I've learned a few things over the last 17 years of blogging. I've kept notes on which artists elicit the most activity, as well as which artists are met with near silence. I can tell you, there aren't very many Burning Wood readers who are fans of the Beastie Boys. The Beastie Boys, not to mention hip-hop in general, actually make a few of you angry.
I have been a fan of the Beastie Boys since day one, and I believe their first four records are true works of art, especially "Paul's Boutique," which by the way, is another example of a second record that is better than the first.
While listening to "Paul's Boutique" this week, and once again getting blown away by the genius use of sampling, an idea came to me. In the second song alone, which is "Shake Your Rump," there are no less than 15 songs sampled. And while you can holler all you want about how this isn't songwriting, or even take it as far as saying it isn't "music," I would say that it is absolutely music, and there is definitely room for this kind of music among all of the "junes" and "moons" and the "jealouses" and "as well ases."
(Sorry, didn't mean to spray the screen.)
What the Beasties and their producers The Dust Brothers do on this record is not the same thing as your pop star du jour singing an entire song over the sample of a Marvin Gaye tune. This record is an intricate puzzle, with occasionally breathtaking cutting and pasting. It's not only knowing when and where to place a beat or a phrase, it also takes a deep knowledge of music so that you have all of your pieces right there at your disposal. Furthermore, it's a whole lotta fun!
But I digress.
Do I love all hip-hop? To quote Ralph Kramden, "No sir sir sir!" But I do love what I love. I respect the purpose of the genre and how the tracks are put together. I'll take the brilliant silliness of the Beasties over the often ham-handed, profanity-laced, misogynistic freestyling while the same single note beeps away to a cheap drum track for four minutes anyday.
That being said, I am not here to cause a stir or to attempt to change your minds about the Beasties or the genre. I get it. Hip-hop is not for everyone. But I am here to share a mix that features all of the songs that were sampled in "Shake Your Rump." And if you make it through the mix, and find that you enjoyed what you heard, you can listen to the Beastie Boys' "Shake Your Rump," the song that inspired the idea, right below. Maybe you'll have some fun listening for the Beasties dazzling placement of the songs you just heard.
Or, I can just go fuck myself again.
:)
I hope this interests at least a few of you.
TRACKLIST
Funky Snakefoot- Alphonse Mouzon
Super Mellow- Louis Bellson, Shelly Manne, Willie Bobo & Paul Humphrey
Tell Me Something Good- Ronnie Laws
6 O'Clock DJ (Let's Rock)- Rose Royce
Born To Love You- Rose Royce
Jazz Sensation (Bronx Version)- Afrika Bambaataa & The Jazzy 5
Yo Yo- Rose Royce
Dancing Room Only- Harvey Scales
That's The Joint- Funky 4+1
Get Off- Foxy
8th Wonder- Sugarhill Gang
Unity Pt. 2 - Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown
Rock The House- The B-Boys
One Score & Four Drummers Ago- Louis Bellson, Shelly Manne, Willie Bobo & Paul Humphrey
Put The Boogie In Your Body- The Treacherous Three