10.11.2009 Who Sampled... Who?

Site Description:
"WhoSampled.com is a community site for exploring and discussing sampled music and cover songs. Anyone can submit information about a sample or a cover and subject to approval it will be published on the site to be discussed by the world. WhoSampled was created out of our love for sampling and music production. It aims not only to be the most comprehensive and accurate database of samples and covers on the web but also a fun and engaging place to be at. This website is all about the discovery of new and old music, the exploration of musical influences and the sharing and discussion of music."

Review:
Me being me, truly enjoys digging for beats, but more importantly learning the history of where those sounds originated from. As more and more music producers sample each other its fun to run down the original drum breaks that these producers used.

For instance the The 30 Greatest Hip Hop Drum Breaks & Samples of All Time! As noted by Crate Kings dot com, this includes:
• Melvin Bliss – Synthetic Subsitution
• The Honeydrippers – Impeach The President
• Skull Snaps – It’s A New Day
• Little Feet - Fool Yourself
• Billy Squire – Big Beat
• Al Green – I’m Glad You’re Mine
• The Soul Searchers – Ashley’s Roachclip
• Power of Zeus – Sorcerer of Isis
• Kool & The Gang – NT
• Isley Brothers – Footsteps In The Dark

Slowly I'm working on collecting these breaks, not because I have dreams of being a producer... by any means. Instead I want to enjoy the same tracks that inspired these producers to make their great hits. I want to know the history of a track so the next time I'm digging next to a young gun who is going off about how Nas track "I Can" was so mind blowing, I can refer him to the The Honeydrippers – Impeach The President to find the original source for that drum break.

How will we ever to progress music if we don't know where we have come from?

10.02.2009 Review of DJ Ramza - Get Yourself Together (Featuring: Natural Black)

Review of DJ Ramza - Get Yourself Together

I'm a collector of sounds this means digging high and low for tracks. I've recently been frequenting Ragga Jungle dot com, trying to keep my the pulse of up and coming producers. It should be noted their is a lot of crap out there and although this review may seem brutal I don't review anyone I think does not have massive potential.

DJ Ramza - Get Yourself Together (Featuring: Natural Black)

Overall:
Light, summer merriment, with a 8-bit video game twist. The ragga audio by Natural Black is an excellent touch. But something is missing, a lot of the right parts are there but its just slightly off. In its current form its a mid grade track, one that I would own if pressed but I would not naturally grab for in a set.

(+)
Vocals are dead on, don't change a thing.
The Drums are solid in my opinion. (should be noted I'm a sucker for the old school drum lines.)
3:30 WTF is that break! I like it but where is the rest of it. You gave us a taste of something then took it away. :)

(-)
0:55 Rough patch just feels like it jumps the gun a little bit.
The horns are a little reminiscent of a video game.
The Bass is average on the verge of unimaginative I think you have a lot of room to play there.
The Keyboard influence is suzuki, long sustained chords don't really add to the merriment of the track. You might try a different keyboard style.


Conclusion:
The second coming of this track has excellent potential. I'm stoked to see what this ottawa native brings to the table next. Cheers

The Librarian

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These are my opinions take what you like, and leave the rest