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Sample Saturday – Buster Williams / Big L (prod. Buckwild)

May 21st, 2011 . Posted in Classic, Hip-Hop, New York, Samples | No Comments »

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This week we have something special for you guys.  EMPT and KevinCaseyMusic got an exclusive interview with one of the pioneers of the art of sampling, the one and only Buckwild…..

I know loyal EMPT go-ers pride themselves on knowledge of music, so if you’re not already familiar with this legendary producer, this is a great introduction.  Buckwild was a major contributor to the 90′s East Coast sound, commonly known as hip-hop’sGolden Age. During that time he accumulated a streak of classic records for Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas, Big Pun, and everyone else who mattered to New York rap. I’m serious,everyone (for real, everyone). As an original member of the Diggin’ In The Crates crew, some of Buckwild’s most famous work was done with the late-great Big L, including his first ever single, “Put It On”…

“When the guys at Sony heard what we had done for L’s first album, they felt like we didn’t have something to use for a single, and sent L back in to do 4 or 5 more records.  He came to my crib and I gave him about 5 beats, one of those being “Put It On”.  Being the perfectionist that he was, it took him a few days to write his verses.  Then he called me up and had everything planned out for the “Put It On” record.  He knew it was gonna have Kid Capri on the hook, he knew what the hook would be, and he knew it was gonna be the single.”

I asked what it was like working with Big L in the lab…

“He always had all his verses prepared perfectly.  He was a cool guy to joke around with and shit but when in the booth the dude meant business like no-one else.  He was so competitive when it came to his music, like… he would constantly ask what I thought, “Yo, if you don’t like it tell me.”  That was a attitude that the 3 Big’s had – Big L, Biggie, and Big Pun – they were never ‘know it alls’ in the studio, and that’s what made them great.”

Because this is Sample Saturday, I had to stick with the formula, and ask Buck about the construction of the beat…

“Beats were flying out quick those days man, I think I made that one that weekend, and then L picked it up that week.  I always liked the Buster Williams record, I would play it while I was just bullshitting, cleaning the studio or whatever.  I always had the whole vision of what I wanted to use before I put the sample in the machine, I got to know the samples very well.  I think I used 4 different sections to create the beat.  As far as the drums, I would always know the sound I was looking for, I had it in my head.  That’s what a lot of these guys don’t understand, you can’t just put any drums to a sample… that’s the key to a successful beat, the tones have to match.  The Skull Snaps break was perfect, so I threw that into my Akai 950, and put the Buster Williams chops into my sp1200… and that was that.”

A few years ago I was lucky enough to work in the same studio as Buckwild, and got a lot of these type of stories first hand. He’s a great teacher, humble person, and obviously an ultra talented producer. Many of Buck’s beats were behind my motivation to make my own, and for that I am very grateful, and I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather have involved in one of these posts.  Look out for some future Buckwild/EMPT announcements, and take the time to learn more about some of his classics in this Complex article from April.  Until next time folks…

Buster Williams – Vibrations

Skull Snaps – It’s A New Day

Big L – Put It On

via EMPTNYC

Sample Saturday – Ennio Morricone / Jay-Z

May 14th, 2011 . Posted in Classic, New York, Samples | 1 Comment »

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The 1966 film The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly was a classic western that tells the story of three men who dangerously pursue information about the location of a buried treasure of coins.  The three characters, including a young Clint Eastwood as Blondie (“The Good”), go through several different stages in their relationships with each other, always depending on how much they need the other person’s help in ultimately finding the gold.  The movie ends with the men in a three-way shootout, leaving one dead, and another left behind hanging by his neck.  Sadly enough, the plot somewhat reminds me of the relationships a lot of people maintain in life, and especially in business (and even more especially in the music business).  I’ve observed all too many times people that keep close ties with an acquaintance solely because of what they know they need from that person, and often when that need comes to fruition or expires, so does that relationship.  It makes me feel good to know that the people I surround myself with have an equal admiration for what we all bring to the table, and are working hard side by side to one day enjoy the gold at the end of the journey… together.  The truth to that statement allows me to use that some-what corny analogy with pride. Ha!

In one of the most epic theme song’s composed to date, musical genius Ennio Morricone masterfully arranges a piano, viola, string section, horn section, timpani’s, and breathtaking opera style vocals, amongst other things.  ”The Ecstasy of Gold”, as it was named appropriately for the movie, was chosen wisely by producer Charlemagne to sample for Jay-Z’s Blueprint 2 album.  The record, which held the same name as the album, was undoubtedly one of the standout track’s, and an extremely overlooked piece of the Nas and Jay-Z feud.  Charlemagne opened the beat with what sounds like a re-played piano part that runs at a slightly slower rate than the original.  Then at 0:21 he brings in the female vocal section, which is laid perfectly over the piano, and chopped and stretched in an arrangement that makes sense in the song’s 4/4 structure.  One of the Jay-Z tracks that for some reason you’ll hardly catch anyone talking about.  Leave it to us.

Ennio Morricone – The Ecstasy of Gold

Jay-Z – Blueprint2

via EMPTNYC

Solo Art Exhibit by Bryan Espiritu of The Legend’s League

May 12th, 2011 . Posted in Art, Canada, Inspiration | 2 Comments »

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So, I’ve been getting a lot of my inspiration lately from someone who is actually not involved in making music at all.  Staying on top of his moves for the last few years by following him on twitter, Bryan Espiritu has proven to me that he is one of the most dedicated and all around realest dudes doing it right now, period.  As the creator of his brand The Legend’s League and also the ever-growing IdeaLL Clothing Line, Bryan has put his world-class talent as a designer and artist to work in several successful ventures. Tonight in downtown Toronto, in what seems like the culmination of a lifetime of work, is Bryan E.’s first solo art exhibit, Because The Kid’s Don’t Play. I have given serious thought into finding my way across the border just for this specific event, and if it wasn’t for prior scheduling, I would have done exactly that. Anyway, if anyone that checks this site is anywhere near Toronto tonight at 8pm, go see first hand the magic of someone who has put their life and experiences into their work. Congratulations Bryan.

We invite you to…. something epic.”

Jay-Z – Can I Live

Sample Saturday – Percy Faith & His Orchestra / Nore & Styles P

April 30th, 2011 . Posted in Hip-Hop, New York, Samples | 1 Comment »

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First of all shotout to the Click The Square box for taking up an hour of my time when I should’ve been getting right to work on this post.  Damn that shit was fun.  Anyway, let’s discuss one of the thousand reasons that make New York City the best city on earth.  The scenario is; a super crowded nightclub, no one in the place looking less than fresh to death, beautiful women in every direction you turn your head, a few Yankees in that corner, a few actors in that corner.  Scram Jones is on the set with the crowd in the palm of his hand as usual, some type of rock/house remix has the energy level at a 10, and only a few records later he drops in the full intro of “Come Thru” by Nore and Styles.  Not only does the energy remain at a 10, but people seem to get even more excited as the beat drops, and somehow the most unassuming characters, judging by looks, are “singing” along…

“Here’s why they call me the Ghost, I’m half live – half dead, and when there’s beef I bring all of the toast.”

Yea, those characters are the native New Yorkers.  And their energy is enough to convince those who don’t know what a Styles P is, that this is the shit, and it’s time to get fuckin’ hyped.  A few records later, the tempo is way up and the party goes on into the night.  Yes, that just happened in a high class club, and this makes sense only because that club is in the heart of New York City.

One of my favorite things about sampling in hip hop is when an original sample takes on an entirely different feel when flipped by the producer, and in many cases turned into a dark soundscape for some hard raps.  When standing on it’s own, Percy Faith’s “Early In The Morning” has a very upbeat and calm aura about it, but when used by producer Edward Hinson in “Come Thru”, it has an eerie and almost scary vibe to it that matches the lyrics and ultimately makes that record so effective.  On the intro and in between verses he uses the 4 bars from 0:12, and then for the verses we hear some hard drums over the beginning of “Early In The Morning”.  Definitely one of the records that I most regret not squeezing onto Live From New York.

Percy Faith & His Orchestra – Early In The Morning

Noreaga & Styles P – Come Thru

via EMPTNYC

Sample Saturday – Larry Ellis & The Black Hammers / Jay-Z

April 23rd, 2011 . Posted in Funk, Hip-Hop, New York, Samples | No Comments »

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I’ve been pretty good lately at getting rid of unnecessary clutter in my life… giving away clothes I don’t wear, and mostly just recognizing worthless and unusable possessions as, worthless and unusable.  In volume and weight, I’m pretty sure half of my remaining belongings are records.  For several reasons this is a category that I refuse to downsize, ask Dub Sonata or any other record collector, they understand. Thanks to producer No I.D.’s record collection, today we have possibly the funkiest tune to make it onto the EMPT stage.  Larry Ellis & The Black Hammer’s “Funky Thing Part 1″ was printed onto only a few hundred 45′s back in 1969.  The very appropriately titled record bursts out the gate with a B3 solo that captures the sound of the Hammond organ unlike any other recording of its type.  That squeal must be what caught No I.D.’s ear, especially after the quick riffs kick in.

“Let that bitch breathe.” -Jay-Z

The “Success” beat is simply started with the opening of “Funky Thing Part 1″, and as the organ slowly growls it’s way to the high note we hear a quick piece of dialogue from American Gangster. The first time the organ starts to move into the sixteenth notes, is when No I.D. programs in his first kick drums, which blend perfectly with the snare that is built into the sample.  His choice of kick and snare for this beat in my opinion is what made it work, by somehow matching the rawness of the B3.  Makes sense since No I.D. packs some of the roughest drums chops in the game (a la “D.O.A.”). We also have to acknowledge that Hov opens up his verses with an obvious interpretation of Eminem’s “I’m Back”.  If only my organ plugins sounded anything like this sample.

Larry Ellis & The Black Hammer – Funky Thing Part 1

Jay-Z ft. Nas – Success

via EMPTNYC

Dub Sonata – Bluntitled EP

April 21st, 2011 . Posted in Funk, Hip-Hop, Inspiration, Instrumental, New York, The Crew | No Comments »

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In true 4.20 fashion, this post is being made on 4.21.  Who’s putting in more work right now than Dub Sonata?  After the wide spread success of Nights In Cuba, Dub is back already with another highly potent instrumental project, Bluntitled.  It’s the musical equivalent of that kush/sour/purple haze L. Anyway, you already know EMPT got the exclusive release, ’cause thats how we move.  Check out the title track below, and support the man himself by purchasing the 5 track EP on iTunes.

Dub Sonata – Bluntitled

Sample Saturday – Andy Williams / Hi-Tek

April 10th, 2011 . Posted in New York, Samples | No Comments »

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(Wrote specifically for and about Et Musique Pour Tous)

Ok, let’s see…where did it start at?  Well it started in a high rise Manhattan apartment building overlooking the Hudson River…wait, who I am kidding, it started years and years before that.  My brother Hector has one of the most extensive musical minds of anyone I’ve ever met, and this comes from a lifetime of constant exposure and involvement in all things music.  I can’t count the number of conversations me and him and have had about sacrifice…sacrifice of many common place things to ensure we live for our music.  The songs that are chosen to be posted on Et Musique Pour Tous and the words that accompany them are a reflection of that type of lifestyle. After one of many common discussions with Hector that continued deep into the morning hours, I would often crash wherever my body shut down, and wake up to a new post on EMPT based on the same principles and theory of music we discussed, and any partly formed conclusions our exhausted minds came to.  This is music and life intertwined at it’s best…this is EMPT.

When things are brought about in such a natural way, it gives them a special quality that cannot and will not be duplicated.  As of late there have been some posers building sites directly off what their eyes see of Et Musique Pour Tous through their computer screen.  It’s too bad for them that this thing was built not just from a group of kids with a passion for music…but also an original idea.  And at the helm of that group of friends is somebody who’s life experience in music, in it’s entirety, built this website. Now THAT’s where it started at.

In true Sample Saturday form we shall still break down the Hi-Tek produced record “Where It Started At” featuring the all New York rapper lineup of Jadakiss, Papoose, Talib Kweli, and Raekwon The Chef.  The first chop of Andy Williams’ “Love Story” that we hear is from the 0:44 mark with him saying “where do I start?”.  The loop that follows that chop is used as the main section for the verses, with each one being split up by the sample “with her first hello” from 0:51.  Now breaking down a Hi-Tek beat is not as easy as many other producers’ work, because there are a lot of small horn and string chops taken from various parts of the sample, and slid into the sequence with grace and real expertise.  I always enjoyed how in many of his tracks including this one, Tek mixed his drums more contained in the beat, not popping out over the sample but more sitting comfortably with the sample. Something he does best.  New York is where it started at.

Andy Williams – Love Story (Where Do I Begin)

Hi-Tek ft. Jadakiss, Papoose, Talib Kweli, and Raekwon – Where It Started At

Sample Saturday – Steeley Dan / Kanye West

April 2nd, 2011 . Posted in Chicago, Rock, Samples | 1 Comment »

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Steely Dan’s eccentric lyrics were known to often portray true-life accounts of the world that surrounded the west coast hippie in the 60′s and 70′s. Witty and often sarcastic song themes touched on love, affairs, crime, and of course drugs.  ”Kid Charlemagne”, the opening track of their fifth album The Royal Scam, was loosely based on one of the most intriguing real life characters of this entire era; the king of psychedelics Owsley Stanley.  One of the culturally influential characters that American history class tends to leave out.  Between 1965 and 1967 Stanley produced and distributed over 1.25 million hits of LSD.  His production of the drug alone served as a major catalyst of the hippie movement, and eventually the biggest LSD “party” in history during the summer of 1967 in San Francisco, better known as the Summer of Love. Trippy man.  Stanley’s story reads like a true legend, as the day before LSD became illegal in California, the Los Angeles Times headline about his life read “LSD Millionaire”.  Even ten years after the height of his popularity, he still was an inspiration to a writer’s mind.

Here’s a argument against people that like to say Kanye only samples soul music.  His record “Champion” off his Graduation album, starts with the 0:34 mark of “Kid Charlemagne”.  Yeezy lets that chop run out as it says “Did you realize.  That you were a champion, in their eyes”, with “eyes” landing on the down beat.  He cuts the sample abruptly at the 0:40 mark of the Steely Dan record, and triggers it again at the end of the bar on “their eyes”.  If you listen beyond where Kanye ended his chop, the record takes on a whole different feel as the chords change, so by using this specific piece of the sample he was able to capture the exact feel he wanted for his record.  From Owsley Stanley to Kanye West…. it’s an American Champion thing.

Steely Dan – Kid Charlemagne

Kanye West – Champion

via EtMusiquePourTous

Sample Saturday – The Temptations / Gang Starr

February 26th, 2011 . Posted in Hip-Hop, New York, Samples, The Crew | 8 Comments »

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First off, ya Gangster is cosmetic.  Fresh out D&D Studios in 2003 was Gang Starr’s last album The Ownerz, which was their 6th.  Their first album was released in 1989, yes the 80′s, and some of the records were recorded as early as ’87.  Through the evolution of a growing genre, Gang Starr saw their way through 14 years of in your face, East Coast grit.  With this genre that we speak of basically running the media world, the late Guru was still left unmentioned during this year’s Grammys.  Huh?  I disagree with that personally.  Since I live and breath music with my peers every day, I gain extra respect for those that did the same years before me, and shaped the sound that creatively I interpret and interpolate. Yup, that’s exactly what I meant.  Exhibit A – “Rite Where U Stand”.

Respect first then money, basic shit.  You got niggas under pressure, you can take they shit.”

As in a perfect scenario, Jadakiss takes his talents to this record.  His verse always stands out to me when thinking of the ‘Kiss classics.  Bring that back.  And of course… Primo on the beat.  The intro to The Temptations “Gonna Keep On Trying Till I Win Your Love” gets the hard chop treatment, definitely can’t say anyone does it better.  The chop at 0:05 flip flops with the piano from 0:02, and the drums stretch the swing limits.  Hip Hop professor Premier pinpoints “Your ganster is cosmetic” from QB’s Finest “The Bridge 2001″ and scratches in a verbal punch to the hook.  This record dares the listener to step up to the level of the music, and really go to war.  It’s good to know that my partner, and the EMPT general is tryna get it over quick, leave you rite where u stand.

The Temptations – Gonna Keep On Trying Till I Win Your Love

QB’s Finest – The Bridge 2001

Gang Starr ft. Jadakiss – Rite Where U Stand

via KevinCaseyMusic and Et Musique Pour Tous

Dub Sonata – Nights In Cuba Part II

February 24th, 2011 . Posted in Fresh, Latin, The Crew | 30 Comments »

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Haven’t bought Nights In Cuba yet?  Damn you sleeping.  After initially being released with an epic write up on Et Musique Pour Tous, Dub Sonata’s unprecedented project has started to win over its listeners, and critics.  Check out write up’s on AlarmPress, Exclaim Magazine, and Rap Reviews.  Although already posted on EMPT, I had to directly link “Todos” to my site because I love it so much.  The backwards sample starts off the movie like soundscape, and is quickly joined by a collection of instruments and drums… it’s great.  Get up on one of the greatest to be, Dub Sonata.

Dub Sonata – Todos

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