Meyhem Lauren - Top Of The World (2012) sampled Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin - Jane B. (1969)

Artist:  Meyhem Lauren
Song:  Top Of The World
Year:  2012
Album:  Respect The Fly Shit

DJ Premier does a top 25 albums list each year, so I thought that I would share the 25 best albums I listened to in 2012.

Top 25 Albums of 2012

25 - Freddie Gibbs and Madlib - Shame EP
24 - Game - Jesus Piece
23 - Kanye West (Good Music) - Cruel Summer
22 - Roc Marciano - Reloaded
21 - Big Boi - Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors
20 - Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson - Dice Game
19 - 4th Pyramid - The Pyramid Scheme
18 - 9th Wonder - Tutankhamen
17 - Rapper Big Pooh - Fat Boy Fresh Volume Two Est. 1980
16 - 9th Wonder & Buckshot - The Solution
15 - Tona - Reform School
14 - The Alchemist - Russian Roulette
13 - Oh No - Ohnomite
12 - Sean Price - Mic Tyson
11 - Apollo Brown & O.C. - Trophies

Top 10 Albums of 2012

10 - Nas - Life Is Good
9 - Action Bronson & The Alchemist - Rare Chandeliers
8 - Domo Genesis - No Idols
7 - Masta Ace & MF Doom - MA Doom: Son of Yvonne
6 - Wu Block - Wu Block
5 - Action Bronson - Blue Chips
4 - Slum Village - The Dirty Slums
3 - Lil Fame & Termanology - Fizzyology
2 - Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city
1 - Meyhem Lauren - Respect The Fly Shit

Meyhem Lauren, Action Bronson and The Alchemist were on top of the world in 2012.




Artist:  Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin
Song:  Jane B.
Year:  1969
Album:  Jane Birkin - Serge Gainsbourg

Whether it's Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Legrand or Franck Pourcel, France has produced a lot of great music.  This tune was also sampled by DJ Revolution for "The Backbone" (featuring Toronto's own Kardinal Offishall and Choclair).

Meyhem Lauren used the 4 bars between 0:00 and 0:13, alternating between looping 1 bar, 2 bars or all 4 bars.

Canibus - How We Roll (1998) sampled MFSB - Something For Nothing (1973)

Artist:  Canibus
Song:  How We Roll
Year:  1998
Album:  Can-I-Bus

In 1997 and 1998, Canibus was on top of the game.  He was the most sought after guest lyricist on songs.  This is my favourite track off his first album because of the lyrics, the well constructed beat and Panama P.I. makes an appearance!

Artist:  Tracey Lee
Song:  Keep Your Hands High
Year:  1997
Album:  Many Facez

This song is notable for several reasons:  First of all, the beat was well made.  Secondly, Tracey Lee is connected with The Reepz (one of my favourite obscure crews).  Finally, The Notorious B.I.G. makes an appearance here.

Artist:  Jay-Z
Song:  What More Can I Say
Year:  2003
Album:  The Black Album

This is my favourite track off The Black Album because of the beat.

Artist:  AG (Andre The Giant. A.G.)
Song:  Muddslide
Year:  1999
Album:  The Dirty Version

Andre the Giant only used the sample as a way to change things up, but I like when A.G. rhymes on strings and bass.

Artist:  MFSB
Song:  Something For Nothing
Year:  1973
Album:  MFSB

Something FROM Nothing is how I think of Hip Hop.  Something FOR Nothing could also describe Hip Hop.  MFSB stands for Mother Father Sister Brother.  Long before any of these songs, someone from Toronto looped up this song and rhymed over the sample for what seemed like 10 minutes.  Don't know who, but Toronto brought this to me first.

 

The first Canibus sample are the two notes that start at 0:30.  These appear at the beginning of each bar.  The next sample is an impressive chopping job using notes from 0:30 to 0:32 to create a two-bar loop that appears throughout the song.  With the changing speeds, this is a great production.

 

Tracey Lee's intro and occasional change is the sample from 0:27 broken up to cover the timespan of 2 bars.  During the verse, there is a two-bar loop made up of the sample from 0:30 repeated several times over the course of 6 beats.  The final 2 beats are either from 0:29 or 0:38, both are used at different points.  Both this and Canibus are great examples of using very little sample to create great songs.

 

Jay-Z used a more loop-based approach.  The song starts with the 2-bar loop from 0:27.  The next sample used is the two-bar loop from 0:39.  The first chorus uses the two-bar loop from 1:50 with some horn samples.

 

A.G. used the sample from 0:27 sparsely in his song.

Hieroglyphics - At The Helm (1998) sampled Southside Movement - I've Been Watching You (1975)

Artist:  Hieroglyphics
Song:  At The Helm
Year:  1998
Album:  3rd Eye Vision

This one is for my good friend JOS.  Back in 1998, I got this record as soon as it came out and this was our summer anthem.  Del was killin' it with lines like "You think you're able to label the Hiero sound?  You still haven't found the comparable variable".  Three pairs of rhymes inside that flow, saying things that Emcee's generally don't.  Classic Hiero.

Artist:  Beastie Boys
Song:  So What'cha Want
Year:  1992
Album:  Check Your Head

It only took me 14 years to realize that this song is the same "sample" as the Hieroglyphics song.  The only difference is that the Beastie Boys replayed the music instead of sampling it.  "Yeah, you can't front on that".  RIP MCA.

Artist:  Southside Movement
Song:  I've Been Watching You
Year:  1975
Album:  Moving South

There are three things I want to say about Southside Movement.  The first is that this band from the South Side of Chicago has created some great samples.  Secondly, Southside Movement is how babies are made.  Thirdly, this song is different from their 1973 release of "I' Been Watchin' You".

 

The Hieroglyphics song starts with a half-bar loop from 0:13.  When the verse starts, an 8-beat chop begins.  The first 5 beats begin at 0:13 and the final 3 begin at 0:14.  This means is that beats 2, 3 and 4 are the same as beats 6, 7 and 8.

 

The Beastie Boys were inspired to play the following samples:  Throughout the song are the two notes that appear at 0:13.  Also, there are two notes that occasionally end a section of their song, these notes appear at 0:30.

Hard Knocks - Ghetto Love (1992) sampled Sun - Time Is Passing (1977)

Artist:  Hard Knocks
Song:  Ghetto Love
Year:  1992
Album:  School Of Hard Knocks

This is an overlooked classic from the Hip Hop golden era.  Definitely worth a listen.

Artist:  Pete Rock
Song:  Just A Word Or Two
Year:  2009
Album:  Not Officially Released

I have no clue where this track comes from, but it's a great example of a Pete Rock solo joint with no guest appearances.  Maybe it was limited release vinyl, but in 2009 it is possibly a digital-only release.  It's not on any single or album that I know of.

Artist:  Dr. Dre
Song:  The Car Bomb
Year:  1999
Album:  (The Chronic) 2001

Dr. Dre even puts great music in his skits, like another of his skits I posted.

Artist:  Sun
Song:  Time Is Passing
Year:  1977
Album:  Sun-Power

Some of my earliest digging was Sun because the records were only a few dollars.  The samples are much slower in the original song.

 

The Hard Knocks intro and chorus are the 2-bar loop that begins at 0:42.  The verse sample is the 2-bar loop from 0:34.

 

Pete Rock's 1-beat loop at the beginning is from 0:57.  The verse is the 2-bar loop from 0:34.  The chorus introduces vocals that sing "Just to hear from you a word or two, just to drop a line to say you're mine" from 1:46.  Also, during the chorus you can hear the 2-bar loop from 0:50 played twice and then the four-bar sample from 0:42.

 

Dr. Dre used the same samples as Hard Knocks, the 2-bar loop from 0:42 and then the 2-bar loop from 0:34.

D-Nice - No, No, No (1991) sampled Shades Of Brown - Girl I'm Coming Home (1970)

Artist:  D-Nice
Song:  No, No, No
Year:  1991
Album:  To Tha Rescue

The TR-808, straight from the Bronx.  I love 1991 Hip Hop because of the Golden Era production quality and the lyrical consciousness, displayed here by D-Nice.  The sample revealed below is in the intro and chorus.

Artist:  Shades Of Brown
Song:  Girl I'm Coming Home
Year:  1970
Album:  S.O.B.

There is a well-known drum break on this album, a song called "The Soil I Tilled For You" (used most memorably by A Tribe Called Quest on "Excursions").  The sample from D-Nice is a 2-bar loop starting at 1:02.

Slick Rick - It's A Boy (Remix) (1991) sampled Cal Tjader - Lady Madonna (1969)

Artist:  Slick Rick
Song:  It's A Boy (Remix)
Year:  1991
Album:  It's A Boy 12-inch Single

I dedicate this Large Professor remix to my baby boy.

Artist:  Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
Song:  They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) (Vibes Mix)
Year:  1992
Album:  Not Officially Released

This track is not on the Mecca And The Soul Brother LP or the They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) 12-inch Single.  It originally came out on white-label vinyl and has since been rereleased on various Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth "Rare Tracks" or "Unreleased Joints".  It is also on the Deluxe Edition of the Mecca And The Soul Brother LP.

Artist:  Cal Tjader
Song:  Lady Madonna
Year:  1969
Album:  Cal Tjader Plugs In

Cal Tjader plays a nice vibraphone.  The Slick Rick sample is a 2-bar loop starting at 2:28.  The bassline is heard throughout the Slick Rick song.  In the chorus, the vibes come through but some of them were removed.  The Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth sample is a 2-bar loop from 0:10.

9th Wonder - Brooklyn In My Mind (Crooklyn Dodgers III) (2007) sampled Curtis Mayfield - Love To Keep You In My Mind (1971)

Artist:  9th Wonder
Song:  Brooklyn In My Mind (Crooklyn Dodgers III)
Year:  2007
Album:  The Dream Merchant Vol. 2

The Crooklyn Dodgers first incarnation (Masta Ace, Buckshot and Special Ed) is my favourite and the sequel (Jeru The Damaja, O.C. and Chubb Rock) was spectacular as well.  The third in the series is also worthy of the Crooklyn Dodger name, featuring Mos Def, Jean Grae and Memphis Bleek.  This beat loops on in my mind.

Artist:  Kaze
Song:  Dynasty
Year:  2007
Album:  Block 2The Basement

Kaze used the same sample but changed the arrangement a bit.

Artist:  Curtis Mayfield
Song:  Love To Keep You In My Mind
Year:  1971
Album:  Roots

Curtis Mayfield is a hall-of-famer.  I had to get one of his songs on the blog.

 

Here's some more complicated 9th Wonder production.  I always enjoy trying to figure out the pieces of his puzzles.

Brooklyn In My Mind is composed of two 16-beat "loops", the verse loop and the chorus/intro loop.

The verse loop begins at 2:37 and runs for 7 beats.  The next 3 beats start at 2:42.  Beat 11 comes next and it is the same beat as beat 9.  The final 5 beats begin at 2:06.

The chorus/intro loop starts at 2:01 and runs for 10 beats.  Beats 11 and 12 I can't figure out for sure, if you know, please leave a comment.  Beats 13 to 16 begin at 2:07 and are the same four beats as in the verse loop.

Kaze has a simpler song.  It begins with the same intro as Curtis Mayfield from 0:00.

Each chorus starts with the 2-bar loop from 1:03 and repeats it again.  The next 2-bar loop is from 0:49 and the chorus finishes with the 2-bar loop from 1:10.

The verse is similar to Brooklyn In My Mind.  The first two bars of the verse begin at 2:37.  The next 6 beats are the same from 2:37.  Beats 7 and 8 are the same as beat 6.

Da King & I - Tears (1993) sampled Ohio Players - Our Love Has Died (1972)

Artist:  Da King & I
Song:  Tears
Year:  1993
Album:  Contemporary Jeep Music

The finest work from the Rowdy record label.  Undisputed classic!

Artist:  Genius/GZA
Song:  B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
Year:  1995
Album:  Liquid Swords

This is one of the best album covers ever created.  Elements of martial arts, chess and Hip Hop within an unknown universe.  This particular song does not feature GZA, it's a Killah Priest guest track.

Artist:  Ohio Players
Song:  Our Love Has Died
Year:  1972
Album:  Pleasure

My friend JOS brought this record home just after Da King & I released their song.  We got excited about finding the horns to EPMD "Hardcore" and the well sampled "Funky Worm".  However, this is the song that I'm still listening to.

 

Da King & I used the 2-bar loop starting at 2:22 for their song's backbone.  In the chorus you can hear "Can't Keep These Tears From My Eyes" from the 2-bar loop at 2:35.  After the first chorus there is another 1-bar sample from 3:05.

 

RZA did a great job of producing the GZA/Killah Priest track.  He interlaced 2 loops at various points.  The song starts with the 2-bar loop from 0:41 and soon mixes the 2-bar loop from 4:39.  The loop from 4:39 is heard mostly throughout the song and the loop from 0:41 appears in the chorus and occasionally during the verses.  Very clever production.

Young Zee - Electric Chair (1996) sampled The Jones Girls - Who Can I Run To (1979)

Artist:  Young Zee
Song:  Electric Chair
Year:  1996
Album:  Musical Meltdown

I never saw this album in the stores, but thanks to my well-connected friend, Ilango, I had the bootleg copy on a cassette and later a CD.  This album is obscure but still features superstars like Lauryn Hill, Busta Rhymes and KRS-One.  Electric Chair is still my favourite track on the record (features Pacewon).

Artist:  Nas (Remix By Cookin Soul)
Song:  2nd Childhood
Year:  2005
Album:  Street's Most Wanted Remixes Vol. 2

This remix also shows up on Cookin Soul's "Nas: The Lost Tapes 1.5", which is where I got this version from.  Cookin Soul had 9 more years and came up with a more complex use of the samples.  If you're going to arrive late at a party, you might as well bring the best gift.  They used every cut of meat from this cow.

Artist:  The Jones Girls
Song:  Who Can I Run To
Year:  1979
Album:  The Jones Girls

Young Zee did not use a straight loop.  The bassline is the 2-bar loop starting at 0:14, but the guitars and keyboard are chopped.  The main 2-bar loop is 5 beats starting from 0:01.  Beat 6 is a repeat of beat 5.  Beats 7 and 8 are the two beats starting at 0:02 (same as beats 3 and 4).  The chorus is a 4-bar loop that starts at 0:14.

Cookin Soul's Nas Remix is too complex to break-down every sound, but I was able to recreate the main pieces and will list them in order of appearance.

The song starts with two 2-bar loops from 0:08.

The next 6 beats feature the same bassline from 0:14 and the next 2 beats is a vocal sample at 1:41.

The next bar is a vocal sample from 1:47 (about 3 beats).  The next bar is the "When I Need Love" sample from 2:26.

Next comes the bassline with the 2-bar loop used for the chorus from 2:31.

The verse then begins with the bassline and a piano sample from 0:19.

When the verse ends and just before the chorus begins, there is a sample of 4 notes and a vocal that says "tell me" from 2:02.

At the end of the song are new samples for the outro.  There are two 2-bar samples with the vocals "I Wanna Know Who I Can Run To" from 3:10.

Next is a 4-bar vocal sample "Whoooo Can I Run To When I Need Love" from 2:57.

The final 2-bar vocal sample is "Who Can I Run To, To Fill This Empty Face With Laughter" from 2:17.

Smif-N-Wessun - Let's Git It On (1995) sampled Mandrill - After The Race (1974)

Artist:  Smif-N-Wessun
Song:  Let's Git It On
Year:  1995
Album:  Dah Shinin'

Even though this album came out right at the beginning of 1995, this song was playing in my cassette deck for the whole summer of 1994.  The bassline still sounds great.

Artist:  L.E.G.A.C.Y.
Song:  Nice
Year:  2003
Album:  Legsclusives

More 9th Wonder production magic from one of the North Carolina Justus League soldiers.

Artist:  Mandrill
Song:  After The Race
Year:  1974
Album:  Mandrilland

This just goes to show that cover art doesn't always match the music I envision inside.  I always thought that the Smif-N-Wessun bassline was from a jazz artist, but here it is at 2:05.  The L.E.G.A.C.Y. loop is at 1:13.

Ras Kass - Etc. (1996) sampled Herbie Hancock - Wandering Spirit Song (1971)

Artist:  Ras Kass
Song:  Etc.
Year:  1996
Album:  Soul On Ice

Another world premier from Representative Sample.  The only reason I was able to find this sample is because I'm a big fan of both Ras Kass and Herbie Hancock.  I made the connection eventually.  I've never bought into the argument that Ras Kass is the greatest lyricist with the weakest production.  Also, sampling Buckshot Shorty on a chorus is usually a good idea:  "Pen Predator, Etcetera, Yeah Right".

Artist:  Herbie Hancock
Song:  Wandering Spirit Song
Year:  1971
Album:  Mwandishi

This song is long but a good listen.  Herbie is in outer space.  There are two samples here.  The main loop can be found at 4:59.  Right after that loop, starting at 5:02, is another loop that Ras Kass samples briefly to change up the groove (1:39 and 2:37 in "Etc.")

Big L - The Big Picture (Intro) (2000) sampled Jerry Butler - Whatever Goes Around (1973)

Artist:  Big L
Song:  The Big Picture (Intro)
Year:  2000
Album:  The Big Picture (1974 - 1999)

Today's post is a lesson in beat chopping by two of the best to ever do it, DJ Premier and 9th Wonder.  Here's some magic from DJ Premier who produced this song for Big L.

Artist:  Little Brother
Song:  Sincerely Yours
Year:  2005
Album:  The Minstrel Show

This is one of the best albums of the new millennium.  If you stopped following Hip Hop seriously when the nineties ended, listen to this album.  90's quality music is still being made, even in 2012.  This track was produced by 9th Wonder.

Artist:  9th Wonder
Song:  Reminisce
Year:  2007
Album:  The Dream Merchant Vol. 2

Most of this song is another sample, I'm only highlighting the end of this song which starts at 4:03.  This chopping masterpiece is tough to recreate, details below.  Speaking of 9th Wonder, remember that song by Digable Planets called "9th Wonder (Blackitolism)"?

Artist:  Jerry Butler
Song:  Whatever Goes Around
Year:  1973
Album:  Power Of Love

Big L uses a 2-bar loop made from 3 pieces.  The first bar comes from the 0:50 mark.  The second bar starts with the piece from 0:53 with one of the notes repeating.  The end of the second bar contains one note from 0:00.

Little Brother uses a more complicated arrangement.  The song starts with a long sample from 0:13 (singing).  The verses are composed of an 8-bar loop with various pieces.  Bars 1 and 2 start from 4:33.  Bar 3 is a repeat of bar 1.  Bar 4 is made up of two pieces from 0:05 then 0:14.  Bars 5, 6 and 7 are repeated from bars 1, 2 and 3.  Bar 8 is made from two pieces, 0:12 and then 4:20.  The chorus is a 2-bar loop that starts from 4:22 to 4:28 and then is followed by 4:20 to 4:22.

9th Wonder gets even more complicated on "Reminisce" because each of the 4 beats within a bar are different samples.  I'm going to break down most of the samples starting when the main song ends.  The outro begins with a long sample from 1:24 (singing).  Now come really short samples.  The next 2-bars (8 beats) begin with beats 1 to 3 starting from 0:01, beat 4 from 0:19, beat 5 from 0:06, beat 6 from 0:22, beat 7 from 0:10 and beat 8 from 0:30.  These 2 bars then repeat.  The third set of 2 bars are the same except beat 8 is from 0:37.  The fourth set of 2 bars is the same as the first set except beats 1 and a bit of 2 come from 1:54 and the 2 bars end with the drums from 0:44.

Souls Of Mischief - Times Ain't Fair (1995) sampled Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Take All The Time You Need (1975)

Artist:  Souls Of Mischief
Song:  Times Ain't Fair
Year:  1995
Album:  No Man's Land

After the Saafir versus Casual battle, I spent the summer of 1995 eagerly anticipating some material from Opio and Tajai.  Rare appearance by Extra Prolific on this track.  Long live Hieroglyphics!

Artist:  MF Grimm
Song:  A Mother's Heart
Year:  2006
Album:  American Hunger

A gruesome interpretation of a Roy Ayers song, not suitable for children.

Artist:  Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Song:  Take All The Time You Need
Year:  1975
Album:  Mystic Voyage

This is one of the lesser known Roy Ayers samples.  Souls Of Mischief connected two samples to form a seamless 4-bar loop.  The first bar is from 2:57 and the final three bars start from 3:06.  MF Grimm leads off with the beginning of the Roy Ayers song and the main loop is a 1-bar loop from 2:57.  The "No No No No" sample is from 2:59 and at the end of Grimm's grim tale is the "I'm Gonna Be Right There Boy" sample from 3:04.

Smif-N-Wessun - Bucktown (1995) sampled Jack Bruce - Born To Be Blue (1971)

Artist:  Smif-N-Wessun
Song:  Bucktown
Year:  1995
Album:  Dah Shinin'

This will be my most ambitious post to date.  It features a jazz song that is full of samples.  Even though this Smif-N-Wessun album came out in 1995, the first release was Bucktown during the summer of 1994.

Artist:  Nice & Smooth
Song:  Blunts
Year:  1994
Album:  Jewel Of The Nile

Another Hip Hop duo rhyming over the same sample.  Smif-N-Wessun beat Nice & Smooth to the punch though.  Nice & Smooth are one of my favourite groups from the golden era.

Artist:  Artifacts
Song:  Wrong Side Of Da Tracks
Year:  1994
Album:  Between A Rock And A Hard Place

This Hip Hop duo used different samples.  The horns featured in the chorus and occasionally throughout the verses are 4 separate samples.

Artist:  Cella Dwellas
Song:  Land Of The Lost
Year:  1996
Album:  Realms 'N Reality

Another duo, another sample.  What I remember about this song is how great the video was.  This album is tremendous because it contains a lot of jazz and unique lyrics.  It's a commercial flop and a sub-underground hit.

Artist:  Showbiz & A.G.
Song:  Hold Ya Head
Year:  1992
Album:  Runaway Slave

The duo pattern continues with another two samples.  The bassline and the chorus horns are two separate samples from this same jazz song.

Artist:  Diamond And The Psychotic Neurotics
Song:  Sally Got A One Track Mind (Remix By Showbiz)
Year:  1993
Album:  Sally Got A One Track Mind b/w Check One, Two 12-inch Single

Let's just count this one as a duo because of the "And", he wasn't just Diamond D.  More importantly, imagine how difficult life is for a Psychotic Neurotic.

Artist:  Jack Bruce
Song:  Born To Be Blue
Year:  1971
Album:  Things We Like

Jack Bruce comes from the rock band Cream (with Eric Clapton).  Jazz is also a thing he likes.  The first time I heard this song, I was surprised how many well-known samples were contained within.  Showbiz clearly loves this album because there are more songs he has sampled.  Here are the samples in order:

Artifacts "Wrong Side Of Da Tracks"

0:04 - one of the two note horn samples

0:05 - the other two note horn sample

0:07 - one low note used in the verses

0:10 - the famous horn sample from the chorus

Diamond And The Psychotic Neurotics "Sally Got A One Track Mind (Remix By Showbiz)"

1:19 - used as the main loop

Showbiz And A.G. "Hold Ya Head"

2:26 - the horns from the chorus

2:52 - the bassline of the song

Smif-N-Wessun "Bucktown" and Nice & Smooth "Blunts"

2:57 - used as the main loop

Cella Dwellas "Land Of The Lost"

3:08 - used as the main loop