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J.Period DJ Spinna Present MJ Man Or The Music 2 (Tribute To MJ).mp4

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]

Yasiin Gaye- I Want You 'Til The Summertime

On and On (Q-Tip & Phife Dawg)

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Mick Boogie 'Summertime 2' Mixtape for UNDRCRWN

31 Main Source & Donald Byrd  Lookin  At The Front Door (Jeff s Twice Edit)

Been 8 months since I posted something on here. Slackin, but here's a beautifulass beat to make up for it. 

The Upgrade ft Oddisee & Posdnuos(Instrumental)| J-Live (2008)

Digable Planets - 9th Wonder (remix)

This EP contains music off of "and the Anonymous Nobody...", a preview to future works and also exclusive tracks that did not make the final cut of the album, all for your listening pleasure.

"and the Anonymous Nobody..."  release date 8/26/1016

Beautiful Night feat. Dave West

Billy Brooks Forty Days

From Nike, the world's leading sports brand, comes an exclusive release by De La Soul, one of the most influential hip hop bands of the last two decades. Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul’s groundbreaking debut record, ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is the groups’ first-released original material in five-years. The record is only available through iTunes, and is part of a continuing series of releases through the "Nike+ Sport Music" section of the store.

With additional production by Chicago-based DJ/Production-duo Flosstradamus, ARE YOU IN?: Nike+ Original Run is a unique album written specifically for runners, but its allure extends to all music fans. Posdnuos of De La Soul explains, “When we first heard about this project we were psyched on the challenge. We pride ourselves on being able to get bodies moving, so it was cool to do it with a specific goal in mind – giving runners the sonic fuel to clock some miles.”
The release also features cover artwork by famed designer Joe Buckingham.


De La Soul - Forever

My re-interpretation of the ATCQ classic using the original samples from Weldon Irvine and Charles Earland.  Part of the Midnight Marauders 20th Anniversary Remix Competition on Kevinnottingham.com

Digable Planets - 9th Wonder (remix)

KayelWilliams

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