skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Welcome to part 4 of our look at Kanye west's production discography, covering some of his production credits from 2003.
On fellow Roc-a-fella artist Memphis Bleek's album 'M.A.D.E.', Kanye contributes the beats to 'I Wanna Love U' which samples Michael Jackson's hit 'P.Y.T.' (those taking notes may remember that West also used 'P.Y.T.' on his album 'Graduation', reviewed in depth here). West produced the track 'Knock Knock' for Monica using an excellent sample: 'It's a Terrible Thing to Waste Your Love' by the Masqueraders from their 1977 album 'Love Anonymous'.
Kanye produced two tracks for T.I.'s sophomore album 'Trap Musik' released in 2003. The amazing album track 'Doin' My Job' utilizes a sample of Bloodstone's 'I'm Just Doin My Job' to great effect. T.I.'s 'Let Me Tell You Something' gets is robotic bounce from a sample of Roger's 'I Want to Be Your Man' from his album 'Unlimited!'.
Keep an eye on this blog for one more post about Kanye West's 2003 productions.The Lowdown:
Memphis Bleek 'I Wanna Love U'
from 'M.A.D.E.' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Michael Jackson 'P.Y.T.'
from 'Thriller' (1981) (MP3/CD)
Monica 'Knock Knock'
from 'After the Storm' (2003) (MP3/CD)
The Masqueraders 'It's a Terrible Thing to Waste Your Love'
'Love Anonymous' (1977) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
T.I. 'Doin' My Job' and 'Let Me Tell You Something'
from 'Trap Muzik' (2003) (MP3/CD)
Clean Edit: 'Doin' My Job' and 'Let Me Tell You Something'
Bloodstone 'I'm Just Doin My Job'
'Don't Stop' (1979) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Roger 'I Want to Be Your Man'
from 'Unlimited!' (1987) (MP3/CD)
 |
 |
Within a year of the release of Ice Cube's debut album, 'AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted', the 'Kill at Will' EP dropped at the end of 1990. The Bomb Squad's production, similar to the out of control sample bombast of Public Enemy's albums, graced 'AmeriKKKA' and was in full gear of Ice Cube's classic cut-and-paste piece 'Jackin' For Beats'. In less than 3 minutes, Cube runs through an MPC full of breaks. There is no way I could cover everything, so I chose three choice samples.
The classic L.A. sound via Roger Troutman and brothers, Zapp's 'More Bounce to the Ounce' is an essential party track and sounds as fresh now as it did over 20 years ago. Troutman's talkbox sound was a staple of mid-90's West Coast hip-hop and is, undoubtedly, a big influence on the autotune vocal sound of T-Pain and others today. Parliament's 'Bop Gun (Endangered Species)' appears briefly on 'Jackin' For Beats', but is notable as it was reused by Ice Cube for his later single 'Bop Gun' from 1993's 'Leathal Injenction'. Also, 'Bop Gun' has a fantastic G-funk sound that is perfect for summer cook outs. The way Ice Cube gives 'The Humpty Dance' that 'gangster touch' in 'Jackin' For Beats' is one of the many great back-handed compliments. The Digital Underground are notably not one of Ice Cube's friends, who he will also jack.
'Jackin' For Beats' is an iconic sample track and is the Bomb Squad at the top of their game. Unfortunately, the Bomb Squad would not return for Ice Cube's sophomore album 'Death Certificate', would only have limited input to Public Enemy's (vastly underrated) 'Apocalypse 91', and would start producing for the Young Black Teenagers (why?). By 1995, they would dissolve altogether. 'Jackin' For Beats' is the swan song of one of the most genre-defining production teams in hip-hop history.
The Lowdown:
Ice Cube 'Jackin' For Beats'
from 'Kill at Will' EP (1990)
Zapp 'More Bounce to the Ounce'
from 'Zapp' (1979) (MP3/CD)
Parliament 'Bop Gun (Endangered Species)'
from 'Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome' (1976) (MP3/CD)
Digital Underground 'The Humpty Dance'
from 'Sex Packets' (1990) (MP3/CD)
ADDENDUM (08.22.08):
Fantastic musician and collegiate Ice Cube archivist Preek hipped me to the 'Kill at Will' EP's final track titled 'I Gotta Say What Up!!!' that praises Digital Underground, countering my opinion that 'Jackin' for Beats' is dissing them ("But I don't party and shake my butt / I leave that to the brothers with the funny haircuts / And it'll drive you nuts / Steal your beat and give it that gangsta touch"). I see both sides and I honestly don't know who is correct, does anyone else want to chime in? The gospel of Ice Cube is, by nature, contradictory (RE: his verse on Public Enemy's 'Burn Hollywood Burn' vs. the last decade of his career).
