To complete the theme that I’ve running with these past few weeks, here are fifteen rap songs which were either scrapped altogether, released as promo only or re-recorded for the album. It’s limited to one pick per artist, otherwise this would have ended up as yet another compilation of Ghostface and Nas songs that couldn’t be cleared.
*LL Cool J voice* You didn’t think I could do it again, did ya? [laughter] Another Zippyshare album! [laughter] The jokes on you jack!
A Salute To Failed Sample Clearances
Track Listing:
01 ‘Rotten Apple’ – Royal Flush
02 ‘Nuthin’ Move But Da Money’ – Smif ‘N Wessun
03 ‘In The World’ [Original Version] – Akinyele
04 ‘Ready To Die’ [Original Version] – The Notorious B.I.G.1
05 ‘Ghost Deini’ [Original Version] – Ghostface Killah
06 ‘B.L.A.C.K.’ [Original Version] – Black Rob
07 ‘Your World Don’t Stop’ [Original Version] – AZ
08 ‘Mr. Incognito’ – A Tribe Called Quest2
09 ‘Serious’ – Nas feat. AZ
10 ‘Thought @ Work’ [Original Version] – The Roots3
11 ‘Think Big’ [Original Version] – Pudgee feat. Biggie Smalls and Lord Tariq
12 ‘The Dream Shatterer’ [Original Version] – Big Pun
13 ‘Married To Marijuana’ – Capone-N-Noreaga4
14 ‘Thug Chronicles’ [Original Version] – Kool G Rap feat. Havoc5
15 ‘Young Luv’ – Mobb Deep
- There was also the Minnie Ripperton version of ‘Me and My Bitch’ but I prefer this. [↩]
- Sounds like something from the Low End Theory sessions. [↩]
- Sampling The Beatles never ends well. [↩]
- It was a toss-up between this and ‘Calm Down,’ but I’ve already given that song enough luh on these pages. [↩]
- Cannot confirm that this was a sample problem since Cormega used the same loop, but this would have been the stand-out from Giancana Story if this version had made it. [↩]
Nice selection. Another track which was blocked for sample clearance issues was the original version of “Niggaz Don’t Give a Fuck” by the Dogg Pound. Bobby Womack refused to allow his “Woman Gotta Have It” and “You’re welcome, Stop on By” to be used. Pity, as it’s a genius production and sublimely melds both tracks to stunning effect. The version on the “Poetic Justice” soundtrack isn’t nearly as good.
dOpe.
Can’t wait to get home to check this out. Cosign swordfish.
How about biggies original one more chance.
I was hoping to see something from that Jean Grae album Jeanius that had to be redone, some great tracks there.
Snoop Dogg’s G’z Up Hoes Down off Doggystyle. Just listened to this album for the first time, last week. No bs.
GETO BOYS Gangsta of love
The Snoop and Geto Boys tracks fall into the category of songs that got pulled after they were officially released.
the OG “box in hand” was dope and I’m pretty sure it was unreleased because of clearance issues.
whoa i ain’t heard g’s up since i sold my cassette for beer money age 16, never noticed it was removed, thanks, sounds beautiful
Thanks for these Rob!
A lot of this was already covered by The Martorialist on https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5006567597939825751&postID=1569470098357749816
@David: If by ‘a lot of this’ you mean ‘two,’ then yes.
Wasn’t prepared to hear Ghostface over the ‘Ruthless Bastards’ beat from the Killa Bees’ ‘The Swarm’ here.
You did it again Robbie – Another great compilation.
Nice tracklist!
Geez I wish the argument for sampling as creative license or whatever prevailed and a certain level of sampling was legal (as long as there was some artistic merit to it) ….. like people thought it was say around 89 (albums like pauls botique, de la first one etc, nation of millions etc).
would have changed the course ofthe music … would be interestign to see where it would have gone .
Hey Robbie possible to get a re up of this? thanks.