Deconstructing a classic: Shook Ones part II

 

Is there anyone out there who doesn’t like this song? I don’t think so.
Playing Shook Ones Pt II is like playing ‘Sirius’ by the Alan Parsons Project before a Bulls game in the 90’s: crowd goes wild.
From the first time I heard that tune, around 1995, I immediately wondered where Havoc took the samples he used.
And not much time is passed since I got the final answer.
Every good black music listener should easily recognize the “Dirty Feet” drums break, by legendary Daly Wilson Big Band.
A little harder (those were the 90’s, no DSL and no hh-mag in italy!) was finding the Quincy Jones “Kitty with the Bent frame” sample (from “Dollar$” OT), that’s only a short sound, but it is a perfect example of how small things matter when producing a beat.
That sound really gives emphasis to the mcs voices, and is fundamental to build the dramatic atmosphere this song creates.
But still I was unsatisfied, the main ingredient still was missing.
Where’s that crazy string-bass loop taken from? Sorry mr Jones, but that bassline is the heart of the beat!

Only a few years ago I found the main sample for this beat: Ron Grainer’s “Thackeray Meets Faculty”.
That’s not a song, that’s a soundtrack and that’s what Ron Grainer is famous for.
He did music for many Hollywood productions, I think his most famous work is the Dr Who theme, but If you are a Sci-Fi fanatic as I am, you should remember his great work for “the Omega man”, a Sci-Fi cult movie based on the awesome novel “I am legend” by Richard Matheson. I strongly suggest you that movie and that novel, while the movie starring Will Smith actually looks horrible.
“Thackeray Meets Faculty” was created for “To Sir, with love” a 1967 British movie wich deals with social and racial issues, but the song wasn’t even the main theme.
Listening to this tune, you won’t find the same melody you hear on Mobb Deep’s classic, Havoc must have done some dope cut-n-paste here and there, to create that notorious bassline.

Get all the songs sampled -HERE-

Re-listening to the tunes sampled and to Shook Ones pt II always makes me wonder…how is there someone still thinking sampling is not an art?

 

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