Marvels born from artists reaching back into the past
Fake A&R or music dump, you’ll walk away with a playlist either way
Before I music-blitz you…
…let me show, via personal experiences, the marriage of in-real-life (I hate this term) and digital, which will nicely set up what I’ll be covering.
Last week, I mentioned in my Jay-Z / hobbies post that I went to Nevada (Vegas)
I hopped in an Uber or Lyft (can’t remember, that’s why I prefer to call them cabs…I know, very NY of me)
Whenever a cabbie is playing good music or wants to have a conversation, I put the phone/book away – Javaun’s law
The older cab gent played a song, a melody/voice that felt soulful, something from the 70s or 80s (was my initial guess)
He wasn’t one for talking, so I asked Siri to tell me what song was being played by señor cabby
→ Amazing song and a great album
→ When I Need You – another fantastic song
Got back to NY, and
commented on my AZ article, floating a question about J Dilla (RIP) and Slum Village. That same day, I revisited J Dilla & Jay Dee x Welcome 2 Detroit (2001) and Slum Village x Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit) (2004). On Welcome 2 Detroit, there’s a song called Come Get It. Toward the end of the song, there’s an outro scene where two characters are speaking, and there’s a car on with music coming from the speakers of the car, or so it seems to my ears. And guess what song is playing in the damn car? LEO SAYER x YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING!That type of full circle is poetic. And here is where I begin my blitz: running through some of my favorite songs that reach back (samples, riffs, etc.). What resulted was everything from reminders of what music was to new songs with deep-rooted inspiration, or some variation in between and on the ends. What is undeniable is that an ear for (and inspiration driven by) the music that came before is both incredibly normal and deeply satisfying for the soul, notwithstanding the amount of talent it takes to do this well. The farther back you go (i.e., the less technology/resources available to do this), the more impressive. You had to live it.
In short, a music lover’s zenith. The people behind these marriages – A&Rs, producers, etc. – are the music business deux ex machina(s)!
The blitz.
I’ll start with one that will surprise most people, minus older Jamaicans. This might peeve the elders, but the chance of them coming across my piece is equivalent to convincing people from Harlem that anyone dresses better than them…so let’s keep rolling.
We all know this song –
But were you aware that, nearly word for word, beat for beat, melody for melody, this is based on Alton Ellis’s song by the same exact name? The Don of Rocksteady released this music masterpiece back in 1977. Have a listen –
Fun facts about Alton Ellis (RIP):
Born in Trenchtown, the cradle of Rocksteady and Reggae
Bob Marley lived in Trenchtown and was deeply influenced by the artists who came out of the neighborhood. His famous line, “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain,” is from his song Trenchtown Rock. Trenchtown is often considered the Motown of Jamaica. Back to Alton Ellis.
Ellis passed away in London in 2008; I can only imagine the influence he had on Lover’s Rock and other Jamaican diasporic music coming out of London in the mid-to-late 20th century (see my article on UK music for reference)
But remember, all music is hoisted up by that which came before it (typically) and sometimes by those who are around at the same time. In the case of the former, Alton Ellis’s early musical heroes included American R&B icons like Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, who greatly influenced his vocal style. [source: his site]
You’ll find that many Ska/Rocksteady (earlier Jamaican music forms), Reggae, and early Dancehall legends were heavily influenced by everything from American Jazz, Motown, and R&B. Another clarification: in Jamaica, DJs are not what you think they are. The person behind the machines playing the music would be referred to as a selecta (selector). Kind of literal because they are “selecting” and choosing the music, whereas the DJ would be the lyricist/MC/vocalist.
Here is one of my favorite examples of the genres above being influenced by Motown legends –
This was released in 1964
Keep in mind the “nothing you can do to take me away from my guy” line, specifically
This riddim (beat) is so fire
“There’s nothing you could do could make me run away from dis clash ya” (same flow/melody)
Amazing.
When I made the discovery/connection between the two songs above, I had this reaction –
The best artists lean into recreating (from) original masterpieces, hopefully with the blessing of the initial creators. A sure sign of a musician's respect for another musician. Here is another exhibit of, let’s call it, one-for-one sampling/re-production (you can probably tell that I’m not well-versed in music’s technical jargon, but I’m okay with that).
The example –
Aretha Franklin x You’re All I Need To Get By
The recreation –
Mary J. Blige & Method Man x All I Need
Just the chorus, to be fair, versus a true re-creation like the Alton Ellis example
The “Queen of Soul” and, surely, the one that got away (from Berry Gordy’s perspective) is the gift that keeps giving in terms of inspiration. Here is another example (note: these are songs I like/listen to vs. a random list) –
Aretha Franklin x Day Dreaming
Cam’ron & Tiffany – Day Dreaming
Again, chorus and true sample vs. one-for-one
Regardless, a masterful reproduction and way to show respect to Madam Franklin’s song
Staying in Dipset land. One of their samples, to me, is a testament to the symbiotic relationship of Hip Hop and Jamaican music dating back to the ‘90s – ‘00s. It can be argued that this was a golden era for that specific relationship. Ghostface Killah, one of my favorite rappers, still leans into this heavily.
The example – Sanchez x One In A Million
Dipset using the example x Dipset Anthem
But the true origin (where Sanchez’s influence comes from) is – Jackie Mitooo x Freak Out
If we want examples that inch closer and closer to one-for-one, here’s a start.
The example – Bobby “Blue” Bland x Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City
I noted the below song in my Jay-Z / hobbies post because it’s just so well done and pays great respect to the example.
I’ll acknowledge that songs where legends are speaking (reaching back) to legends…I’m always a fan of. With that said, a true, reggae-ized remake of a song is the following.
The example – Bobby Womack x I Wish He Didn’t Trust Me So Much
Bobby was in sicko mode when he made this (we both got the same taste is nuts)
The only thing crazier is that he meant every single word!
The remake(r) – Sanchez x Trust Me Too Much
Word for word
Sanchez, one of the best voices to ever come out of Jamaica, was known for remaking and putting a reggae flair on people’s music without changing much of the lyrics
No lie, he was good at it. I suppose he always got the clearance because people knew he would do their music justice
To be fair, he didn’t always do this. He has originals…He also has original hybrids, mixing elements of multiple legendary songs. For instance, in his song, Brown Eye Girl, he re-spits (AND COMBINES) the verse/chorus of Tony! Toni! Toné! x Anniversary and the beginning of Sade’s x No Ordinary Love. If you’ve never heard the Sanchez song, the only way you’ll know what I’m talking about is by listening to the execution (note: every Jamaican knows this song) –
One of the most famous one-for-ones is Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, originally recorded and released by Frankie Valli in 1967 –
The remakes are plentiful but primarily done by legendary artists –
Diana Ross & The Supremes, Mary Wilson
And, of course, Lauryn Hill. Naturally, most people today are familiar with this version –
There is one “same flow” rendition I recently discovered that I think is undeniable. I’ll let your ears make the judgment.
Etta James x I’d Rather Go Blind (they felt a different level of love and emotion back in the days because what?!). This song was produced in 1968.
And the infamous Chris Stapleton x Tennessee Whiskey. Produced in 2015, nearly 50 years later…wow.
Let’s do one more before we transition.
Eugene Wilde x Gotta Get You Home With Me Tonight
The song that people will be more familiar with. A NY staple to let you know that the party is getting vibey. Foxy Brown x Get Me Home
The connections/foundations are undeniable. But let’s get away from very close-to-the-original samplings and speak to very well-done incorporations (someone with music jargon, come define this stuff for me, please).
One of my favorite Mach-Hommy songs is Apple Juice. Yes, while he shows love to the town (“she from Uptown, Bronx…I caught the uptown 2 and then I caught the 5…”), the sample usage is *chefs kiss*
There is a music zone that I call “when R&B and Hip Hop meet perfectly.” Mach-Hommy’s song is easily in that category. I have a playlist by the same name (Spotify), enjoy.
But the ex(sample) is such a good song. Folks, Lou Courtney x Just To Let Him Break Your Heart (see what I mean, the elders were going through it!).
Great music marriage. Wow.
Another excellent sampling job done by Jay-Z was in his song This Can’t Be Life (ft. Beanie Sigel and Scarface). All spitters. This song is crazy good.
And the song it sampled is a classic.
Let’s do one more before we get into current music and sampling. One of my favorites, more of a flow-mimic, is Vybz Kartel doing a rendition of Busta from his song Dangerous.
Reminder –
Rendition –
These two are friends, so I’m sure this was a magical moment between them. Alright, let’s do some modern-day chunes. My boy texted me one day to tell me that an Afrobeats artist, Rema, sampled a Sade song, and my gut reaction was to throw my guard up. Pure defense mode. NO. Let Sade’s songs live as-is. Here is a snippet of the conversation –
Will Sade’s Is It A Crime (original) always be a better song? Yes. But this is well done –
A final example (sample) that was very well done.
(Original) Ja Rule ft. Charlie Baltimore x Down Ass B****
Lady London ft. Capella Grey x Act Like You Know (just the beat, really)
Music appreciation.
That’s what it all boils down to, really. Barring outright theft (songs, flows, etc.), of course. When people are infatuated with great music, they pay homage to it.
It may look like this –
Chills. Wow.
Or it may look like this –
The best at this craft have a deep appreciation for music in a way that allows them to pull from east, west, north, and south. They make today-magic from yesterday-magic.
However it’s made, good music does something special to the soul. Whether it’s a riff, a remix, a rendition, or a one-for-one (I like my term!), let’s give great music our ears. Always. Dropping this on Friday so you spend the weekend engulfed in sounds.
And with that, my favorite Sade song (yes, this is my excuse to close with Sade).
