The Breaks: Isaac Hayes 'Walk On By'

One of my favorite breaks of all time is the bombastic opening drum break to Isaac Hayes' cover of 'Walk On By'. The song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and was first sung by Dionne Warwick who made 'Walk on By' a hit. Hayes turns the song into a 10+ minute monster with giant buildups and breakdowns, completely reimagined segments, and classic Stax fire.

Of course the break has been used numerous times in the realm of hip-hop. On the 1992 album 'Music to Driveby', CMW used the break on the track 'Hood Took Me Under'. Two year later, Easy Mo Bee crafted a classic beat for a classic album: 'Warning' by the Notorious B.I.G. from 'Ready to Die'. Recently, the beat has been slowed down (instead of sped up) for Method Man's 'Walk On' produced by Versatile, Erick Sermon, and the RZA.

The break was also highly influential for the shortlived 90s genre trip-hop (whose influences included both Bacharach and Hayes). Hooverphonic's debut single '2wicky' incorporated 'Walk on By' heavily and the Martin Virgo produced track 'Silicone' by Mono featured use of the break as well.

This track is a necessity for aspiring producers and is one of the great tracks from Hayes' catalog.

The Lowdown:
Isaac Hayes 'Walk on By' (Radio Edit)
from 'Hot Buttered Soul' (1968) (MP3/CD)
Dionne Warwick 'Walk on By'
from 'Make Way for Dionne Warwick' (1964) (MP3/CD)
CMW 'Hood Took Me Under'
from 'Music to Driveby' (1992) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Hood Took Me Under'
The Notorious B.I.G. 'Warning'
from 'Ready To Die' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Warning'
Method Man 'Walk On'
from '4:21... The Day After' (2006) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Walk On'
Hooverphonic '2wicky'
from 'A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular' (1997) (MP3 not available/CD)
Mono 'Silicone'
from 'Formica Blues' (1996) (MP3 not available/CD)

Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 4, 2000)

Welcome to part 4 of this blog's look at J Dilla's production career.

2000 saw a string of high profile beats appearing on albums by mainstream artists with, as always, difficult and unusual sample sources. His beat for Busta Rhymes' 'Show Me What You Got' from the album 'Anarchy' featured a sample from the indie band Stereolab's 'Come and Play in the Milky Night' released just a year earlier (check back for the next post in our look at J Dilla for another link between Dilla and Stereolab). Dilla also landed a beat on De La Soul's arguably misguided album 'Art Official Intelligence'. The Dilla produced 'Thru Ya City' samples the Lovin' Spoonful's classic rock hit 'Summer in the City'.

J Dilla also worked extensively with the Soulquarians in 2000. The year saw the release of the Soulquarians produced album 'Like Water for Chocolate' by Common and the hit single 'The Light' that samples Bobby Caldwell's 'Open Your Eyes'. An even bigger hit for the Soulquarians and for Dilla was Erykah Badu's giant hit 'Didn't Cha Know' from her album 'Mama's Gun'. The song samples the relatively unknown act Tarika Blue and the song 'Dreamflower' from their self-titled 1977 album.

Check back for part 5 of our look at Dilla's career including production work for his own emerging career.

The Lowdown:
Busta Rhymes 'Show Me What You Got'
from 'Anarchy' (2000) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit:'Show Me What You Got'
Stereolab 'Come and Play in the Milky Night'
from 'Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night' (1999) (MP3/CD)
De La Soul 'Thru Ya City'
from 'Art Official Intelligence' (2000) (MP3 not available/CD)
The Lovin' Spoonful 'Summer in the City'
from 'Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful' (1966) (MP3/CD)
Common 'The Light'
from 'Like Water for Chocolate' (2000) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'The Light'
Bobby Caldwell 'Open Your Eyes'
from 'Cat in the Hat' (1982) (MP3/CD not available)
Erykah Badu 'Didn't Cha Know'
from 'Mama's Gun' (2000) (MP3/CD)
Tarika Blue 'Dreamflower'
from 'Tarika Blue' (1977) (MP3 not available/CD not available)

Rewind: UGK 'Underground Kingz' (Part 2)

Welcome to our second look at UGK's 2007 album 'Underground Kingz'.

'Real Women' with Talib Kweli and Raheem DeVaughn find UGK rapping over Earth, Wind and Fire's 'Can't Hide Love' courtesy of a mellow beat programmed by N.O. Joe and Pimp C. One of Texas' finest, Scarface is credited for production for 'Candy' which nicks Lonnie Liston Smith's 'Bridge Thru Time' from his 1980 album 'Love is the Answer'. The Pimp C produced track 'Shattered Dreams' looks back to Raydio's 1979 album 'Rock On' for the track 'Goin' Thru School and Love'. Finally, N.O. Joe and Joe Scorsese produced the beat for UGK's 'Living this Life' which takes a sample from Al Green's 'Livin' for You' album track 'Free at Last'.

Although Pimp C, one half of UGK, died only six months after the release of 'Underground Kingz', Bun B has said that there was enough material recorded for an eighth and final UGK album, tentatively titled 'UGK 4 Life' and slated for a 2009 release date.

The Lowdown:
UGK 'Real Women', 'Candy', 'Shattered Dreams', and 'Living this Life'
from 'Underground Kingz' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'Real Women', 'Candy', 'Shattered Dreams', and 'Living this Life'
Earth, Wind and Fire 'Can't Hide Love'
from 'Gratitude' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Lonnie Liston Smith 'Bridge Thru Time'
from 'Love is the Answer' (1980) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Raydio 'Goin' Thru School and Love'
from 'Rock On' (1979) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Al Green 'Free at Last'
from 'Livin' for You' (1973) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: UGK 'Underground Kingz' (Part 1)

UGK's 2007 album 'Underground Kingz' is a mix of triumph and tragedy. The double disc album contained their highest charting single to date, an instant classic, but the album and breakthrough single were followed by the untimely death of UGK's Pimp C less than half a year later. This two part post will cover the sample basis of the seventh album by one of Texas' finest rap groups.

The album's undeniably hot hit single is the DJ Paul and Juicy J (of Three 6 Mafia fame) produced 'Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)', a lyrical collaboration between UGK and Outkast. Three 6's team samples Willie Hutch's soundtrack for the film 'The Mack' (yet again) for the track's soul sample: 'I Choose You'. Along with Three 6's own 'Stay Fly', they almost cast ownership on the ability to remake Willie Hutch's tracks into new chunks of chart gold. Though a modest hit (only cracking the Billboard 100 singles chart), the track is a true underground anthem.

Pimp C samples Latimore's 'Let's Straighten It Out' aptly for the vitriolic 'Quit Hatin' the South' which ramps up the threats of physical violence to Mobb Deep levels. 'How Long Can it Last' utilizes a sample from the relatively obscure track 'Something in the Past' by the 80s unit One Way along with Al Hudson. The MoMo produced track 'Two Type of B----es' features a guest spot from UK emcee Dizzee Rascal and flips a sample from Gladys Knight and the Pips' 1973 track 'Daddy Could Swear, I Declare'.

Check back for part two of our look at 'Underground Kingz'.

The Lowdown:
UGK 'Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)', 'Quit Hatin' the South', 'How Long Can it Last', and 'Two Type of B----es'
from 'Underground Kingz' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)', 'Quit Hatin' the South', 'How Long Can it Last', and 'Two Type of B----es'
Willie Hutch 'I Choose You'
from 'The Mack' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD)
Latimore 'Let's Straighten it Out'
from 'More, More, More' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
One Way Featuring Al Hudson 'Something in the Past'
from 'One Way Featuring Al Hudson' (1980) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Gladys Knight and the Pips 'Daddy Could Swear, I Declare'
from 'Neither One of Us' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD not available)

Rewind: Dr. Dre 'The Chronic' (Part 2)

Welcome to our second look at the sample base of Dr. Dre's 1992 classic 'The Chronic'.

The deep album track 'A N---- Witta Gun' takes its famous refrain from the Kay Gees' 'Who's the Man (with the Master Plan)' which has been sampled quite a bit over the years. Additionally, the track samples Johnny Hammond Smith's 'Big Sur Suite' from his 1974 album 'Higher Ground'. One of my favorite non-singles from 'The Chronic' is the bombastic 'Lyrical Gangbang' which speeds up the open drum break from Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks' to stunning effect. 'Stranded on Death Row' (notably with Geto Boy Bushwick Bill) samples Isaac Hayes' live version of 'Do Your Thing' from his Stax double album 'Live at the Sahara Tahoe' and also uses B.T. Express' useful 'If it Don't Turn You On (You Ought to Leave it Alone)'. Finally, the closing track 'The Roach' heavily cribs another P-Funk song, this time the single 'P Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)' from Parliament's album 'Mothership Connection'.

Following the run-away success of 'The Chronic', Dre produced the debut album for his protégé Snoop Dogg which was released less than a year after 'The Chronic'. Dre's tenure at Death Row would last less than two more years before he moved on to his own label called Aftermath. In future posts, we will cover 'Doggystyle', more of Dre's production work, and the sample basis for his 1999 sophomore album titled '2001'.

The Lowdown:
Dr. Dre 'A N---- Witta Gun', 'Lyrical Gangbang', 'Stranded on Death Row', and 'The Roach '
from 'The Chronic' (1992) (MP3 not available/CD)
The Kay Gees 'Who's the Man (with the Master Plan)'
from 'Keep on Bumpin and Master Plan' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Johnny Hammond Smith 'Big Sur Suite'
from 'Higher Ground' (1974) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
Led Zeppelin 'When the Levee Breaks'
from 'Led Zeppelin IV' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Isaac Hayes 'Do Your Thing' (Live)
from 'Live at the Sahara Tahoe' (1973) (MP3/CD)
B.T. Express 'If it Don't Turn You On (You Ought to Leave it Alone)'
from 'Do It Till Your Satisfied' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Parliament 'P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)'
from 'Mothership Connection' (1976) (MP3/CD)

Rewind: Dr. Dre 'The Chronic' (Part 1)

After splitting with N.W.A., production credits for Above the Law and the D.O.C., signing to Death Row, and debuting on the 'Deep Cover' soundtrack; the stage was set for Dr. Dre to drop his solo album 'The Chronic' at the end of 1992. It was an instant success, critically acclaimed, and became the new high watermark for West Coast hip-hop. This two-post arc will cover the sample sources of Dr. Dre's undisputed hip-hop classic.

The two minute opening diss-a-thon 'The Chronic (Intro)' samples Solomon Burke's cover of 'Get Out of My Life Woman' and most notably nicks the famous Moog synthesizer tone from the Ohio Players' early single 'Funky Worm'. The excellent single 'Dre Day', a top 10 hit in 1993, samples a grip of Parliament Funkadelic classics whose prevalent song samples are the source of the West Coast G Funk sound. 'Dre Day' samples Parliament's 'Funkentelechy', 'Aquaboogie', 'The Big Bang Theory', and Funkadelic's 1979 track '(Not Just) Knee Deep'. 'Let Me Ride', which surprisingly barely broke the top 40, also hits up George Clinton for samples. The song is built mostly on Parliament's huge single 'Mothership Connection' from the classic 1976 album of the same name while also sampling bits of the live version of 'Swing Down, Sweet Chariot' from Parliament's 'Live: P Funk Earth Tour'. Dre also samples James Brown's 'Funky Drummer' and Bill Withers' 'Kissin' My Love'.

'The Chronic''s biggest single by far was 'Nuthin' but a G Thang' which peaked one spot away from #1 in 1993 (and #1 on the rap charts). The song introduced much of America and the world to Snoop Doggy Dogg's laid back West Coast swagger and became a summer anthem. The most prominent sample in 'G Thang' is a version of Leon Haywood's 'I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You' replayed note for note by a studio band to avoid paying some royalties. The track also utilizes a sample of 'Uphill Battle' from Kid Dynamite's self-titled 1976 album.

Check back for part 2 of our look at 'The Chronic'.

The Lowdown:
Dr. Dre 'The Chronic (Intro)', 'Dre Day', 'Let Me Ride', and 'Nuthin' but a G Thang'
from 'The Chronic' (1992) (MP3 not available/CD)
Solomon Burke 'Get Out of My Life Woman'
from 'I Wish I Knew' (1967) (MP3/CD)
The Ohio Players 'Funky Worm'
from 'Pleasure' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD)
Parliament 'Funkentelechy'
from 'Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo' (1977) (MP3/CD)
Parliament 'Aquaboogie'
from 'Motor Booty Affair' (1978) (MP3/CD)
Parliament 'The Big Bang Theory'
from 'Gloryhallastoopid' (1979) (MP3/CD)
Funkadelic '(Not Just) Knee Deep'
from 'Uncle Jam Wants You' (1979) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Parliament 'Mothership Connection (Star Child)'
from 'Mothership Connection' (1976) (MP3/CD)
Parliament 'Swing Down, Sweet Chariot' (Live)
from 'Live: P Funk Earth Tour' (1976) (MP3/CD)
James Brown 'Funky Drummer'
'Funky Drummer' 7" (1970) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Bill Withers 'Kissin' My Love'
from 'Still Bill' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Leon Haywood 'I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You'
from 'Come and Get Yourself Some' (1979) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Kid Dynamite 'Uphill Peace of Mind'
from 'Kid Dynamite' (1976) (MP3 not available/CD)

Producer Profile: DJ Premier (Part 1, 1989-1990)

Landing in Brooklyn via Texas, DJ Premier replaced Mark the 45 King as the DJ and producer of the rap unit Gang Starr which would reemerge as a duo in 1989 with Gang Starr's classic debut album 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' on Wild Pitch. The single 'Manifest' utilizes jazz samples as well as funk tracks, a specialty of Premier. The track samples Charlie Parker's 1962 jazz joint 'Night in Tunisia' and James Brown's 60s soul single 'Bring it Up (Hipster's Avenue)'. The work with Wild Pitch led to production work for half of Lord Finesse and DJ Mike Smooth's 'Funky Technician'. The track 'Baby, You Nasty' uses samples from James Brown's 'Hell'-era track 'Coldblooded' and 'What's on Your Mind (Expression)' by Brass Construction.

For the soundtrack to the movie 'Mo' Better Blues', Guru and Premier collaborated with Branford Marsalis for the Gang Starr track 'Jazz Thing'. The track samples Thelonious Monk's classic 'Light Blue' and a song from Kool and the Gang's poorly received 1974 foray into jazz 'Kool Jazz' titled 'Dujii'.

Check back for our next look at DJ Premier's productions with his work from 1991 and 1992.

The Lowdown:
Gang Starr 'Manifest'
from 'No More Mr. Nice Guy' (1989) (MP3/CD)
Charlie Parker 'Night in Tunisia'
from 'Bird Symbols' (1962) (MP3 not available/CD)
James Brown 'Bring It Up (Hipster's Avenue)'
from 'James Brown Sings Raw Soul' (1967) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Lord Finesse and DJ Mike Smooth 'Baby, You Nasty'
from 'Funky Technician' (1990) (MP3/CD)
James Brown 'Coldblooded'
from 'Hell' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Brass Construction 'What's on Your Mind (Expression)'
from 'Brass Construction II' (1976) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Gang Starr 'Jazz Thing'
from 'Music for Mo Betta Blues' (1990) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Thelonious Monk 'Light Blue'
from 'At the Five Spot' (1958) (MP3/CD)
Kool and the Gang 'Dujii'
from 'Kool Jazz' (1974) (MP3/CD not available)

Source Material: Marvin Gaye 'Trouble Man'

Between his two landmark albums 'What's Going On' and 'Let's Get it On', Marvin Gaye produced and released one of his generally forgotten albums: 1972's mostly instrumental soundtrack album 'Trouble Man' released on this date. Those who did not forget about this album have been hip-hop beat makers using the fertile instrumental landscapes in Gaye during his production prime. This post will cover 'Trouble Man''s standout tracks and the people who sampled them.

One of my favorite tracks from this album and one of Gaye's best productions in my opinion is 'T Plays it Cool', a necessity for downtempo sets. The beat was nicked by a pre-House of Pain Everlast on the track 'Pass It On' from his not-so-aptly-titled forgotten album 'Forever Everlasting'. A year later, DJ Premier would use the same loop for Gang Starr's much more widely received 'Take a Rest' from the excellent 1991 album 'Step in the Arena'.

'Trouble Man''s lone single is the title track 'Trouble Man', which breached the top 10 in 1972. 25 years later, the song would be sampled for Rocafella R&B protégés Christión, who are perhaps best remembered for their inclusion on 'Streets is Watching'. The single for their debut album 'Ghetto Cyrano' was the Gaye sampling 'Full of Smoke' whose production is credited to Dame Dash, Jay-Z, and Biggs Burke. Ghost producers stand up! I'm surprised that this song hasn't been sampled more, aspiring beat makers should give it a go. Gaye's album track 'T Stands for Trouble' is one of the sources used by the Bomb Squad for their stunning beat for Ice Cube's 'Who's the Mack?'. 'T Stands for Trouble' would get a second rinse on Brand Nubian's 'The Meaning of the 5%' from their highly militant 1993 follow up album 'In God We Trust'.

In future posts on this blog, we will undoubtedly look at other albums from Marvin, however this gem should not be overlooked as prime source material.

The Lowdown:
Marvin Gaye 'T Plays it Cool', 'Trouble Man', and 'T Stands for Trouble'
from 'Trouble Man' (1972) (MP3/CD)
Everlast 'Pass it On'
'Forever Everlasting' (1990) (MP3/CD not available)
Gang Starr 'Take a Rest'
from 'Step in the Arena' (1991) (MP3/CD)
Christión 'Full of Smoke'
from 'Ghetto Cyrano' (1997) (MP3/CD)
Ice Cube 'Who's the Mack?'
from 'AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted' (1990) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Who's The Mack?'
Brand Nubian 'The Meaning of the 5%'
from 'In God We Trust' (1993) (MP3/CD)

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.