I remember in middle school, it was very important to have a “favorite song,” and through out high school I used to make lists of the top five records that I would want with me if I were stuck on a deserted island. Like many East Bay teens in the 80′s and 90′s, I would read other people’s top five lists from the Tower Records magazine while I was downstairs at LaVal’s having a slice of pizza.
But no matter how many lists I made, this song was always at the top. The beat is great, it gives a few sample bars from all East Coast Rap Royalty from the time, and it has a positive message without being cheesy—something that is long gone from the industry today. It was the brain child of KRS-1 after he lost Scott La Rock and had a fan die at a show, and produced by KRS and D-Nice. Check it out:
I first remember hearing the tune on Yo! MTV Raps, and knowing I had to have it. Luckily, mom had a trip to JC Penny’s planned so we headed out to Eastmont Mall and I picked up my first copy of the album at T’s Waoozee (sorry, I’m having a hard time spelling that). I wore that thing out memorizing the lyrics and the subtleties that D-Nice put into the beat. When I started DJing for real, I snuck it into sets as much as possible, infuriating more than one promoter.
Of course there’s a sad part, and that’s that my original copy, bought with my allowance, was stolen when I was doing a show at Pitzer College in 1998. Yes, I do know who did it and the statute of limitations does not expire when it comes to record jackin. But, one does get a lot of jealousy over records when you have a chance to buy them when they are first released… and for many DJs, especially the new jacks that were getting into it when Kurt Cobain died and they traded their guitars for turntables, stealing was easier than digging.
In addition to hopefully leading to more peace amongst the hip hop community, the proceeds of the recording went to the National Urban League. I’d have to say, it also went a ways towards modeling that even highly competitive rappers can get along… the scenes in the video where everyone is sitting on benches together, just nodding their heads to the beat, are priceless.
Samples
Most of these samples you recognize from many places, that is in part why it is such a great song.
It’s built around this sample, a classic James Brown lick (of course). It’s the “Watergate” sample.
this one you may also recognize also from “slam” by Onyx.
This is the classic “Funky Drummer” sample, and yes I know you know that. D-Nice (who produced the track at age 17!) laces it into the beat when Public Enemy takes the mic, which is perfect beacuse it was a sample that Terminator X used a lot. (Because it is awesome). The sample comes on late in the song, but like always James Brown is enjoyable to listen to while you wait.
Here is another classic James Brown Sample, which comes in with Heavy D‘s lyrics. A tribute to a big man in the rap game in those days (figuratively—when MC Hammer did a star crossed show at the Oakland Coliseum, Heavy D was the headliner).
There is a piece before Doug E. Fresh come on that is near to my heart for the multiple samples that slap you in the face with their beauty and randomness. This is from Gil Scott Heron, it’s just the guy saying the numbers en español, but since it’s Gil, it’s worth checking out.
Then D Nice breaks out the “heaven and hell” reminder from the 20th Century Steel Band, which was also used previously by Doug E. Fresh. The beatbox is dope, of course.
The song inspired quite a bit musically, as well. KRS-1 released two follow up singles with different casts (well, MC Lyte was on one of them) in 2008 and 2009.
Most famous, however, was the “West Coast version”—”We’re All in the Same Gang,” featuring Dr. Dre on the beat, and most of the popular West Coast artists at the time. Although I am a huge West Coast guy, this one just didn’t quite cut it. Dre does a nice job of changing the beat around a bit, but it was right in between when he was an awesome new comer (thinkStraight Outta Compton) and when he was an legend (think 2001).
Stylus Magazine compares the two, and calls it a draw. You decide.
What do you guys think about the West Coast version? XXL recently did an interesting “where are they now” piece on the tunes as well.
Pingback: RIP Heavy D | Musings from the DJ Booth