Big L - Put It On (Homegrown Remix)

Pic jacked from Kev Beacham's Big L Rarities and Press Kit Post

Now that you've probably already scrolled right past these words to hear the Big L joint below and scrolled back up to see what the story was behind it, here it is:

The original version of Big L's Put It On is just perfect. Sampling Buster Williams version of the Roy Ayers' penned Vibrations gave it a smoothed out, soulful appeal that made it an instant classic.

Years later, I thought more about Put It On and decided that it should have an alternate mix. A darker beat that might match his vocals in a more menacing way was what I wanted to see happen. So, at the time, I had my MPC2000xl for about 2 years and was just really starting to put together half decent tracks.

I sampled Bo Hansson's At The House Of Elrond off of his Music Inspired By Lord Of The Rings album from 1972. From what I can remember, I think I just slowed it down on the turntable and sampled a few different parts and arranged them to my liking through the MPC. Then, I took a not too known drum break, chopped it to pieces, layered some other drums over them and tapped it out on the drum pads.

I originally did this in 2004 and I wanted to recreate this to the best of my ability, so I called on vaporized from the T.R.O.Y. forum for some help. I sent him my beat and the Big L acapella and below you can hear the results. Give it a thorough listen and leave a comment, thanks.

Bo Hansson - At The House Of Elrond

Big L - Put It On (Verge Remix)

Remix Instrumental

Download the Remix, Sample, and Instrumentals here.

Download the original Put It On and much more Big L here.

And check for even more Big L here and at the Big L Rarities blog.

Thanks to vaporized for the blend and to Roy Johnson for schooling me on the Buster Williams sample.

-- Verge

Cloudkicker's Remix LP + Homegrown Treat

This past week at the TROY forum, a new poster named darkO uploaded this album I never knew existed. The Cloudkickers = Dj Eli [of Juggaknots and Night Train Radio fame] and Shan Boogs. The album is full of remixes of songs you know and love, and some you might not have liked the originals. Drizzle provided us with the tracklist and noted how dope the interludes were. I love me some ill interludes, so this prompted me to immediately check this album out.

A1 M.O.P. Pounds Up (Remix) 
A2 Amil 4 Da Fam (Remix) 
Rap [Featuring] - Beanie Sigel , Jay-Z , Memphis Bleek 
A3 Big L Flamboyant (Remix) 
B1 Nas Family (Remix) 
Rap [Featuring] - Mobb Deep 
B2 Dynasty (4) Poisonous Youth (Remix) 
B3 Eve (2) Let's Talk About (Remix) 
Rap [Featuring] - Drag-On 
C1 QB Finest Street Glory (Remix) 
C2 Krumb Snatcha Closer To God (Remix) 
C3 Redman Funkarama (Remix) 
D1 Tephlon Rawness (Remix) 
Rap [Featuring] - M.O.P. 
D2 Prodigy Keep It Thoro (Remix) 
D3 Royce Da 5'9" Let's Grow (Remix)

Download Album Re-Up Here

Upon further inspection of this album, I immediately recognized the sample on Interlude #7.

I used it myself back in maybe 2003-2004, for an instrumental. I also incorporated another sample from a song that has been flipped many times, even recently. Hmmm, DOOM? Can you catch it?

Cloudkickers - Interlude #7

Verge - Rainy Blaze

Download Verge - Rainy Blaze here

There's a few more beats on my myspace here

Let me know what you think up in the comments.

For more Juggaknots and Cloudkickers material, refer back to our Fondle 'Em Collection.

There may be a reworking of those interludes soon. So stay tuned.

Also, darkO noted that the Kokomo sample was also used for Smif n' Wessun - Recognize.

I haven't heard that cut in years so I'll have to investigate.

Thanks to darkO and drizzle on the download and assist.

--Verge