Speaking of detectives, The #1 Ladies Detective Agency, starring the beautiful songstress Jill Scott premiered yesterday on HBO. I haven't had a chance to watch it but reviews have been for the most part, overwhelmingly positive.
With one of my favorite and most played albums of 2008 under his belt, Raphael Saadiq continues to charm me every chance he gets. His live show remains no exception. I mean, how much are you loving on those oldschool glasses, that suit, sycnchronized hand claps, and that gorgeous smile? Raphael's shows are no stranger to being "souled out."
"When I sample something, it's because there's something ingenious about it. And if it isn't the group as a whole, it's that song. Or, even if it isn't the song as a whole, it's a genius moment, or an accident or something that makes it just utterly unique to the other trillions of hours of records that I've plowed through." - DJ Shadow
They say mimicry is the truest form of flattery. But in the music business, is it just stealing?
It's no secret that artists have been biting off each other for years. When your work is constantly influenced by what you listen to, and your creativity is molded by those who taught you the craft, how much originality is available? One of the simplest (and maybe more acceptable) forms of stealing/sharing is sampling. We can pinpoint sampling practices back to 1961 when James Tenney used state of the art technology, or tape recorder manipulation, to sample Elvis's "Blue Suede Shoes."From the harmless to the overtly obvious (Vanilla Ice still defends his distinction from Queen's "Under Pressure" with a straight face), sampling remains a huge part of the music business today - particularily in hip hop culture. There are enough legal issues involved to make my head spin. An artist can obtain a license to utilize a physical sound recording that doesn't belong to them (as the Beastie Boys did for their sample of James Newton in "Pass the Mic") but the artist still must clear the use of the song. If lyrics and music are involved in the sample, that complicates matters further. Ludacris, Kanye West, the Beastie Boys, and several other big names have all been involved in legal disputes over these issues.
Let's take a look at some famous samples, as well as some other ones I've scoped out recently.
The Track: MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This Samples From: Rick James - Superfreak
The Track: 2 Pac - California Love (Remix) Samples From: Joe Cocker - Woman to Woman
The Track: Notorious B.I.G. ft. Puff Daddy & Mase - Mo Money, Mo Problems Samples From: Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
The Track:Beastie Boys - Egg Man [mp3] Samples From: Public Enemy, Curits Mayfield, Funkadelic, Lightning Rod, Kool & The Gang, and Tower of Power. Thematic use of scores/sound clips from Jaws, Cape Fear, Psycho, E.T./Aliens (Still unclear whether Drew Barrymore's character screams or Newt). Sidenote: Beastie Boys, Paul's Boutique There are so many samples on this album it's insane. There's even a website dedicated to their enumeration. In the eighties, there was nothing Adam, Mike D, and Ad Rock considered sacred. They sampled lots of Led Zepplin, The Eagles, and everyone else under the sun.
The Track: MIA - Paper Planes Samples From: The Clash - Straight to Hell
The Track: Common - The Light Samples From: Bobby Caldwell - Open Your Eyes
The Track: Wale ft. Lady Gaga - Chillin' Samples From: Steam - Na Na, Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye
I haven't definitivly made up my mind about the practice of sampling. It obviously serves to create some of the catchiest, most dance-riling tunes I know. And yet, there's something to be sad for originality, if it still exists organically. I love the lead-in quote from DJ Shadow, because I think it highlights the best intentions of sampling. That would be the creative elaboration or transformation of another person's most genius moment, even accidental ones. Maybe it's a little hippie-ish (communist?) of me to believe there are such altruistic movements behind sampling, or maybe it's the kind of optimism we need. To believe we can live in a world where art is free for everyone to access, expand, customize, and send on it's way for the next alteration or labor of love.
I meant to post about this one awhile ago, but Wes Craven's attempt at remaking HIS OWN film, the 1972 horror classic The Last House on the Left, didn't signal my urgency button. No doubt the scare master had his day (1984's Nightmare on Elm Street and the 1977 original TheHills Have Eyes), but recently fans seem to be fleeing from his movies based on an entirely new type of fear: mediocrity. Dracula 2000, Pulse, and even the wearing thin Scream trilogy - soon to be quadrilogy - have knocked the writer/director/producer down a peg or two on the credibility front. It's preciscely because Craven is so brilliant, and set the bar high with his early work that his fans deserve better. New ideas, or even creative expansion would vastly superceed the pumping of existing work for all the commercial success possible. Did I mention he's also remaking Nightmare on Elm Street next year?
I probably will never see his latest remake, and yet the trailer did intrigue me. Knowing the premise of the movie of course helps, but even newcomers will be unnerved by the haunting perfection of Taken By Tree's cover of Guns n' Roses "Sweet Child of Mine" used as background.
Taken By Trees' toned-down ode to parenting is paired so well with images of "normal, sane" parents going to extremes to avenge the actrocities inflicted on their child, how could any movie be better than these 2 minutes and thirty seconds?
A new Flight of the Conchords track is available for free through an Amazon mp3 sampler! "Hurt Feelings" is an ode to rapper's misunderstood, sensitive side. And I couldn't be loving on it more. Even if you think musical comedy - much like the movie Memento - is never as good the second time around, you can still appreciate this one once. Besides, the impending doom of the series after only two seasons has a way of turning semi-rare stones into precious gems.
Have you ever been told your ass is too big? Have you been asked if your hair is wig? Have you ever been told you were mediocre in bed? Have you ever been told you've got a weird shaped head? Has your family forgotton you and driven away? Once again, they forgot about J... Have you ever been called homo cause in school you took drama? Have you ever been told that you look like a llama?
Or my favorite... It's my birthday 2003 Waiting for a call from my family (Uncomfortable pause) They forgot about me ...The day after my birthday is not my birthday mom
Now I need to go watch Sixteen Candles and listen to The Dynasty, LtK
The wild beats of Angolan Kuduro music has been big in Lisbon clubs since the late 90s and Buraka Som Sistema - AKA Lil' John, Riot and Conductor – have fused it with 21st century electronics to create a whole new sound. Now this electro ghettotech take on their favourite South West African music has is quickening and corrupting dancefloors all over the world on the basis of an EP with sounds not many have heard before.
Lil John and Riot began making music together in their teens, but the core of Buraka Som Sistema formed when the two began working with Angolan producer, Conductor, who brought along an extensive knowledge of Kuduro music to the equation. The three draw influences from the music of their youth and culture, fusing it with the inspiration taken from music genres as diverse as techno, drum’n’bass, hip hop and dance music. A revolving cast of talents complete the picture for Buraka, including guest vocals from Petty, M.I.A., Pongolove, Kalaf, Nolay and DJ Znobia.
Crazy Corrupt Dancing! Pay close attention around 1:04, then to the kid @ 1:14, and the whole series of moves busted after 3:30
Their CD, Black Diamond may only be available in the UK right now, but these guys are still killing it. Like a boss. And yours truly is going to see BSS live @ Nectar on April 25th!
Just a few words honored guests... MP3s or MP3 links are posted for sampling purposes only, and therefore are only available for a limited time. If anyone needs a link removed, email me at lcruz09@cmc.edu, and I will remove it immediately.
If you like what you hear on Umbrellas, I encourage you to support these worship-worthy artists by buying their tunes, merch, and all-out stalking them if a restraining order should not prevent you.
If you are in a band, or represent an artist looking to get a little free hype/promotion, feel free to e-mail me your tracks as well. I'm all ears.
From the harmless to the overtly obvious (Vanilla Ice still defends his distinction from Queen's "Under Pressure" with a straight face), sampling remains a huge part of the music business today - particularily in hip hop culture. There are enough legal issues involved to make my head spin. An artist can obtain a license to utilize a physical sound recording that doesn't belong to them (as the Beastie Boys did for their sample of James Newton in "Pass the Mic") but the artist still must clear the use of the song. If lyrics and music are involved in the sample, that complicates matters further. Ludacris, Kanye West, the Beastie Boys, and several other big names have all been involved in legal disputes over these issues.
I meant to post about this one awhile ago, but Wes Craven's attempt at remaking HIS OWN film, the 1972 horror classic The Last House on the Left, didn't signal my urgency button. No doubt the scare master had his day (1984's Nightmare on Elm Street and the 1977 original The Hills Have Eyes), but recently fans seem to be fleeing from his movies based on an entirely new type of fear: mediocrity. Dracula 2000, Pulse, and even the wearing thin Scream trilogy - soon to be quadrilogy - have knocked the writer/director/producer down a peg or two on the credibility front. It's preciscely because Craven is so brilliant, and set the bar high with his early work that his fans deserve better. New ideas, or even creative expansion would vastly superceed the pumping of existing work for all the commercial success possible. Did I mention he's also remaking Nightmare on Elm Street next year?
... About Buraka Som Sistema. In their own words:
