O’s Track Of The Week (Christmas & New Years Special): James Brown – Funky Drummer

I can’t stress enough how much James Brown means to me.

Every since the first time I got a hold of my Dad’s Sex Machine: The Bery Best Of James Brown, I’ve been playing his music non-stop since I was a kid. It’s only until my Dad got me this legendary box set called Star Time that I officially became a stan.

Almost five hours of that compilation and I’m cherry picking my favourite tracks, which is like 15. I wish I could do a James Brown Track Of The Week in replacement for O’s Track Of The Week, but that wouldn’t be fair would it?

Now, one of the cheery picks so happen to be arguably the most important song for hip hop music – the Funky Drummer.

With Star Time, I grew up with the 7 minute version. But now that I’ve got James Brown’s entire discography, I now have 3 versions: The 7 minute version on Star Time, the 9 minute version on In The Jungle Groove and the bonus reprise beat with the legendary drum break.

It’s a James Brown record and he produced this track. But let’s not forgot the man who blessed us with the legendary drum break, which has been the most sampled sample in hip hop history: Clyde Stubblefield.

According to WhoSampled, Funky Drummer has been sampled 946 times.

According to my last.fm account, I’ve played Funky Drummer 315 times.

When I have children, no doubt I will be giving them the best of James Brown. This man’s name should may as well be a genre for music.

I hope all of you enjoyed your Christmas, and I wish you guys a happy new year.

R.I.P. James Brown!

O’s Track Of The Week: Elzhi – Guessing Game

I found it so difficult to choose an Elzhi song.

The guy has a library of dope verses/songs, it’s just so hard to choose JUST ONE.

And the most puzzling thing is, his last album was in 2008, The Preface. Since then, he’s been doing some pretty good guest verses and a stellar mixtape dedicated to Illmatic (it just HAD to be Elzhi – he’s in my top five!!).

The concept of this song is amazing. Elzhi explains the guessing game in the hook:

I welcome y’all to the introduction
To learn how to play here’s the instructions
A couple rules to show you how the game function
Yo, I’m a take a double, take a double syllable
And split it down the middle so it’s no longer even
The first half stay, the last half leaving
So now the end of the line sound deceiving
So figure out the word that match before I change the meaning

Some syllables were predictable yes. But if this guessing game was an exam, I would’ve failed miserably.

This song is just one of many examples as to why I rate Elzhi so highly.

Seriously, when are Black Milk and Elzhi gonna collaborate again?

O’s Track Of The Week: Jaheim – Fabulous

This song is amazing.

I heard this song around the time I used to watch MTV Base videos back to back with my sister.

So whenever this song came on, I don’t remember me or my sister flipping the channel for another music video to watch.

The original song is great and all, but let’s not forget the Diplomat Remix with Cam’ron and Juelz Santana that was equally just as good.

The original sample is Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. And because of this sample, I just recently started checking out all the producers that used the same sample, wasting 20 minutes of my life.

But it was worth it.

I think.

O’s Track Of The Week: Blue – All Rise

LISTEN.

I remember listening to this song thinking it was corny AF. But with a few more plays here and there, I realised that it’s such a great song. And now it’s a song that just gets me amped.

Proof? I memorised Simon’s rap verse without looking at lyrics.

This was a close one this week because I was thinking of having Fly By as track of the week. But, nah.

http://youtu.be/RkWQDDv_qdg

O’s Track Of The Week: Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood (Ed Case Refix)

NOTE: The refix/remix typo is NOT a mistake. It’s the official name of the remix.

I remember posting the original single some time last year as my track of the week, but we mustn’t forget the remix that Ed Case release that is equally as good.

I was listening to my favourite tracks and this particular song just came up on the shuffle whilst I was reading.

 

O’s Track Of The Week: MC Eiht – Streiht Up Menace

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged.

I’m back.

Yeah. GTA V, as well as GTA San Andreas, is the reason why I’m starting to listen to more Compton’s Most Wanted.

I listened to the West Coast Classics radio on GTA V and I came across this track.

Loved it on the first listen.

This track can also be found on the Menace II Society OST.

Here’s the track:

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In a bit.

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease.

O’s Track Of The Week: Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood feat. Del the Funky Homosapien

This track is an undeniable classic!

The one thing I really love about the Gorillaz is that they represent themselves as a virtual band.

If I was to ever get into the music game, this is how I would represent myself.

Ever since I played this song when it esd released in 2001, it was always gonna going to stick in my head.

Even the Ed Case remix is a classic:

Oh by the way, Del the Funky Homosapien is probably the best rap name ever. Either that or Killaman Twice.

Here’s the music video:

NO SAMPLES WERE USED!

Add that to the list of why this song is so awesome.

 

TRACK OF THE WEEK RUNNERS UP:

Mario feat Nicki Minaj – Somebody Else

Jay-Z – Dynasty Intro

J. Cole feat Nas – Let Nas Down (Remix)

 

 

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In a bit.

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease.

O’s Track Of The Week: B. Smyth – Win Win ft Future (Prod. Mike WiLL Made It)

I’m so glad I came across this track randomly.

I was scrolling through the new singles on HipHopDX searching for artists that I’ve never heard before.

This B. Smyth dude had like the fewest plays. And it’s shocking because it features Future (who’s one of the hottest rappers right now) and it’s produced by Mike WiLL of all producers.

Played it.

“Woah”, I said.

Played it again.

“WHO IS THIS DUDE?!”, I said.

I seriously hope this guy blows up because the kid is talented.

Here’s the track:

Original sample: I HAVE NO IDEA

TRACK OF THE WEEK RUNNERS UP:

Mario feat Nicki Minaj – Somebody Else

Mobb Deep – Bloodsport

Kanye West – Celebration

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In a bit.

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease.

O’s Track Of The Week: Ludacris – Splash Waterfalls (Remix) ft Raphael Saadiq & Sandy Coffee

Mate.

I’ve been playing this track since my cousin put the remix on a mix CD back in 2004.

It was on track 10.

The first minute of the original was ok. But when the remix blessed my ears, I was reloading this song like CRAZY.

Icedrake couldn’t have made the beat ANY better.

Nine years later, it’s still my favourite Ludacris song.

Here’s the track, right after 1:08:

And BECAUSE of the beat, I instantly fell in love with the original sample. And with that, I became a Raphael Saadiq fan.

Original sample: Tony! Toni! Tone! – Whatever You Want

TRACK OF THE WEEK RUNNERS UP:

DJ Jazzy Jeff – How I Do

DJ Dee Kline – I Don’t Smoke

L.O.X. – Wild Out

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In a bit.

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease.

O’s Track Of The Week: Fatboy Slim – Gangster Trippin

I’ve been taking a lot of throwback moments from other genres of music in the past week.

But there was one track that was getting reloaded like crazy in the gym.

That song is Gangster Trippin by big beat guru: Fat. Boy. Slim.

When I played this during my gym session, it felt like I was given steroids to continue as if my muscles weren’t aching at all.

Here’s the track:

There were multiple samples in this song, but here’s the OBVIOUS one.

Original sample: Ann Robinson – You Did It

(Sample appears at 0:05)

Other samples:

James Young and The House Wreckers – Barkin’ Up The Wrong Tree

Sugarhill Gang – 8th Wonder

The Treacherous Three – Feel the Heartbeat

T La Rock – It’s Yours

DJ Shadow – Entropy

X-Ecutioners – The Turntablist Anthem

Dust Junkys – Beatbox Wash

X-Ecutioners – Word Play

TRACK OF THE WEEK RUNNERS UP:

Jay-Z – A Million And One Questions

Angel Haze – Loficries

Chance The Rapper ft Ab-Soul – Smoke Again

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In a bit.

Love, Peace & Chicken Grease.