Dispatches from the Lazy Lounge, vol. 9
Posted by emperorbananaketchup on June 26, 2009
A Sampla-delic Tribute to the One and Only Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
As of now, the shockwaves reverberating around the blogosphere as well as in the real world generated by the sudden announcement of Michael Jackson’s death earlier today due to cardiac arrest complications at a Los Angeles hospital shows no signs of abating.
It cannot be doubted for a fact that no major pop artist since Elvis Presley has left his impression not just on music but also in culture as much as Michael Jackson. Shortly before his death, he was in the middle of intense rehearsals leading to his scheduled live comeback in London, England later this year, where tickets have already been sold out.
Here is a partial listing of songs that have prominently sampled from tracks performed by Michael Jackson or the (Michael Jackson-led) Jackson 5/Jacksons. Album titles in black boldface are credited to The Jackson 5/Jacksons while those in green boldface are solo Michael Jackson recordings.
Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 (Motown 1970)
“I Want You Back”
Blackstreet ft Mya & Ma$e’s “Take Me There”
Eric B and Rakim’s “I Know You Got Soul”
Check their use of that dope intro…that’s the way it’s done!!!
Jay-Z’s “I Just Wanna Love U”
Instrumental version – spot the break if you can
Jay-Z’s “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)”
snippet of 2008 live performance at Milton Keynes, UK
Kris Kross’s “Jump”
“the Mack Daddy’ll make you – JUMP, jump!!!”
Tamia’s “Imagination”
“Who’s Lovin’ You?”
En Vogue’s “Hold On”
Early live performance of New Jack era soul classic
Betcha didn’t know…the girls lifted that immortal opening line from this nugget (with no less than MJ on lead duty here!!!)
ABC (Motown 1970)
“A.B.C.”
Naughty by Nature’s “O.P.P.”
Jersey boys got da flow!!!
“One More Chance”
Doug E Fresh’s “Ev’ry Body Loves a Star”
Another old-skool nugget enhanced with a J5 break!!!
“I’ll Bet You”
Beastie Boys’s “Car Thief”
Yes, I have “Paul’s Boutique” on cassette!!
Ludacris/Jackson 5 mashup, “Do Your Time/I’ll Bet You” lifting the squealing guitar sample previously employed in “Car Thief”
Third Album (Motown 1970)
“Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide Love)”
Blackalicious’s “Deception”
Everyone may associate “Ready or Not Here I Come” with the Delfonics’ version (as sampled by Timbaland in Missy Elliott’s “Sock It To Me”) but producer Chief Xcel opted for the J5’s version
Maybe Tomorrow (Motown 1971)
“It’s Great to Be Here”
A peerless original…
Mariah Carey’s “Honey”
The Bad Boy remix feat. Ma$e, the Lox and (of course) Puff Daddy
Puff Daddy’s “All about the Benjamins”
Original version as featured in DJ Clue’s Holiday Holdup mixtape
“Maybe Tomorrow”
Ghostface Killah ft Mary J. Blige’s “All That I Got is You”
Tkeitha takes over MJB’s vocal duties in this heart-touching autobiographical video
Ben (Motown 1972)
“Ben”
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s “Rock the House”
See how The Fresh Prince aka Will “Big Willie” Smith was a real skilful rapper back in the day before he got all Hollywood soft…pay attention to the initial flow
Got to Be There (Motown 1972)
“I Wanna Be Where You Are”
MC Lyte’s “Poor Georgie”
That song is usually associated with now-defunct MOR stalwarts Toto’s “Georgie Porgie” but pay attention to 1:00 when MJ shows his li’l fro’d head.
Dancing Machine (Motown 1974)
“Dancing Machine”
MC Hammer’s “Dancin’ Machine”
From his “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” album, the baggy-pantsed one pays tribute to the Jackson 5 with his take on their ‘74 hit
Off the Wall (Epic 1979)
“I Can’t Help It”
De la Soul’s “Breakadawn”
Lead track from their underrated “Buhloone Mind State” CD
Take a listen…isn’t it canny the way the producers of the abovementioned De La Soul joint just let it slip in?
Triumph (Epic 1980)
“Heartbreak Hotel” aka “This Place Hotel”
Heavy D & the Boyz’ “Peaceful Journey”
The Overweight Lover pays tribute to fellow Boyz member Troy “Trouble T-Roy” Dixon, who died prior to the release of this 1991 CD. Backing vocals on this one by K-Ci & Jojo of Jodeci.
“Can You Feel It”
Tamperer ft Maya’s “Feel It”
Nearly 10 years after the original, the 2009 remix is all set to ignite dancefloors around the world…be warned!!!
Bow down before the sheer fucking majesty of the ‘79 original!!!
Thriller (Epic 1983)
“Thriller”
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s “Rhythm Trax – House Party Style”
Uptempo partee jam from the “He’s the DJ…I’m the Rapper” CD (which also gave “Parents Don’t Just Understand”)
NWA’s “100 Miles and Runnin’”
Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and MC Ren firin’ on all cylinders in this West Coast classic
Public Enemy’s “911 is a Joke”
From their masterpiece “Fear of a Black Planet” (which I also own on cassette – hah!!! Those were the days….). Check out that familiar-sounding devilish cackle at 1:21 and 2:24.
“Human Nature”
Nas’s “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”
“…half-man, half-amazin’…”
SWV’s “Right Here”
Take a listen and observe how that song sample holds both tracks together
Now listen to MJ’s original version, recorded from his Dangerous concert tour…btw, that song was co-written by Toto’s Steve Porcaro.
“Lady in My Life”
LL Cool J’s “Hey Lover”
James Todd Smith + Boyz II Men’s crisp harmonies = a supple jam that manages to withstand the test of time.
The original “Lady In My Life” which is proof that if he was given the chance, MJ could give Usher and Jamie Foxx a run for their ‘tween-the-sheets money.
“Billie Jean” (Drums)
Aaliyah ft Slick Rick’s “Got to Give it Up”
The drum intro is unmistakably “Billie Jean”…
ODB’s “Got Your Money”
Neptunes-produced instrumental version highlighting those “BJ” drums
“P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)”
Monica’s “All Eyez On Me”
Live performance of title track from her 2008 CD from Jay Leno
Kanye West ft T-Pain’s “Good Life”
Behind the scenes in the making of the rotoscope-animated video
along with guests T-Pain & Lupe Fiasco
The original song from MJ…I could picture li’l Justin Timberlake & Ne-Yo listening to that song and setting their future career paths to the beat.
Bad (Epic 1991)
“Liberian Girl”
Tupac’s “Letter to My Unborn”
Yet another classic from the pen of the late Tupac Shakur.
Video with an all-star cast including Whoopi Goldberg, Carl Weathers, Paula Abdul, Cheech Marin, John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John…and directed by no less than Steven Spielberg!
For the complete list – as well as info regarding the origins of most of today’s sampled beats across a wide range of genres, go on over to
Music