Don't Change Your Love

The first time I recognized the drums in the song I was in 2nd grade and I heard Naughty by Natures', "Hip Hop Hooray". I didn't know too much about hip hop and sampling then, all I knew was that that snare drum sounded amazing. This easily recognizable break has been used by almost everyone; Big Daddy Kane, Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, De la Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and the list goes on. Five Stairsteps are a pretty solid band in their own right, other than this song, you've probably heard the songs "Oooh Baby, Baby" and "O-o-h Child". This song, written and produced by Curtis Mayfield, starts off with the break and leads into lush production complete with full horn line and strings. Other than the break, I think my favorite things about this song have to be the bassline and the bridge with the horn solo. I read somewhere that James Gadson from Charles Wrights band played on "O-o-h Child" and possibly this song but when I researched it, I couldn't find anything to confirm this. Either way, whoever played drums on this track has a monster left hand.
Don't Change Your Love

James Brown

This post is dedicated to James Brown. Though his personality and character are often questioned, (namely for his drug addiction, underpaying and even fining his band and beating his wife) there is no denying the quality of his body of work. From his early soul balads to his deep funk, his work has proved to be some of the most timeless music ever written. He is probably one of the most sampled artists of all time and one of the founders of the hip hope movement. Even the acts that he produced have created some of the most memorable music and samples of the 60's and early 70's, namely Lyn Collins' "Think", Marva Whitney's "It's my Thing" and "Unwind Yourself". There is not enough I can say about his music, and if you've only heard the hits, I would definately check out his heavier funk numbers, they are probably his best work. Linked is what I consider one of his best songs "Get up, get into it, get involved". I hope everyone realizes how important he was and what an incredible legacy he left behind. Check out this month's Wax Poetics magazine for more info on JB.

Get up, Get into it, Get Involved pt. 1