'Walk Around', and 'White Linen Affair (Toney Affair)'
Al Wilson 'Fallin' in Love with You'
from 'Fallin' in Love with You' 7" (1971) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Rare Earth 'I Just Want to Celebrate'
from 'One World' (1971) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Little Milton 'Packed Up and Took My Mind'
from 'Tin Pan Alley' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Soul Generation 'That's the Way It's Got to Be (Body and Soul)'
from 'Beyond Body and Soul' (1972) (MP3/Import CD)

Related Posts:
Rewind: Ghostface Killah 'Ironman'
Rewind: Ghostface Killah 'Supreme Clientele' (Part 1)
Rewind: Ghostface Killah 'Supreme Clientele' (Part 2)
Rewind: Ghostface Killah 'Supreme Clientele' (Part 3)
Rewind: Jay-Z 'American Gangster' (Part 1) (Hitmen production work)
Rewind: Jay-Z 'American Gangster' (Part 2) (Hitmen production work)

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)

Rewind: Notorious B.I.G. 'Life After Death' (Part 3)

Welcome to part 3 of our three-part look at the Notorious B.I.G.'s album 'Life After Death'.

Puff Daddy, Steven Jordan, and the Hitmen sample the late Delfonics single 'Hey! Love' from their fourth album 'Tell Me This is a Dream' for Biggie's album track 'Playa Hater'. The same production team sampled Liquid Liquid's NYC breakbeat anthem 'Cavern' (previously covered in depth on this blog) for the hit single 'Nasty Boy', complete with one of hip-hop's nastiest intros. Biggie's 'The World is Filled...' with Too Short and Carl Thomas features the use of one of my favorite, unusual breaks: Asha Puthli's 'Space Talk' (not so easy to find, so I'm surprised you can download it from Amazon) from her 1978 album 'The Devil is Loose'. The track's production is credited to D-Dot and Puff Daddy. The Wu's RZA makes a late album production appearance on the track 'Long Kiss Goodnight' and samples Wu-stand by Al Green's excellent 'Green is Blues'-era cover of 'The Letter'.

Released only a few weeks after the Notorious B.I.G.'s murder, the double album debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts and amassed a string of hits. Some verses from Biggie would appear later that year on Puff Daddy's solo outing 'No Way Out' and in the decade proceeding Biggie's death, no less than two terrible cash-in projects were released with unearthed verses and guest vocalists (1999's 'Born Again' and 2005's 'Duets: The Final Chapter'... lets hope it's the final chapter). Despite additional albums produced after his death, the Notorious B.I.G.'s legacy is complete with his two studio albums - two of hip-hop's most endearing works.

The Lowdown:
The Notorious B.I.G. 'Playa Hater', 'Nasty Boy', 'The World is Filled...', and 'Long Kiss Goodnight'
from 'Life After Death' (1997) (MP3/CD)
The Delfonics 'Hey! Love'
from 'Tell Me This is a Dream' (1971) (MP3 not available/CD)
Liquid Liquid 'Cavern'
from 'Optimo' (1982) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Asha Puthli 'Space Talk'
from 'The Devil is Loose' (1978) (MP3/CD not available)
Al Green 'The Letter'
from 'Green is Blues' (1972) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: Notorious B.I.G. 'Life After Death' (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of 3 of our dissection of 'Life After Death' by the Notorious B.I.G.

Another #1 single from 'Life After Death' is the Biggie / Puffy and the Family hit 'Mo Money Mo Problems' produced by Steven Jordan, Puff Daddy, and the Hitmen. Aside from being a great, energetic sample, the question will always remain: why did Puffy choose to sample Diana Ross' 'I'm Coming Out'? The vocal sample used prominently throughout the song has, seemingly, nothing to do with the theme. Leave thoughts in the comment. The first disc of 'Life After Death' ends with the Buckwild produced 'I Got a Story to Tell', which makes good use of the ever-samplable drums from Al Green's 'I'm Glad You're Mine' from 1972's 'I'm Still in Love with You'. Stevie J, Puffy and the Hitmen provide the beat to disc two's 'Another' with guest verse from Junior M.A.F.I.A. alumnus Lil' Kim. The team samples Barbara Mason's single 'Another Man' from her album of the same title. Easy Mo Bee adds some West Coast funk to the album by sampling Zapp's 'More Bounce to the Ounce' for the Biggie single 'Going Back to Cali'.

Check back for the final part of our look at 'Life After Death'.

The Lowdown:
The Notorious B.I.G. 'Mo Money Mo Problems', 'I Got a Story to Tell', 'Another', and 'Going Back to Cali'
from 'Life After Death' (1997) (MP3/CD)
Diana Ross 'I'm Coming Out'
from 'Diana' (1980) (MP3/CD)
Al Green 'I'm Glad You're Mine'
from 'I'm Still In Love With You' (1972) (MP3/CD)
Barbara Mason 'Another Man'
from 'Another Man' (1984) (MP3/CD)
Zapp 'More Bounce to the Ounce'
from 'Zapp' (1979) (MP3/CD)

BONUS CUT:
The 12" instrumental for 'Another Man' by Barbara Mason. Karaoke time.

Rewind: Notorious B.I.G. 'Life After Death' (Part 1)

It's hard to believe, but the Notorious B.I.G. released only one solo album during his lifetime, 1994's 'Ready to Die' (previously covered in depth on this blog here, here, and here). Biggie's follow up album was finished before his untimely murder in 1997 - his second, prophetically named studio album 'Life After Death' was released less than a month after his death. This three part post arc will cover the music of 'Life After Death', the producers, and the sample sources.

The Dramatics' excellent single 'In the Rain' is the basis for the Carlos Broady, Nashiem Myrick, and Puff Daddy produced album track 'Somebody's Gotta Die'. The album's smash hit is the unstoppable 'Hypnotize'; a decade later it is still nitro on the dancefloor. The production team of D-Dot, Ron Lawrence, Puffy and the Hitmen sampled the breakdown of Herb Alpert's 'Rise' and heavily interpolates the lyrics from Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh's 'La Di Da Di'. One of my favorite Biggie cuts is the DJ Premier produced B-side 'Kick in the Door' that makes remarkable use of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' 1950s voodoo freakout 'I Put a Spell on You'. Truly awesome work by Primo. Easy Mo Bee, returning from his work on 'Ready to Die', laces B.I.G. with the beat to 'I Love the Dough'. The track features a guest spot from Jay-Z and Angela Winbush from René and Angela on the hook, who happens to be the source of the track's sample: 'I Love You More' by René and Angela.

Check back for part 2 of our look at 'Life After Death'.

The Lowdown:
The Notorious B.I.G. 'Somebody's Gotta Die', 'Hypnotize', 'Kick in the Door', and 'I Love the Dough'
from 'Life After Death' (1997) (MP3/CD)
The Dramatics 'In the Rain'
from 'Whatcha See is Whatcha Get' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Herb Alpert 'Rise'
from 'Rise' (1979) (MP3/CD)
Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh 'La Di Da Di'
from 'The Show' (1985) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Screamin' Jay Hawkins 'I Put a Spell on You'
from 'I Put a Spell on You' (1956) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
René and Angela 'I Love you More'
from 'Wall to Wall' (1981) (MP3 not available/CD not available)

BONUS CUTS:
'I Put a Spell on You' is a classic cut and has been covered (not to mention sampled) many times. Two notable covers of the song are Nina Simone's take on 'I Put a Spell on You' from 1964 and Creedence Clearwater Revival's cover from 1968.

Rewind: Jay-Z 'American Gangster' (Part 1)

A concept album based loosely on the themes of Ridley Scott's movie of the same name, Jay-Z's 10th studio album 'American Gangster' debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, has sold over a million copies, and served as a return to Jay-Z street sound from 2006's critical disappointment 'Kingdom Come'. This two post arc will cover the samples used for the album 'American Gangster'.

Jay-Z's 'American Dreaming' is one of the albums many collaborations with P. Diddy and the Hitmen, who served as the production crew for much of the album and lends a soulful sound reminiscent of Jay-Z's early work. 'American Dreaming' samples Marvin Gaye's 'I Want You''Soon I'll Be Loving You Again' and is co-produced by Mario Winans. The Hitmen also handle production for 'No Hook', which samples 'Love Serenade' by Barry White. The album's biggest hit, though not the highest charting single, is 'Roc Boys (and the Winner Is)...'. The track's excellent backing comes from a large sample of Menahan Street Band's 'Make the Road By Walking' which was released only months before 'Roc Boys' and did not appear on an album until this year. The Hitmen dig deep for the beat for 'Party Life' by using Little Beaver's 1974 track 'Get into the Party Life'. Just Blaze again collaborates with Jay-Z on this album by producing the track 'Ignorant S---', utilizing the Isley Brothers' classic 'Between the Sheets' album track ('Between the Sheets' was covered more in depth on September's Five On It blog post).

Check back for part 2 of our look at 'American Gangster'.

The Lowdown:
Jay-Z 'American Dreamin'', 'No Hook', 'Roc Boys (and the Winner Is)...', 'Party Life', 'Ignorant S---'
from 'American Gangster' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Marvin Gaye 'Soon I'll Be Loving You Again'
from 'I Want You' (1976) (MP3/CD)
Barry White 'Love Serenade'
from 'Just Another Way to Say I Love You' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Menahan Street Band 'Make the Road by Walking'
from 'Make the Road by Walking' (2008) (MP3/CD)
Little Beaver 'Get into the Party Life'
from 'Party Down' (1974) (MP3/CD not available)
The Isley Brothers 'Between the Sheets'
from 'Between the Sheets' (1982) (MP3/CD)