Mos Def - Ms Fat Booty (Aretha Franklin Blend)

I did this one back in 1996 for Mercury Records. The Fugees were signed to Sony Music, but had contributed a track to an upcoming Mercury Records film soundtrack called, "When We Were Kings". The film is about an historic boxing event in 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire, Africa. It pitted the undefeated world heavyweight champion George Foreman against challenger Muhammad Ali. This remix uses samples of Muhammad Ali quotes at the intro - I did another 'Extended Mix' that used more quotes throughout. When I find the DAT I will convert & upload it :).

The key to getting this one right is initial ARRANGEMENT. 
The Radio Promotions guy at Mercury Records came to me asking my advice about a Fugees track that was getting no love at radio (as a promotional/preview copy). It was too long (just over 5 minutes) and it didn't have a proper hook - like a 'pop' radio record usually does. Sony tried to block Mercury from releasing it as a single, as The Fugees had just blown up with their breakout cover of "Killing Me Softly". Since Sony had no rights to the track, Mercury were free to use however they wanted. The only trouble was that radio wasn't in love with it in its current form.... 

I went back to the vocals. Laid them out, edited verses from  the various featured rappers, clipped into a SONG FORMAT... i.e. Verse, Bridge, Chorus, Verse, Bridge, Chorus, MIddle 8 etc. I utilised a Lauryn HIll  sung line (Juice Newton's "Angel In The Morning") as the chorus hook - copied & pasted that. The music/bassline sample that creeps in and out of the track was lifted from ABBA's "The Name of the Game". I always thought it was odd that no-one had sampled the Swedish super group before. Turns out, there was a good reason... 

ABBA members/writers, Björn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson, flatly refuse clearance for samples, no matter who you are. In this rare case, they loved how the music was used and agreed worldwide clearance. This was a first back in 1996. It wasn't until 2005 that they allowed another ABBA sample to be used - "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" for Madonna's "Hung Up". The producer and creator of that single is also (coincidentally) a British guy - Stuart Price aka Thin White Duke, Jacques Lu Cont, Les Rythmes Digitales. 

So, here's how it turned out... Ali intro/background chant/LH singing the build "blocks on fire".. C'mon! > kick straight in with the ABBA groove; cut straight to main chorus hook - Lauryn Hill singing "Angel In The Morning" - you have to grab radio DJs & show producers ears immediately; follow with clipped raps from Wyclef Jean, Q-Tip, Lauryn Hill; then into the "Blocks on fire" sung bridge; back into the "Angel In The Morning" sung chorus; Verse 2 is spliced from raps by Pras and (saving the maddest for last) Busta Rhymes; bridge, chorus/bridge to fade. DONE! Result: #.3 on the UK Singles Chart and minor, but significant, hit in the USA. The down side for me was that I didn't get a proper 'printed' credit on the retail CD. I've seen it labelled as UK Mix, European Remix, Radio Edit etc. I was gutted at the time, but I was just a kid and I wasn't as business savvy at that stage of my career.

When I listen to it now, I realise how brutal the vocal cuts were. Some not subtle at all. The audio quality sounds a bit rough N ready/wooly. I wouldn't do it in quite the same way now. But, that's the thing of it. You do what you think is right at the time. Shout out to the tracks' original producers - Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean. Mix engineer - Warren Riker and Executive Producer – David Sonenberg.

The Fugees ft. Q-Tip & Busta Rhymes - Rumble In The Jungle [Mendis Radio Mix]

Eric Sermon feat Marvin gaye rmx

The ambitious new project from Amerigo Gazaway is finally here, featuring mashups from both Mos Def and Marvin Gaye's expansive catalogues

Mos Def(Yasiin Bey) &  Marvin Gaye  - Peculiar Mathematics (Yasiin Gaye The MiTape)

'Modern Vintage' drops 6/17/14!

Pre-order links:
itunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/modern-vintage/id880797224


physical CD & LP (included DL card):

http://ughh.com/store/results.asp?searchby=All&keywords=modern+vintage&searchTarget=store&x=0&y=0



Modern Vintage is the new collaboration album from veteran emcee John Robinson (aka Lil Sci of world renown Hip-Hop group Scienz Of Life) and prolific drummer, composer, producer and band-leader Pat Van Dkye (aka PVD). John Robinson and PVD originally met at a show in 2008 and since then their chemistry has grown organically and has developed into the duo performing many formal shows together at venues like SOB’s, Blue Note NYC, LPR and others around the NY-NJ Tristate area. 

Modern Vintage spells out the approach in which this album was made from front to back: The music was composed with a combination of modern technology software mixed with vintage synths and outboard gear, all blended seamlessly with live instrumentation being the foundation. The lyrics and concepts were all spontaneously crafted in the studio, session by session, by letting the soundscapes speak to the lyricist similar to how vintage recordings of the 60’s & 70’s were created. 

“I took a much more structured songwriting approach to the lyrics on this album; my goal from the beginning of making this record was to take advantage of the fact that I am working with PVD- a composer/musician and not just a beat maker/producer, which definitely makes this record different from my other releases. This one is for all the true music lovers worldwide” says John Robinson. 

PVD states “making this record was a dream come true. From the very first session, we set out to craft quality songs that capture a cohesive vibe and feel good. In many cases, JR was writing to merely a sketch of what actually ended up on the record. It felt great to work with an artist who trusted me enough to lend his talents to the music not knowing where I would take it sonically. Live drums, keys, guitars, horns, and synths give this record a distinctly human feel that is present in all of my favorite records, old and new. A modern-day true Hip-Hop record, grounded firmly in the traditions of jazz, funk, and soul music.”

John Robinson & PVD’s Modern Vintage is now transmitting live to the world; catch the vibes on June 17th, 2014 via Brick Records. 

Tracklisting For John Robinson & PVD’s ‘Modern Vintage’:

CD Tracklisting:

1. Mic Check
 2. All of the World
 3. Respect King
 4. Choose Your Words Wisely (feat: Melinda Camille)
 5. Two Man Mob (feat: Sadat X and I.D. 4 Windz)
 6. What’s The Point? (feat: Melinda Camille & Sam Barsh)
 7. Off The Wall
 8. This Is Art
 9. Miles & Trane
 10. Live Golden
 11. Vinyl Is Forever (feat: El Da Sensei & Shabaam Sahdeeq)
 12. 10/11/12
 13. Know My Style
 14. We Rock
 15. Together We Are (feat Arin Maya)
 16. Kiss The Sky (feat: Melinda Camille)
 17. Full Circle

LP Tracklisting: (The LP includes a DL card of CD version of the audio)

Side A:
 1. Mic Check
 2. All of the World
 3. Respect King
 4. Choose Your Words Wisely (feat: Melinda Camille)
 5. Two Man Mob (feat: Sadat X and I.D. 4 Windz)
 6. What’s The Point? (feat: Melinda Camille & Sam Barsh)
 7. Off The Wall
 8. This Is Art

Side B
 9. Miles & Trane
 10. Live Golden
 11. Vinyl Is Forever (feat: El Da Sensei & Shabaam Sahdeeq)
 12. 10/11/12
 13. Know My Style
 14. Together We Are (feat Arin Maya)
 15. Kiss The Sky (feat: Melinda Camille)
 16. Full Circle

www.twitter.com/whoisjr

www.thejohnrobinsonproject.com

https://www.facebook.com/johnsci.robinson

www.instagram.com/whoisjr

http://brickrecords.com/

https://twitter.com/BrickRecords96


3. Respect King

Download here: https://amerigo.bandcamp.com/album/the-big-payback-vol-3-j-b-the-soul-mates

1. Bob Brown = James Brown x Bob Marley
2. Busta Brown = James Brown x Busta Rhymes
3. The Notorious J.B.'s = James Brown x The Notorious B.I.G.
4. Mobb Brown = James Brown x Mobb Deep 
5. Fela Brown = James Brown x Fela Kuti (feat Jeru The Damaja)
6. Jackson Brown - James Brown x Michael Jackson
7. The Illmatics = Nas x The Dramatics (feat. James Brown)

This time around, Amerigo takes on James Brown in The Big Payback Vol lll. In the third and latest offering from "The Big Payback" summer mix series, the producer follows the exceptionally awesome first and second volumes from the legendary DJ Scratch and master craftsman, J. Period.  

Bringing together a fantasy league of all-stars for his "J.B. and The Soul Mates" tribute concept, the producer's latest offers an alternative to the sometimes uninspired, profit-driven, posthumously released albums. 

With guest appearances from Bob Marley, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Fela Kuti, The Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep, and more, Amerigo pays tribute to the God Father of Soul with a re-imagined set of co-conspirators.

"I'm not sure any other artist has left their imprint on popular music, especially across so many genres, as much as James Brown has.  With as many of today's hit songs that were built around some sort of James Brown flip, it's almost like he had a say in what the music of future generations would sound like without even knowing it." 

Stream The Big Payback Vol. lll in it's entierty below and head here to grab the free download.

*The Big Payback album artwork was developed exclusively for this series by Cojo "Art Juggernaut" - www.ArtJuggernaut.com*

Download

Mobb Brown - The G.O.D. Father Of Soul Pt. III (Soul Mates Remix)

HEAVY RAIN W/ HEYKVT

Something I'm letting loose as a gift to the fans for all the support in 2015. 

http://soundcloud.com/phoniksbeats
http://instagram.com/hookedonphoniks
http://facebook.com/phoniksbeats
http://twitter.com/hookedonphonikz

If I Ruled The World (Phoniks Remix)

Q-Tip's "Breathe & Stop" mashed with "Doo Wop" by Lauryn Hill

couldn't resist  ;-)

Q-Tip vs Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop & Stop

Remix Of Pete Rock & CL Smooth's Ghetto's Of The Mind BY Freqnik & WDRE. Another installment off the Tribute To 90'S Hip Hop Series

Pete Rock & CL Smooth Ghettos Of The Mind Freqnik & WDRE Remix Tribute to 90's Hip Hop

from the mashup "The Notorious James Brown"  -  https://www.fullblastradio.com/2020/09/the-notorious-james-brown-vol-1-and-2.html

Q-Tip vs Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop & Stop

frzflsh

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