Honky Talk Rules – Public Enemy – Off their brand new album, this is Chuck D mad about the appropriation of black music by white artists who have made a fortune of it. How on earth did he get Jagger to sign off on the sample? – B
‘Where does it come from bro? And what’s fueling it ok? In [1989] it was used sparingly in small circles, now it’s mainstream. Why? … You saying black folk pinned it on themselves out of nowhere dude?’
I’ve decided to jump into the game with my own somewhat random A+ list, the first being focused on ‘90s rap. Two things to remember. One, this is not an attempt at an all-inclusive list. Two, money talks, but it don’t sign and dance and it don’t walk.
Walk Right Back – The Everly Brothers – Love them close harmonies, you can hear what Lennon and McCartney were listening to, and the background lick is very good -it moves right along, the lyric is sticky but the chorus, really the last four lines of the verse, is elastoplast.
Chuck D wants a national holiday for MLK and will win this one: “Talking MLK, gonna find a way Make the state pay, I’m looking for the day” from 2002 and still an accurate reminder why Hip Hops golden age is over because that should be enough for any song except PE were going after the anti-immigrant Arizona bill as well – A-
Wow, this has aged well… actually this has improved, The Steve Stills sample is superb and PE’s target, the corrupt and corrupting world of basketball (Biggie connected it to selling crack some 20 years ago) is a dangerous target… great movie as well – A
