Group Home - Up Against the Wall (Low Budget Mix) (1995) sampled Isaac Hayes - Windows of the World (1973)

Artist:  Group Home
Song:  Up Against the Wall (Low Budget Mix)
Year:  1995
Album:  Livin' Proof

I don't think anybody likes Group Home as much as I do.  From this album to "East NY Theory" and "Express", they had a great early run.  Many are critical of their lyrics but I enjoy the overall sonic experience.  If anyone knows who was sampled for the chorus "Such a pity, but living in the city is like living in the times of Frank Nitti", please let me know in the comments.

Artist:  Isaac Hayes
Song:  Windows of the World
Year:  1973
Album:  Live at the Sahara Tahoe

This record has a great cover because you can open the doors to reveal a picture of Isaac Hayes performing.  This guy was an icon and it seemed crazy when he and Bernie Mac passed away in the same weekend.  The sample occurs at 1:30.

213 - Lonely Girl (2004) sampled Bohannon - It's Time for Peace (1972)

Artist:  213
Song:  Lonely Girl
Year:  2004
Album:  The Hard Way

I'm posting this to pay respect to the recently fallen Nate Dogg.  He had the golden voice.  R.I.P.  In 1993 and 1994 when I was listening to Snoop Doggy Dogg "Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None)", this 213 album was what I wanted.  Better late than never, it's a must-have for G-Funk aficionados.

Artist:  Bohannon
Song:  It's Time for Peace
Year:  1972
Album:  Stop & Go

Ultramagnetic MC's Kool Keith said in "Checkin My Style" that "I don't NEED Bohannon".  I figured it to be a compliment and then discovered Hamilton Bohannon's catalog.  All the samples occur during the first 8 seconds.  The 213 intro pieces together the samples at the 0:02, 0:04 and 0:06 marks.  The rest of the song uses the first eight seconds for bars 1-3 and repeats the section from 0:06-0:08 for bar 4.  Of course, 213 added the essential G-Funk elements to the production.

Black Moon - Enta Da Stage (1993) sampled Alice Coltrane - Journey In Satchidananda (1970)

Artist:  Black Moon
Song:  Enta Da Stage
Year:  1993
Album:  Enta Da Stage

My friend JOS and I would drive home from the gym and play this song in the car way back in 1994.  We figured it was all Cannonball Adderley samples because the album listed the credit to him for a song called "Eye of the Cosmos".  My friend even heard the song on the local jazz station.  Years later when I bought Cannonball Adderley's Black Messiah LP, I was disappointed to learn the sample was just his talking.  Finally I discovered the jazz that birthed one of Black Moon's greatest songs.

Artist:  Alice Coltrane
Song:  Journey In Satchidananda
Year:  1970
Album:  Journey In Satchidananda

The tambura (tamboura?) provides an Eastern drone over the bass, a great combination.  The sample occurs at 0:08 or 0:15, I can't figure out which one because they sound so similar when filtered.  Black Moon sped it up and filtered it well.  I also want to mention that this Alice Coltrane album contains the sample used for the introduction of a good Toronto radio show called Stylistik Endeavors.

Street Smartz - Problemz (1996) sampled Jorge Dalto - I've Got You On My Mind (1976)

Artist:  Street Smartz
Song:  Problemz
Year:  1996
Album:  Problemz b/w Metal Thangz 12-inch Single

Fuc That, Stand Out!  Since my last Street Smartz post has proven to be so popular, here's another one.  I don't blame any of you for searching out his music because F.T. has captured the mid-1990's vibe perfectly.

Artist:  Jorge Dalto
Song:  I've Got You On My Mind
Year:  1976
Album:  Chevere

Great song, the sample occurs at 0:16.

Mobb Deep - Trife Life (1995) sampled Norman Connors - You Are My Starship (1976)

Artist:  Mobb Deep
Song:  Trife Life
Year:  1995
Album:  The Infamous

When a Hiphop artist's second album fails to live up to the expectations set by their first album, people talk about the sophomore curse.  If this curse exists, then my favourite exceptions are: A Tribe Called Quest "The Low End Theory", Gang Starr "Step In The Arena", Common "Resurrection", Public Enemy "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" and Mobb Deep "The Infamous".  When Mobb Deep released this record, I think everybody knew it was a classic immediately.

Artist:  Norman Connors
Song:  You Are My Starship
Year:  1976
Album:  You Are My Starship

Norman Connors put out some good jazz in the early 1970's.  He also made a great commercialized tune here.  Mobb Deep used the sample at 0:00 for their introduction.  The sample used for the rest of their song occurs at 1:58.  Most of the time, the bassline is audible and high end is filtered out, but during the chorus and for brief moments in the verses, they let the saxophone be heard.  One more thing, if you listen to the rest of the Norman Connors album, you'll come across the sample for Das Efx "Real Hip-Hop".

Saafir - Can-U-Feel-Me? (1994) sampled Donald Byrd - I Love The Girl (1975)

Artist:  Saafir
Song:  Can-U-Feel-Me?
Year:  1994
Album:  Boxcar Sessions

I was Just Riden' around the city with my friends and these two guys, Dennis and Tim.  Tim pulls out a cassette by Saafir.  I had heard Light Sleeper the previous summer but this song hooked me.  Anybody remember the name of Saafir's producer and DJ?  Jay-Z.

Artist:  Donald Byrd
Song:  I Love The Girl
Year:  1975
Album:  Stepping Into Tomorrow

Donald Byrd, word.  Still sounds great 36 years later.  The music for Saafir's song is the loop that starts at 0:25.  The sample was slowed down and mixed with some nice drums.

Casual - Be Thousand (1994) sampled Jimmy Smith - 2nd Movement: Ritual (1973)

Artist:  Casual
Song:  Be Thousand
Year:  1994
Album:  Fear Itself

I used to be a rampant Hieroglyphics fan, I even liked Extra Prolific's 2nd album, 2 For 15.  But when I think back, the most classic album put out by the crew was Casual's "Fear Itself".  One of my favourite moments in history was the Casual vs. Saafir battle in 1994 on KMEL's The Wake Up Show with Sway and King Tech.  This month I will celebrate these two emcees.

Artist:  Jimmy Smith
Song:  2nd Movement: Ritual
Year:  1973
Album:  Portuguese Soul

The sample appears at the 0:06 mark.  The song is in a 5/4 time signature.  Casual used the first 4 beats of the loop to convert it into 4/4 time.  I also like when 3/4 loops repeat a beat to convert to 4/4.  Emcees rhyming in 5/4 or 3/4 would be even better.