Hosts, Joe Watson and Toby Brazwell, connect the musical dots between legendary tracks and the often lesser-known songs they sampled. Uncover how these epic songs borrow from music of the past, enriching the musical landscape for generations to come.
When Doves Pray
| S:1 E:7
It takes a village to raise rap’s first-ever Diamond-seller. To help send his breakout album over the platinum hurdle, hip-hop artist MC Hammer enlisted - via sample and interpolation - Rick James, Marvin Gaye, The Chi-Lites, The Jackson 5, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sly & the Family Stone, James Brown (twice) and Prince (three times). It truly is no wonder Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em (released in 1990) has sold over 22 million units to date - more than 2Pac’s Greatest Hits and Notorious B.I.G. Life After Death albums combined!
In this episode, Joe and Toby dive into the prolific life of Prince and how his music helped hammer a career path for a former bat boy of the Oakland A’s. Purple fragments of Prince’s “When Doves Cry” scatter throughout time, including MC Hammer’s “Pray” and many more.
What we geek out over in this episode: Purple Rain (obviously), Kim Basinger (circa Batman), Larry Graham and the slap bass technique, Genuwine, George Clinton’s Parliament “Give Up the Funk” (1975), and Faith No More’s “Epic” (1989) song.
Bonus Material: Drum machines: Chamberlin Rhythmate, Wurlitzer Sideman, PAIA Programmable drum set, Linn LM-1 drum machine, and the Roland TR-808.
Double Bonus: The Metallica Cover “When Doves Cry” Intervention.
Uno. Dos. Tres. Cuatro! Let’s connect the musical dots between Mr. Worldwide himself, Pitbull with his mega hit “I Know You Want Me” and one of America’s most prolific rock bands of all time.
You are about to set adrift on a journey through time, where P.M. Dawn’s romantic rap ballads took hip-hop by storm and the new waves of British pop make a splash.
This episode recalls the remarkable life and talent of 90’s music and film sensation, Aaliyah, and the funk band that inspired one of her greatest hits.