After some (not so extensive) research, I successfully tracked down two of the original sampled songs Mr. West has tapped into for this latest 5 star reviewed album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" The songs "Devil In A New Dress" and "Lost In The World" are in my top five cuts and I wanted to share with you the sources that he (and his production entourage) got'em from. Enjoy!
Bon Iver"Woods"(sample) -"Lost In The World" (song)
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" (sample) "Devil In A New Dress" (song)
I'm pretty sure you've heard the news by now. Soulful singer Teddy Pender grass died today at the young age of 59 years old. God decided to "Turn Out the Lights" on Teddy after a year of the singer battling colon cancer (warning to you fellas out there!) I felt all Harold Melvin blue inside, when I first heard the news. I know Philly as well as the world will miss him dearly. However his music lives with us still, so today I dedicate this "Old School..." post to "Big Teddy" and the still DOPE rap record by Ahmed ("Back In the Day") that sampled one of his biggest hits ("Love TKO") that became a hit itself! Life may have TKO'd Teddy, but he's still a champ to us.
Wanna hear a funny story? Well a while ago a former flame of mine decided (for herself) that she wanted to "spice things up" in the bedroom department and took on the task of taking Belly Dancinglessons. (SWEET!) Of course, as you may well have guessed, I was in FULL support of this new venture. So now, by lesson two she's been instructed to practice at home with the aid of music on the recommended CD "The Best of Belly Dancing." Half way through her "act" I hear the 1st striking chords of Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin," and I start to lose it! KudosTimbaland, kudos. The way he first came across this sample may not have been as exciting as mine, but he scored even bigger points for making it one of Hip Hop's biggest hits. Sheesh, even the video got props when it debuted. With the infamous Dame Dash champaign pouring scene, the now late Pimp C, and it even featured a fresh-to-the-scene Gloria Velez in all-white slo-mo glory. One of Hype Williams' best. Now whenever I hear "Big Pimpin" I can't help but to picture her belly dancing to it. Pimp on pimpin'!
Wow! If you talk about a "from rags to riches" story, you have a great example with these two songs. Back in 1991
Crystal Waters
(sounds like an energy drink right?) had reached Billboard (#8) success with her catchy tale about a homeless woman who had an annoying habit of singing "La da de dow dow" while she pan-handled.
Who knew that she was sitting on dance hit gold? I guess besides Ms. Waters, T.I. knew too. Cause in '06 the brother planted the "seeds of doubt" in the mind of a pretty young Miss that he was digging, to the tune of the "homeless" hit for "Why You Wanna". Giving him #1 status on Billboard. I hope one of these guys gave back (lol). Well here's my donation to you.
(*FYI, T.I. plead guilty to all those gun charges he was accused of so you'll be seeing him in a really bright orange suit soon, in stead of the tweed one pictured here)
If there's anything you say about LL Cool J, you'd have to admit that dude is a survivor by any standard of the word. After reinventing himself more times than Diddy changes his name, LL has managed to avoid the many pitfalls that being in the industry can bring. Not one to shy way from a "good fight", Mama Said Knock You Out (and the album of the same name) was his street anthem answer to all those who were wary that he was beginning to stray away from his hardcore origins. "Mama Said..." and the sampled song "Trip to Your Heart" by Sly & theFamily Stone, is a great example of how to opposites can work together. Classic Love/ Hate.
Sly sings of the pursuit of affection, while LL's take speaks on the haters that doubt his lyrical prowess. Both are classics. So listen to "Mama" and follow ..."Your heart."
I gotta say man, I love being around creative folks. Which is sort of the point of why we're even having this event TONIGHT. We're filling the room with young like-minded people looking to make much needed waves in society's shallow waters. If you can't swim then don't even put on yo trunks man. Here's a lil'sumthing "Darling" Nicky from the band heaVy filmed as a reminder to you (and as you'll see, herself mostly too) for the festivities that await later on. BTW did you RSVP? Shame if you didn't. Okay, dim lights and roll film.
I KNOW Y U ❤ M E (@ Loft 406 -925 Bergen St. bet Franklin & Classon) Saturday, Feb. 16th 10pm-4am
Gallery Showing by CRYSTAL CLARITY
Music provided by the Minority Report (Old' School / New School Session) DJ Charlie Brown (Spinning crowd favorites)
❤Live Performance by H E A V Y
Dress Like you own the joint (a tie or heels would be nice ;) ❤ Complimentary drinks to the lucky chosen few Admission $10 w/rsvp names + guest # to: theMreport@gmail.com
Sat. Feb. 16th we've invited taste makers and trend setters from both Music & Fashion to celebrate the latest movement in style. And would love for you to join us.
I KNOW Y U ❤ M E (@ Loft 406 -925 Bergen St. bet Franklin & Classon) Saturday, Feb. 16th 10pm-4am
Gallery Showing by CRYSTAL CLARITY
Music provided by the Minority Report (Old' School / New School Session) DJ Charlie Brown (Spinning crowd favorites)
DressLike you own the joint(a tie or heels would be nice ;) ❤ Complimentary drinks to the lucky chosen few Admission$10 w/rsvp names + guest # to: theMreport@gmail.com
And those words could not be more true when explaining the origin to the song "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y)" recorded byPete Rock & CL Smooth. During the Summer of 1990 while on tour in Indianapolis, Heavy D and the Boyzmember/dancer Trouble"T Roy" tragically fell to his death from a balcony during a game of horseplay. I had the sad experience of being there when the freak accident happened. It affected everyone on tour, then everyone world wide once the news hit. However, two years later (1992), the incident became the inspiration behind one of Hip Hop's greatest classics. And one ofthe Minority Report's all-time favorite songs...both the original AND the rap version. Note how Tom Scott's song speaks of a renewed lust for living, and embracing what "Today" has in store. Which is a fitting sample to use to pay tribute to someone who lost his so early in life...Deep.
EVERYTHING has an original source. From time to time we tend to easily forget that. So as a self-proclaimed audiophile (No, that doesn't mean I molest music. Read a dictionary) I feel it's my duty to educate the minority of "truth-seekers" that actually read the production credits when they do purchase a rap CD. The beat or (better known as) the "sample," being used can easily be found by the proceeding phrase "Contains a sample of..." Finding these "samples", has become nothing short of an obsession of mine. Constantly disappointed by the uninspiring direction that today's music seems to be going in, I often find myself pulling a "Marty McFly" with my choices of music, with the help of my iPod "Delorean." Now here's where you benefit. From time to time I'll be posting original samples of songs hopefully you're familiar with. The first of these being "Cola Bottle Baby" by Edwin Birdsong, which was used by French electrofunk group Daft Punk for "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." And went on to become "Stronger" recorded by Kanye "Wake UpMr. West" himself. So here, drink up and enjoy!
After some (not so extensive) research, I successfully tracked down two of the original sampled songs Mr. West has tapped into for this latest 5 star reviewed album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" The songs "Devil In A New Dress" and "Lost In The World" are in my top five cuts and I wanted to share with you the sources that he (and his production entourage) got'em from. Enjoy!
