R.I.P. Baseline Studios…

Another pillar of New York Hip Hop has been torn down.  Just Blaze’s Baseline studios officially closed up for good last week.  Over the years, a whole bunch of classic records and big hits were recorded over there.  R.I.P.

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Scorpio61’s Sample mix #55!

Here is is… chapter #55 of the legendary Scorpio61 Sample Mixes… Enjoy, be careful not to overdose on Hip Hop samples.

Scorpio61’s Sample mix #55!

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Having Hip Hop Sample Withdrawl? Scorpio61 is back to cure your ills!

Scorpio61 is back with another great mix of music from around the world for your listening pleasure…  We present to you Scorpio’s 54th mix!  #55 to follow very shortly!

Scorpio61 Sample Mixes

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Only the Good Die Young / R.I.P. Teddy Pendergrass by Frost Gamble

Editorial Note:  Sorry for the lateness on this, I thought I had published it already (jim)

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Only the Good Die Young / R.I.P. Teddy Pendergrass by Frost Gamble

The past year or so looks something like this…

Issac Hayes – dead at 65
Mr. Magic – dead at 53
Bernie Mac – dead at 51
Michael Jackson – dead at 50
Derek B – dead at 44
Baatin of Slum Village – dead at 35
Teddy Pendergrass – dead at 59

And – Pat Robertson’s retarded fire-and brimstone ass is alive and well at the age of 79.

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

__________

Teddy Pendergrass accomplished so much as a singer and songwriter, and as a lead (and one-time drummer) for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, plus as a successful solo artist over a dozen albums deep.

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Hip Hop Samples 101: “Ice Cream” – Raekwon (produced by Rza)

I used to be one of those guys back in the day… One of those guys that would try to find every Wu Tang used sample under the sun.  A Wu Tang sample nerd, if you may.  It’s been brought to my attention that one of the greatest “unknown” Wu samples ever has been rediscovered.   The sample is from the absolutely classic Raekwon track “Ice Cream” and is in my humble opinion one of the top 10 Hip Hop beats ever…

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The original sample is Earl Klugh’s “A Time For Love”.  Just wait for it…

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Now if we can figure out what Rza sampled for “Glaciers Of Ice”, the Wu Tang sample nerds may be able to finally rest.

Bonus Tidbit:  The vocals on the “Ice Cream” beat are from Wu songstress Blu Raspberry.  Rza sampled her singing and sped it up for the track.

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Deep Vinyl #2: The JB’s – Food For Thought By Frost Gamble

James Brown’s importance to hip-hop is well documented, and his catalogue consists of endless loops and snippets that have been used by producers from day one. Naturally, the albums that were recorded by his backing band, The JB’s, are bringing the exact same funk. The lineup of this team changed over the years, but with members like Bootsy Collins, Bobby Byrd, Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker in and out the mix; you can’t go wrong. Hell, as these cats went on to have solo albums full of samples too!

The JBs released their full-length debut. Food For Thought, in 1972. This wax has been absolutely pillaged by hip-hop producers, the quality of the grooves on this joint are tough to match. If you need to sample funky horns, this is a must-own.

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Producer Psychology 101: Avoiding “Fu@# You Syndrome” & Taking Losses Like A Man! by Jim Bond

Hi.  My name is Jim.  I used to write for this blog way back in the day.  Since my last post*, I have found a new calling.  I am officially an internet marketing nerd.  My goal is figuring out how to make a modest amount of  money online in a completely passive manner.   I have been focusing ALL of my time toward it the last couple months…

What this nonsense has to do with Being A Better Producer…

I recently took my first big loss in internet marketing (read about it here).  While reflecting on it, it reminded me about the losses I took while trying to break into the music biz, how I reacted to them and how I see others react to their own losses.  So I decided to delve into the psychological aspects of success and failure in the music biz…

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How To Finally Keep Your New Years Resolutions… by Jim Bond

Happy New Year/Decade to everyone out there.  I hope you all had a great time last night.  Now that we are officially into 2010, I have officially been producing & beat making for a good ten years.  Over those years I have hear a lot of people, including many of my fellow producers & beat makers, make New Years resolutions that they just could not keep.  Making New Years resolutions that you will not keep is a fine tradition, but I think we need to rework how we think about New Years resolutions.  Now it’s time to get FOCUSED…

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Derek B – R.I.P. by Frost Gamble

I am definitely tired of hip-hop legends passing away too young.

Derek B (aka EZ-Q) was the first British rapper to make noise in the U.S., first with his single “Rock the Beat” and later with the LP Bullet From a Gun. A multi-talented artist, he rapped, produced and DJ’d; covering all the duties on his Profile debut (in the late 80’s, I wisely bought anything that came out on Profile). He made a little noise with this release and then seemed to play the background, continuing to work as a producer and remixer. Derek B’s not going to be on many top 10 lists, but he definitely had skills and dropped a solid album. I mean, dude was featured on Mr. Magic’s (umm, also RIP… case in point) Rap Attack Volume 1 – it can’t get more official than that! I hope his passing will receive more reflection in the UK than it will probably get in the States. In honor of the man and his music; let’s break down the samples he used on a few of his tracks…

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The Break Down #1: Detroit Emeralds – “You’re Getting a Little Too Smart” By Frost Gamble

“The Break Down” analyzes classic breaks and how they were used in Hip Hop over the years.  We also

During hip-hop’s golden years, a producer wasn’t judged by how many plug-ins, rack modules or keyboards he had – it was all about having a deep record collection to sample from. Drum breaks were of particular importance as the foundation for countless classics. In this series, I’ll look back at important drum breaks and how they were used by producers and artists over the last 20 years.

The Detroit Emeralds began as a vocal group, consisting of four brothers from Little Rock, AR – but by the time their 1973 Album I’m In Love With You dropped – they were down to two brothers, Ivory and Abrim Tilmon, plus band mate James Mitchell. The album’s cover makes it easily recognizable – emerald green border, emerald green suits – it looks something like a funky box of Lucky Charms. And Side A, Track 3 gives us one of the most recognizable drum breaks of all time. You’re Getting… hasn’t been used as much as say, Impeach the President or Amen, but the crisp snare, clean kick and open hi hat featured in the first four bars have been the basis for several great hip-hop songs.

The Detroit Emeralds – You’re Getting A Little Too Smart

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