The Future: Skream

There haven't been many posts in the category for The Future and this one may not be the best way to restart it as this dude's been the future for a while, but the focus of this post will be on Croydon dubstep artist Skream.

After early appearances on the Big Apple label, one of the few labels breaking the dubstep sound at the time, Skream hit it big in 2005 with the single 'Midnight Request Line', which is still in the pantheon of the most recognizable singles of the genre. Following the single's success, Skream began to issue music with his Skreamizm series, starting in 2006 with 'Skreamizm Vol. 1' which contain slamming cuts like 'Glamma'. In the same year, Skream released one of dubstep's first full length albums: 'Skream!'. The album contains tracks like the JME backed single 'Tapped' and the B-side cut 'Dutch Flowerz'.

More recently, Skream has honed his style on newer singles like 2008's 'Hedd Banger', which pulls a clever sample from Missy Elliott's Timbaland produced hit 1997 single 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)'. Just a few months ago, Skream released a split single with the dubstep artist Benga with a new intense track titled 'Trapped in a Dark Bubble', which will surely ignite dubstep heads.

If you are in Seattle this week, Skream will be playing at Trinity on Wednesday, June 10th. See you there!

The Lowdown:
Skream 'Midnight Request Line'
from 'Midnight Request Line' 12" (2005) (MP3/CD not available)
Skream 'Glamma'
from 'Skreamizm Vol. 1' (2006) (MP3/CD not available)
Skream 'Tapped' and 'Dutch Flowerz'
from 'Skream!' (2006) (MP3/CD)
Skream 'Hedd Banger'
from 'Hedd Banger' (2008) (MP3/CD not available)
Missy Elliott 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)'
from 'Supa Dupa Fly' (1997) (MP3/CD)
Clean: 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)'
Skream 'Trapped in a Dark Bubble'
from 'Trapped in a Dark Bubble' (2009) (MP3/CD not available)

Bonus Cuts:
'Midnight Request Line' is so popular that it has spawned two fairly high profile remixes: Switch's remix of 'Midnight Request Line' adds signature blog house grinding synths to a slowed down rhythm while Hot Chip's remix of 'Midnight Request Line' banks on the band's indefinable style.

Rewind: Mos Def 'Black on Both Sides' (Part 1)

Following the success of Talib Kweli and Mos Def's Black Star collaboration, Mos Def released his debut album 'Black on Both Sides' in 1998. This two part post will cover Both Sides' tracks and samples.

The album intro 'Fear Not of Man' samples legendary Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti's 'Fear Not for Man' from the 1977 album of the same title. Diamond D and Mos Def produced the beat for 'Hip Hop' using a sample from David Axelrod's 'The Warnings (Part 2)' from the 1970 album 'Earth Rot'.

The biggest hit from 'Black on Both Sides', still a party starter, is the Ayatollah produced single 'Ms. Fat Booty'. The fantastic beat incorporates loops from Aretha Franklin's early career single 'One Step Ahead'. 88-Keys sampled the Big Brother and the Holding Company song 'Promise Her Anything but Give Her Arpeggio' for the track 'Speed Law'.

Check back for part 2 of our look at 'Black on Both Sides'.

The Lowdown:
Mos Def 'Fear Not of Man', 'Hip Hop', 'Ms. Fat Booty', and 'Speed Law'
from 'Black on Both Sides' (1999) (MP3/CD)
Fela Kuti 'Fear Not for Man'
from 'Fear Not for Man' (1977) (MP3/CD)
David Axelrod 'The Warnings (Part 2)'
from 'Earth Rot' (1970) (MP3/CD)
Aretha Franklin 'One Step Ahead'
from 'One Step Ahead' 7" (1965) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Big Brother and the Holding Company 'Promise Her Anything but Give Her Arpeggio'
from 'How Hard It Is' (1971) (MP3/CD)

Bonus Cuts:
Fela Kuti is often referred to as the James Brown of Africa. He's the father of afrobeat and has recorded an amazing amount of music throughout the 70s and 80s. It's amazing that his music hasn't been sampled in hip-hop as much of his music is prime for funky beats. One of the few songs sampled by hip-hop producers is the track 'Colonial Mentality' from 'Sorrow Tears and Blood' which was sampled by Chief Xcel for Blackalicious' 'Smithzonian Institute of Rhymes' and by Timbaland for Missy Elliott's 'Watcha Gonna Do'.

Related Posts:
Producer Profile: David Axelrod (Part 3, 1970-1972)

Rewind: Jay-Z 'Vol. 3'

Jay-Z's fourth studio album, 1999's 'Vol. 3', is perhaps not his best outing, but still contains more than a few hits and notable tracks with contributions for hip-hop's most wanted producers. This post will explore 'Vol. 3' and its sample basis.

The opener 'Hova Song (Intro)' uses a sample of the same song by two different artists. Jimi Hendrix's version of 'Burning of the Midnight Lamp' from 'Electric Ladyland' and Rotary Connection's version of the same song are both used in the album intro. The most controversial sample source on the album is not even a sample: Washington DC go-go legends Rare Essence claim that their song 'Overnight Scenario' is the basis for the single 'Do it Again (Put Ya Hands Up)' with Beanie Sigel and Amil, produced by Rockwilder. See for yourself if you think 'Do it Again' steals 'Overnight Scenario''s countdown of events.

The smash hit of the album (originally a B-side) is the Timbaland produced 'Big Pimpin'' with UGK that samples Egyptian instrumentalist Hossam Ramzy's instantly recognizable 'Khusara Khusara'. This is the song that set Indian samples into motion in American hip-hop (for better or for worse) for the next few years. Finally, the track 'There's Been a Murder' uses an odd sample source, 'Murder' by pop artist Alana Davis released only two years earlier.

The Lowdown:
Jay-Z 'Hova Song (Intro)', 'Do it Again (Put Ya Hands Up)', 'Big Pimpin'', and 'There's Been a Murder'
from 'Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter' (1999) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit:'Hova Song (Intro)', 'Do it Again (Put Ya Hands Up)', 'Big Pimpin'', and 'There's Been a Murder'
The Jimi Hendrix Experience 'Burning the Midnight Lamp'
from 'Electric Ladyland' (1968) (MP3/CD)
Rotary Connection 'Burning the Midnight Lamp'
from 'Songs' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD)
Rare Essence 'Overnight Scenario'
from 'We Go On and On' (1998) (MP3 not available/CD)
Hossam Ramzy 'Khusara Khusara'
Alana Davis 'Murder'
from 'Blame it On Me' (1997) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: Kanye West 'Graduation' (Part 1)

In September 2007, Kanye West released his third album, titled 'Graduation', to great fanfare in the midst of a Kanye vs. 50 Cent sales beef / publicity stunt. Like Kanye's previous albums (which will both be covered in depth in future posts on this blog), 'Graduation' is full of bizarre samples flipped with radio single perfection.

The opening track on 'Graduation', 'Good Morning', samples Elton John's 'Somone Save My Life Tonight', a strange pick but one of the least odd from this album. Unlike his previous two albums (with the exception of one Just Blaze production), Kanye receives substantial help from his super producer peers. Brian Miller lends production help on Kanye's current single 'Champion', which lifts riffs from Steely Dan's 'Royal Scam'-era single 'Kid Charlemagne' (note to my man T. Nitro - the first mention of Steely Dan was not related to 'Aja'. Crazy!).



Timbaland and Kanye collaborate on the beat for the giant single 'Stronger' which famously samples 'Harder Better Faster Stronger' by Daft Punk (who originally sampled Edwin Birdsong's 'Cola Bottle Baby'). Daft Punk also appeared with Kanye in the video for 'Stronger' as well as the live Grammy performance of the song (was anyone else weirded out by the far-too-long shot of the outside of the unopened pyramid during the show?). Kayne, dirty dirty producer DJ Toomp, Timbaland, and Mike Dean all collaborated on the Michael Jackson sampling 'Good Life'. That sped-up sample buried under the synthesizers and drum machines is somehow 'P.Y.T.' from MJ's 'Thriller'. I typically have an ear for samples, but I'll trust the liner notes on this one - I can't hear it.

Check back for the second half of our look at 'Graduation', with even stranger sample sources including German experimental rock group Can and folk artist Laura Nyro.

The Lowdown:
Kanye West 'Good Morning', 'Champion', 'Stronger', and 'Good Life'
from 'Graduation' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'Good Morning', 'Champion', 'Stronger', and 'Good Life'
Elton John 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight'
from 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Steely Dan 'Kid Charlemagne'
from 'The Royal Scam' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Daft Punk 'Harder Better Faster Stronger'
from 'Discovery' (2002) (MP3/CD)
Edwin Birdsong 'Cola Bottle Baby'
from 'Edwin Birdsong' (1978) (MP3/CD not available)
Michael Jackson 'P.Y.T.'
from 'Thriller' (1981) (MP3/CD)

Five On It: August 2008's Essentials

Five on It #3 - another month, another five essential breaks you need to have in your collection.

This month's top five begins with the Philly soul stomper 'Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)' by the Delfonics which appeared in part 1 of our look at 'The Score' by Fugees. On this blog's first post covering the tracks produced by Large Professor, Average White Band's drum heavy 'School Boy Crush' was mentioned (and it will undoubtedly show up in the future). Marlena Shaw's 'California Soul' and David Axelrod's 'Holy Thursday' were both featured in the coverage of Quasimoto's 'The Unseen' album (in parts 2 and parts 3 respectively). Finally this month, the baddest of all bad mutha tracks - James Brown's 'The Payback' as used by Pete Rock. One unbelievable part of the mythology of 'The Payback' is it was turned down for inclusion in the movie 'Hell Up in Harlem' for not being funky enough. What could be funkier?

The Lowdown:
The Delfonics 'Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)'
from 'The Sound of Sexy Soul' (1968) (MP3/CD)
Average White Band 'School Boy Crush'
from 'Cut the Cake' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Marlena Shaw 'California Soul'
from 'The Spice of Life' (1968) (MP3/CD)
David Axelrod 'Holy Thursday'
from 'Songs of Innocence' (1968) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
James Brown 'The Payback'
from 'The Payback' (1974) (MP3/CD)

BONUS CUT:
'Ready or Not Here I Come' is interpolated by the Fugees on their hit 'Ready or Not', but the opening of the song is actually sampled by Timbaland on Missy Elliott and Da Brat's 1997 hit 'Sock it 2 Me'.