Help Better Someone’s Life By Going To A Concert…

Jimi Kedrix is one of the truly good people in the music industry.  So much so, that being around him and seeing what he has done and does (outside of producing big records) automatically makes you feel like you aren’t doing enough for people that need help…

Jimi is currently working together with  Engaging Achievement who help inner city middle school students visit college campuses and support them as they work towards attending said colleges.  Jimi has organized the “Brooklyn Live Benefit”, a concert taking place in Brooklyn NY whose proceeds will go towards Engaging Achievement’s initiatives.  Check out the flier below and show some love and support!

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The Break Down #2: Love – Doggone – by Frost Gamble

Some drumbreaks, like Impeach*  or Amen** , have been used on hundreds of records to the point where even the casual fan can recognize the original track.   Others, like Love’s Doggone, may have been used by far fewer producers – but still be every bit as sick.

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Love was an influential psych rock band active in the late 60s / early 70s.   They experienced a small degree of commercial success, but inspired a number of successful bands yet to come.   By the time their 1969 album Out Here was released, their line up had changed completely, and their sound had evolved to a more experimental, wide-ranging sound.

This break seems to have gone mostly unnoticed for the 80s (collectors were mostly buying funk records?) and had a couple uses in the 90s – but when Kanye West picked it up and dusted it off, people took notice again.   Clocking in at 12 minutes long, Doggone features a 9 minute drum solo by George Suranovich that provides lots of sample opportunities:

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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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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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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