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Following the success of their debut album and the eternal hip-hop classic 'They Reminisce Over You', Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth returned in 1994 with their second and final album as a duo. This three part arc will cover the many tracks and many samples used by Pete Rock for the creation of 'The Main Ingredient'.
On the opening track, 'In the House', Pete Rock cropped samples from the Power of Zeus' 'The Sorcerer of Isis'. Deodato's excellent drum break track 'September 13', and the David Axelrod produced 'Capricorn' by Cannonball Adderley. On the song's outro, Rock uses Roy Ayers' 'Ain't Got Time' from the Ubiquity album 'He's Coming' from 1974. Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth's 'Carmel City' features samples from Hugo Montenegro's synth filled 'Dizzy' from his 1969 album 'Moog Power' and Milt Jackson's 'Enchanted Lady' from his 1970 album 'Memphis Jackson'. On 'I Get Physical', C.L. rhymes over George Benson's 'Face It Boy, It's Over' from his 1968 album 'Shape of Things to Come'. 'Sun Won't Come Out' features a classic octopus break beat by sampling Bob James' 'Nautilus' while the outro samples another essential Bob James cut, 'Take Me to the Mardi Gras' from 1975's 'Two' and Billy Joel's smaltzy hit 'Just the Way You Are' from 1977's 'The Stranger'. On the album's lead single, 'I Got a Love', Pete Rock samples the Ambassadors' soul single 'Ain't Got the Love (of One Girl on My Mind)' and Mel and Tim's 'Groovy Situation' from their album 'Good Guys Only Win in the Movies'.
Check back for part 2 of our look at 'The Main Ingredient'.The Lowdown:
Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth 'In the House', 'Carmel City', 'I Get Physical', 'Sun Won't Come Out', and 'I Got a Love'
from 'The Main Ingredient' (1994) (MP3/CD)
Power of Zeus 'The Sorcerer of Isis'
from 'The Gospel According to Zeus' (1970) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Deodato 'September 13'
from 'Prelude' (1972) (MP3/CD)
Cannonball Adderley 'Capricorn'
from 'Music, You All' (1976) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Roy Ayers Ubiquity 'Ain't Got Time'
from 'He's Coming' (1972) (MP3/CD)
Hugo Montenegro 'Dizzy'
from 'Moog Power' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD)
Milt Jackson 'Enchanted Lady'
from 'Memphis Jackson' (1970) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
George Benson 'Face It Boy, It's Over'
from 'Shape of Things to Come' (1968) (MP3/CD)
Bob James 'Nautilus'
from 'One' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Bob James 'Take Me to the Mardi Gras'
from 'Two' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Billy Joel 'Just the Way You Are'
from 'The Stranger' (1977) (MP3/CD)
The Ambassadors 'Ain't Got the Love (of One Girl on My Mind)'
from 'Soul Summit' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD)
Mel and Tim 'Groovy Situation'
from 'Good Guys Only Win in the Movies' (1969) (MP3/CD)
Related Posts:
Rewind: Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth 'The Creator'
Producer Profile: David Axelrod (Part 4, 1972-1977) (Cannonball Adderley)
This year, independent electronic label Warp Records will be celebrating their 20th anniversary. This may not mean a lot to hip-hop fans, but Warp has released some great downtempo hip-hop albums. One of them is 1991's debut album by Nightmares on Wax titled 'A Word of Science'. This post will cover the sample sources of some of N.O.W.'s classic cuts and may even turn a few hip-hop heads towards Warp's direction.The opening song to the album is 'Nights Interlude', a fantastic downtempo joint that pounds out live. The song samples 'Summer in the City', the highlight from Quincy Jones' 1973 album 'You Got it Bad Girl'. Look below for more on this track and the songs that have sampled it. On 'Coming Down', Nightmares on Wax samples Bob James' breakbeat extravaganza 'Take Me to the Mardi Gras' from his 1975 album 'Two'. 'A Case of Funk' samples the proto-disco track 'Sing Sing' by Gaz, which has in the last two decades come to be the defining sample in Baltimore Club's brash club beats. For 'Playtime', N.O.W. samples the popular break from Tom Scott and the L.A. Express' 'Sneakin' in the Back' from their eponymous 1974 album. Nightmares on Wax's earliest hit single is the throbbing 'Aftermath', which famously samples vocals from Cuba Gooding's 1983 single 'Happiness is Just Around the Bend'. Finally, on 'Back into Time', Steve Miller Band's 'Fly Like an Eagle' weaves its way in and out of the mix.
Since 1991, Nightmares on Wax has gone onto release five more albums, each with lazy day hip-hop speed instrumentals that are perfect for backyard barbecue soundtracks. Don't sleep on N.O.W. and don't sleep on these samples!The Lowdown:
Nightmares on Wax 'Nights Interlude', 'Coming Down', 'A Case of Funk', 'Playtime', 'Aftermath', and 'Back into Time'
from 'A Word of Science' (1991) (MP3/CD)
Quincy Jones 'Summer in the City'
from 'You Got it Bad Girl' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Bob James 'Take Me to the Mardi Gras'
from 'Two' (1975) (MP3/CD)
Gaz 'Sing Sing'
from 'Gaz' (1979) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Tom Scott and the L.A. Express 'Sneakin' in the Back'
from 'Tom Scott and the L.A. Express' (1974) (MP3/CD not available)
Cuba Gooding 'Happiness is Just Around the Bend'
from 'Happiness is Just Around the Bend' (1983) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Steve Miller Band 'Fly Like and Eagle'
from 'Fly Like an Eagle' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Bonus Cuts:
Quincy Jones' haunting rendition of 'Summer in the City' is the choice for most funk and hip-hop fans, but classic rock people are more familiar with the original 'Summer in the City' by the Lovin' Spoonful (although, it too was sampled by J Dilla for De La Soul's 'Thru Ya City'). Quincy Jones' track was sampled by Nightmares on Wax in 1991, but has been sampled many more times since: most famously on the J-Swift produced 'Passin' Me By' by the Pharycde, in 1996 on the Roots' 'Clones', and on the 2000 Allstar produced remix of Joe's 'Stutter' with Mystikal.
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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.
Welcome to our third and final look at Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics' 1992 album 'Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop'.Diamond D samples a couple hits for 'Confused', cutting up King Floyd's excellent single 'Groove Me' and the 80s joint 'Intimate Connection' by Kleeer (which sounds a lot like "internet connection" - you'll hear it). On the posse cut 'Pass Dat S---', which includes some early raps by Fat Joe, Diamond samples the Ohio Players song 'Pride and Vanity' from 1973's 'Pleasure' and Rare Earth's Motown rock joint 'Keep Me Out of the Storm'. Q-Tip joins Diamond D on 'K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Stupid)', which samples fusion rock group Weather Report (who yield a lot of samplable cuts, take note)'s 'American Tango' from their 1974 album 'Mysterious Traveller'. On the title track for 'Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop', Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics use a sample of Billy Cobham and George Duke Band's 'Almustafa the Beloved' from the 1976 album 'Live on tour in Europe'. Finally, on 'Feel the Vibe', Showbiz and Diamond D sample Lee Dorsey's huge break 'Get Out My Life Woman', Brother Jack McDuff's 'Hold it for a Minute', and Earth, Wind and Fire's 1970 song 'Bad Tune' from their self titled debut album.'Stunts, Blunts and Hip-Hop' yielded three singles and peaked just outside of the Billboard R&B / Hip Hop top 40. Big L and Fat Joe, who both contributed to the album, would achieve greater acclaim due to the album's underground success. Though Diamond D would produce for a slew of acts following this album, including Fat Joe, he would not record a follow up solo outing until 1997's 'Hatred, Passions and Infidelity'.The Lowdown:
Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics 'Confused', 'Pass Dat S---', 'K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Stupid)', 'Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop', and 'Feel the Vibe'
from 'Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop' (1992) (MP3/CD)
King Floyd 'Groove Me'
from 'King Floyd' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD)
Kleeer 'Intimate Connection'
from 'Intimate Connection' (1984) (MP3/CD not available)
The Ohio Players 'Pride and Vanity'
from 'Pleasure' (1972) (MP3/CD)
Rare Earth 'Keep Me Out of the Storm'
from 'Back to Earth' (1975) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Weather Report 'American Tango'
from 'Mysterious Traveller' (1974) (MP3/CD)
Billy Cobham and George Duke Band 'Almustafa the Beloved'
from 'Live on tour in Europe' (1976) (MP3/CD)
Lee Dorsey 'Get Out My Life Woman'
from 'The New Dorsey' (1966) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Brother Jack McDuff 'Hold it for a Minute'
from 'Getting Our Thing Together' (1968) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Earth, Wind and Fire 'Bad Tune'
from 'Earth, Wind and Fire' (1970) (MP3/CD)
Welcome to the second part of our 3 part look at Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics' 1992 album 'Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop'.'I'm Outta Here', produced by Diamond D and Showbiz samples the funk rock album cut 'Gotta Get Away' by the Flaming Embers. On 'Red Light, Green Light', Diamond rhymes over Baby Huey's 1971 song 'Hard Times' famously produced and written by Curtis Mayfield and 'Down by the River' by Band of Gypsys drummer Buddy Miles from his 1972 album 'Them Changes'. Jazzy Jay joins Diamond D on the mix for 'I Went for Mine' by using a sample from S.S.O. Orchestra's 'Faded Lady'. Diamond brings out some classic breaks on 'What You Seek' by sampling Sly and the Family Stones' single 'You Can Make it if You Try' and Kool and the Gang's 'Who's Gonna Take the Weight?'. For 'Lunchroom Chatter', the Psychotic Neurotics rhyme over Mel Brown's 'Indian Giver' and Jeff Beck's drum laden 'Come Dancing' from his 1976 album 'Wired'.
Check back for our final look at Diamond D's Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop' original sample sources.The Lowdown:
Diamond and the Pyschotic Neurotics 'I'm Outta Here', 'Red Light, Green Light', 'I Went for Mine', 'What You Seek', and 'Lunchroom Chatter'
from 'Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop' (1992) (MP3/CD)
Flaming Embers 'Gotta Get Away'
from 'Sunshine' (1971) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Baby Huey 'Hard Times'
from 'The Baby Huey Story' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Buddy Miles 'Down by the River'
'Them Changes' (1972) (MP3 not available/Import CD)
S.S.O. Orchestra 'Faded Lady'
from 'Shine Your Light' (1976) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Sly and the Family Stone 'You Can Make it if You Try'
from 'Stand' (1969) (MP3/CD)
Kool and the Gang 'Who's Gonna Take the Weight?'
from 'Live at the Sex Machine' (1971) (MP3/CD not available)
Mel Brown 'Indian Giver'
from 'Blues for We' (1969) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Jeff Beck 'Come Dancing'
from 'Wired' (1976) (MP3 not available/CD)
After the dissolution of his early group called Ultimate Force, Diamond D and the D.I.T.C. crew debuted in 1992 as Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics with one of underground hip-hop's classic LPs: 'Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop'. This three part blog post will cover the sample sources (and man, are there a lot of them) for Diamond D's epic.On the 'Intro' track to 'Stunts, Blunts', Diamond samples folk rocker James Taylor's 1967 album 'James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine''s album cut 'Knockin 'Round the Zoo'. Diamond also produces the cut 'Best Kept Secret', the oldest track on the album, by sampling Booker T. and the M.G.'s 'Green Onions', Three Dog Night's rock cut 'I Can Hear You Calling', Kool and the Gang's breakbeat cut 'N.T.', and Johnny Pate's title track to the 1973 soundtrack of the movie 'Shaft in Africa'. On 'Sally Got a One Track Mind', Diamond D samples 'Sparkling in the Sand' by the Tower of Power and the classic Skull Snaps break 'It's a New Day'. Showbiz (of Show and A.G. fame) and Diamond D produced the cut 'Step to Me' by sampling the Delfonics' soul classic 'Ready or Not (Here I Come)' and 'Fight Back' from Solomon Burkes' cut from the 1972 soundtrack of 'Cool Breeze'. Lakim Shabazz and Diamond produced the Psychotic Neurotics classic 'F--- What You Heard' with samples from 1970's Donny Hathaway self titled album cut 'Magnificent Sanctuary Band' and John Handy's 1977 song 'Alvina' from his album 'Carnival'.
Check back for part 2 of our look at 'Stunts, Blunts and Hip-Hop'.The Lowdown:
Diamond and the Psychotic Neurotics 'Intro', 'Best Kept Secret', 'Sally Got a One Track Mind', 'Step to Me', and 'F--- What You Heard'
from 'Stunts, Blunts, and Hip Hop' (1992) (MP3/CD)
James Taylor 'Knockin 'Round the Zoo'
from 'James Taylor and the Original Flying Machine' (1967) (MP3 not available/CD)
Booker T. and the M.G.'s 'Green Onions'
from 'Green Onions' (1962) (MP3/CD)
Three Dog Night 'I Can Hear You Calling'
from 'Naturally' (1970) (MP3/CD)
Kool and the Gang 'N.T.'
from 'Live at P.J.'s' (1972) (MP3/CD)
Johnny Pate 'Shaft in Africa (Addis)'
from 'Shaft in Africa' (1973) (MP3/CD not available)
Tower of Power 'Sparkling in the Sand'
from 'East Bay Grease' (1970) (MP3/CD)
Skull Snaps 'It's a New Day'
from 'Skull Snaps' (1973) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
The Delfonics 'Ready or Not (Here I Come)'
from 'The Sound of Sexy Soul' (1968) (MP3/Import CD)
Solomon Burke 'Fight Back'
from 'Cool Breeze' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Donny Hathaway 'Magnificent Sanctuary Band'
from 'Donny Hathaway' (1970) (MP3 not available/CD)
John Handy 'Alvina'
from 'Carnival' (1977) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
This edition of Street Sounds will round out our look at the Belleville Three. We previously had posts looking at the work of Juan Atkins and Derrick May, this third and final post looking at the first wave of Detroit Techno will cover Kevin Saunderson who achieved the most acclaim in the mainstream of the three forefathers of techno with his work with Inner City.
Following Atkins' early acclaim with Cybotron, Saunderson and Atkins worked on a project titled Kreem for Atkins' label Metroplex. The results are one of Detroit Techno's early essential singles: 'Triangle of Love' by Kreem rank with the seminal work of Model 500 and Rhythim is Rhythim.While looking for a vocalist, Kevin Saunderson hooked up with Paris Grey in 1987 and Inner City was unofficially born. The duo scored major hits with 'Big Fun' and 'Good Life' (the latter is still a surefire party starter) and successfully released their full length album 'Paradise' in 1989 (the album was titled, confusingly, 'Big Fun' in North America). In the following years, Saunderson continued to produce under his own name and other pseudonyms like E-Dancer (which scored a club hit with 'Heavenly' in 1998).The Lowdown:
Kreem 'Triangle of Love'
from 'Triangle of Love' 12" (1984) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Inner City 'Big Fun' and 'Good Life'
from 'Paradise' (1989) (MP3/CD)
E-Dancer 'Heavenly'
from 'Heavenly' (1998) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Bonus Cuts:
Recently, some of Saunderson's peers and some of the biggest names in dance contributed remixes to his past work. Some key cuts include Carl Craig's remix of Inner City's 'Till We Meet Again' and Simian Mobile Disco's remix of Inner City's hit single 'Big Fun'.
Related Posts:
Street Sounds: Juan Atkins
Street Sounds: Derrick May
The Dust Brothers were mentioned in the last post on this blog and here is another release with their indelible signature sound. Beck's album 'Odelay' from 1996 may not elicit the same sample spotting interest as other Dust Brothers productions like the Beastie Boys' 'Paul's Boutique', but 'Odelay' has its share of unusual and soulful samples, which will be covered in today's post.The driving breakbeat of the opener 'Devil's Haircut' is a classic drum part: Bernard Purdie's explosive drum fill laden 'Soul Drums' from his 1968 album of the same title. The track and the album are a must for aspiring producers and beat heads alike full of remarkable drum sections from Pretty Purdie. 'The New Pollution', the album's third single, uses a sample from Joe Thomas' 'Venus' from the 1976 album 'Feelin's from Within'. The album's lead single 'Where It's At' famously samples its robotic voiced phrase "two turntables and a microphone" from Mantronix's 'Needle to the Groove' on 1984's 'The Album'. The song also samples Lee Dorsey's classic break 'Get Out of My Life Woman' and Danny Hathaway's 1970 cut 'The Ghetto' from his stunning album 'Everything is Everything'. Beck's 'Readymade' samples a cover of 'Desafinado' by Laurindo Almeida and the Bossa Nova Allstars. If the name of the group didn't drop a big enough hint to the style of their music, Laurindo Almeida also titled his album 'Bossa Nova!' (mind that exclamation point). Finally, 'High 5 (Rock the Catskills)' samples the relatively unknown group Rasputin's Stash and their funky cut 'Mr. Cool'. That's not an easy one to find, consider picking up a digital copy while you can.The Dust Brothers would work with Beck again for his 1999 album 'Midnite Vultures', but not in the capacity of this album. Recently, 'Odelay' was rereleased as a deluxe edition with B-sides and remixes, though there have been complaints about the selection and sound quality of some of the cuts - buyer beware. You should pick up a copy of 'Soul Drums' instead.The Lowdown:
Beck 'Devil's Haircut', 'The New Pollution', 'Where It's At', 'Readymade', and 'High 5 (Rock the Catskills)'
from 'Odelay' (1996) (MP3/CD)
Bernard Purdie 'Soul Drums'
from 'Soul Drums' (1968) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Joe Thomas 'Venus'
from 'Feelin's from Within' (1976) (MP3/Import CD)
Mantronix 'Needle to the Groove'
from 'The Album' (1984) (MP3/CD)
Lee Dorsey 'Get Out of MY Life Woman'
from 'The New Lee Dorsey' (1966) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Donny Hathaway 'The Ghetto'
from 'Everything is Everything' (1970) (MP3 not available/CD)
Laurindo Almeida and the Bossa Nova Allstars 'Desafinado'
from 'Bossa Nova!' (1962) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Rasputin's Stash 'Mr. Cool'
from 'Rasputin's Stash' (1971) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
This post is a sequel, of sorts, when you consider the movie Edwin Starr's 'Easin' In' was originally a part of. 'Black Caesar', the 1973 Fred Williamson film with a soundtrack produced by James Brown (which was covered in depth here and here), had a lesser known sequel titled 'Hell Up in Harlem'. James Brown was originally set to produce the soundtrack for the film, but the film makers opted for Motown artist Edwin Starr who had previously scored a series of anti-war protest hits. Joined with production team Fonce Mizell and Freddie Perren, the soundtrack to 'Hell Up in Harlem' yeilded the single 'Easin' In', which has been used frequently by hip-hop producers.On his landmark 1988 album 'Power', Ice-T used 'Easin' In' on his hit single 'High Rollers'. In the same year, Michael Ross and Matt Dike (half of the production superduo the Dust Brothers) produced the beat for Tone Loc's 'Loc'ed After Dark' from the album of the same title. Five year later, the Digable Planets would sample 'Easin' In' for 'Reachin'''s excellent single 'Nickel Bags'. On their debut single in 1997, Evidence of the Dilated Peoples used 'Easin' In' on their B-side track 'Global Dynamics' from the 'Third Degree' 12" single. Finally, in 1998, Irv Gotti and Lil' Rob sampled Edwin Starr for DMX's album cut 'Crime Story' from his hit release 'It's Dark and Hell is Hot'.The Lowdown:
Edwin Starr 'Easin' In'
from 'Hell Up in Harlem' (1974) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Ice-T 'High Rollers'
from 'Power' (1988) (MP3/CD)
Tone Loc 'Loc'ed After Dark'
from 'Loc'ed After Dark' (1988) (MP3/CD)
Digable Planets 'Nickel Bags'
from 'Reachin'' (1993) (MP3/CD)
Dilated Peoples 'Global Dynamics'
from 'Third Degree' 12" (1997) (MP3/CD not available)
DMX 'Crime Story'
from 'It's Dark and Hell is Hot' (1998) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Crime Story'
Bonus Cut:
Dilated Peoples 'Global Dynamics' (Instrumental).
Related Posts:
Source Material: James Brown 'Black Caesar' (Part 1)
Source Material: James Brown 'Black Caesar' (Part 2)
We've covered a lot of material by the late great J Dilla on this blog, but every one of his releases are essential in their own way and I'll be damned if he doesn't dig deep for some of the craziest songs to sample. This post will cover the source material from Dilla's first solo outing, 2001's 'Welcome 2 Detroit' on BBE, as Jay Dee.The album's intro track takes a sample from 'Sunset in Golden Horn' from Turkish band Les Mogul's 1971 album 'Danses et Rhythmes de la Turquie'. See what I'm saying? With assistance on the bass from Dwele, Jay Dee delivers an impressive version of 'Think Twice'. The original 'Think Twice' appeared on Donald Byrd's highly sought after 1974 album 'Stepping into Tomorrow' produced by Mizell brother Larry Mizell. 'Beej-N-Dem (Part 2)' features a sample of the Beach Boys' later career album cut 'Feel Flows' from their 1971 album 'Surf's Up' as well as drums from Billy Garner's absolutely sample laden cut 'I Got Some'. Look below for more on 'I Got Some'. 'Featuring Phat Kat', as one would assume, features Phat Kat from Slum Village. Jay Dee pulls Steve Howe's 'Beginnings' out of the crate for the track 'Will O' The Wisp' for 'Featuring Phat Kat''s beat. On the album's final track, 'One', Dilla samples the Ohio Players' controversial (due to the cover imagery) 1971 album 'Pain''s title track. 'Pain' is a highly sampled track and is on the short list for this month's Five On It.
Though Jay Dee had many high profile production credits, many previously reviewed on this blog, it would be another two years before he'd release another solo effort: 2003's 'Ruff Draft' EP which has recently been expanded and re-released.The Lowdown:
Jay Dee 'Intro', 'Think Twice', 'Beej-N-Dem (Part 2)', 'Featuring Phat Kat', and 'One'
from 'Welcome 2 Detroit' (2001) (MP3/CD)
Les Mogul 'Sunset in Golden Horn'
from 'Danses et Rhythmes de la Turquie' (1971) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Donald Byrd 'Think Twice'
from 'Stepping into Tomorrow' (1974) (MP3/CD)
The Beach Boys 'Feel Flows'
from 'Surf's Up' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Billy Garner 'I Got Some'
from 'I Got Some' 7" (1971) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Steve Howe 'Will O' The Wisp'
from 'Beginnings' (1975) (MP3 not available/CD)
The Ohio Players 'Pain'
from 'Pain' (1971) (MP3/CD)
Bonus Cuts:
Why aren't more people messing with the drums from Billy Garner's 'I Got Some'? It might be because the track was so fluidly flipped by DJ Premier for Gang Starr's memorable B-side 'B.Y.S.'. It's kind of hard to follow that one up, but beat makers shouldn't fear falling short of Primo. One more bonus: 'I Got Some' (Part 2).
Related Posts:
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 4, 2000)
Producer Profile: J Dilla (Part 5, 2001-2003)
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Maybe it's me, but it does not at all feel like 'Tha Carter III' was released on this date last year - Lil Wayne has easily given the American consciousness three years worth of crazy in just the last 12 months since his album finally dropped. This post will cover the sample material used by Wayne and his production cohorts for 2008's massive album 'Tha Carter III'.
The album's undeniable cut is the throbbing smash single 'A Milli' produced by Bangladesh. The song contains a sample from Norman Cook's remix of 'I Left My Wallet in El Segundo' from A Tribe Called Quest's 1989 UK version of the single. The Kanye produced track 'Comfortable' that posts Lil Wayne up with Babyface (uh?) includes a sample from another Kanye West produced track: 'You Don't Know My Name' from Alicia Keys' 2003 album 'The Diary of Alicia Keys'. As previously covered on this blog, Swizz Beatz produces a very un-Swizz sounding beat for Lil Wayne's 'Dr. Carter' by looping fragments of David Axelrod's 'Holy Thursday' bass and drum breakdown.Kanye West also produced the song 'Let the Beat Build' on 'Tha Carter III' using a sample from ex-Temptation Eddie Kendricks' 'Day by Day' from the 1972 album 'People... Hold On'. Probably the most well known use of another song on the album is Wayne's vocal interpolation of the Rolling Stones' 'Play with Fire' on his own track 'Playing with Fire' produced by StreetRunner. Since the interpolation was never licensed, the track has been removed from newer copies of 'Tha Carter III' and undoubtedly there is some kind of cash settlement (lesson: clear those samples). Finally, Rodnae and Moussa produce a scorcher for Lil Wayne, the nearly ten minute 'DontGetIt', by sampling Nina Simone's 1964 cover of 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' from her classic album 'Broadway - Blues - Ballads'.
In a year when record sales were few and far between, Wayne managed to do the unthinkable: go platinum in one week (I'm going to date myself, but I remember when 'Doggystyle' did the same thing, and it was a HUGE deal - and that was when people actually bought CDs). So far, the album is three times platinum and Lil Wayne is showing no signs of slowing down with more albums planned and mixtapes released.The Lowdown:
Lil Wayne 'A Milli', 'Comfortable', 'Dr. Carter', 'Let the Beat Build', 'Playing with Fire', and 'DontGetIt'.
from 'Tha Carter III' (2008) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edits: 'A Milli', 'Comfortable', 'Dr. Carter', 'Let the Beat Build', and 'DontGetIt'.
A Tribe Called Quest 'I Left My Wallet in El Segundo' (Vampire Mix)
from 'I Left My Wallet in El Segundo' (1989) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Alicia Keys 'You Don't Know My Name'
from 'The Diary of Alicia Keys' (2003) (MP3/CD)
David Axelrod 'Holy Thursday'
from 'Songs of Innocence' (1968) (MP3/CD not available)
Eddie Kendricks 'Day By Day'
from 'People... Hold On' (1972) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
The Rolling Stones 'Play with Fire'
from 'Out of Our Heads' (1965) (MP3/CD)
Nina Simone 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood'
from 'Broadway - Blues - Ballads' (1964) (MP3/CD)
Related Posts:
Producer Profile: David Axelrod (Part 2, 1968-1969)
