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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)
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In the period of 1971 to 1974, James Brown had 25 top 100 charting singles and released 9 full length albums, all while extensively touring the country. Among some of his career defining releases is the soundtrack to 1973's 'Black Caesar', which was a nod to the film Little Caesar and not a nod to the 16th century pirate called Black Casear. The film helped launch former-football star Fred Williamson's career and also gave hip-hop some of its best ammunition. This two part blog arc will cover the contribution of 'Black Caesar''s samples to hip-hop.
The album's excellent opening track 'Down and Out in New York City' was Black Caesar's lone single. DJ Premier used it as the backing for Rakim's 'New York (Ya Out There)' from his 1997 solo album 'The 18th Letter'. James Brown's 'Blind Man Can See It' was used in 1990 by Diamond D for Lord Finesse's hip-hop landmark 'Funky Technician'. Two years later, Das EFX used the same song for their YO MTV Raps! staple 'They Want EFX'.
One of 'Black Caesar''s highlights, both on the soundtrack and in the film, is 'The Boss' - an overlooked classic in James' catalog. The beat is not overlooked in the world of hip-hop though: Ice-T used 'The Boss' for his 1989 track 'You Played Yourself'. In 2002, Salaam Remi produced Nas' 'Get Down', a hit from Nas' album 'God's Son' due to its throwback appeal.
Check back for part two of our look at 'Black Caesar'.The Lowdown:
James Brown 'Down and Out in New York City', 'Blind Man Can See It', and 'The Boss'
from 'Black Caesar' (1973) (MP3/CD)
Rakim 'New York (Ya Out There)'
from 'The 18th Letter' (1997) (MP3/CD)
Lord Finesse and DJ Mike Smooth 'Funky Technician'
from 'Funky Technician' (1990) (MP3/CD)
Das EFX 'They Want EFX'
from 'Dead Serious' (1992) (MP3 not available/CD)
Ice-T 'You Played Yourself'
from 'The Iceberg' (1989) (MP3/CD)
Nas 'Get Down'
from 'God's Son' (2002) (MP3/CD)
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June 3rd would've marked the 66th birthday of the late Curtis Mayfield, a legendary soul artist with a wide range of work, from his beginnings with the Impressions to his stark social commentary during the 1970s. Though Mayfield had many achievements, none of his other works are as heavily cited (and sampled) as his soundtrack for the 1972 Gordon Parks, Jr. film 'Super Fly'. Both 'Superfly' and 'Freddie's Dead' were hit songs (#8 and #4 respecitvely) and had an indelible effect on the future of hip-hop; not only in it's sound, but also it's view of the drug trade.
No other song sampling the album makes this link more evident than Ice-T's 1988 single 'I'm Your Pusher / Pusherman' that samples Mayfield's similarly titled and themed 'Pusherman'. In 1989, the Beastie Boys and the Dust Brothers lifted the familiar bassline and opening percussion from 'Superfly' for the odd ball 'Egg Man' on the sample boundary pushing album 'Paul's Boutique'. Four years later, the Digable Planets would lift a sample from 'Give Me Your Love' for the third, overlooked single from their 'Reachin'' album: 'Nickel Bags'.
In 1997, Rhino released a 25th anniversary edition of the album, including a disc of previously unreleased alternate takes and instrumentals from the album - a beat maker's dream. One of the highlights of the disc is an instrumental version of 'Freddie's Dead'.
Without a doubt, more of Mayfield's discography will be analyzed in future posts. Be sure that you sit back with a few tunes from 'Superfly' tomorrow in celebration of his work. If you are Snoop Dogg, you may even take a listen to Mayfield in the bathtub.
The Lowdown:
Curtis Mayfield 'Superfly', 'Freddie's Dead', 'Pusherman', and 'Give Me Your Love'
all from 'Superfly' (1972) (MP3/CD)
Curtis Mayfield 'Freddie's Dead' (Instrumental)
from 'Superfly: Deluxe 25th Anniversay Collection' (MP3/CD out of print)
Ice-T 'I'm Your Pusher / Pusherman'
from 'Power' (1988) (MP3/CD)
Beastie Boys 'Egg Man'
from 'Paul's Boutique' (1989) (MP3/CD)
Digable Planets 'Nickel Bags'
from 'Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)' (1993) (MP3/CD)
BONUS CUT:
Junior Murvin (under the name Junior Soul) was one of the many artists to cover 'Give Me Your Love'. This reggae version is among the best covers of Mayfield's unfadeable love jam.
Junior Murvin 'Give Me Your Love'
