“Sent for a Loop”
April 30, 2010
Bob James, a jazz and jazz fusion keyboardist is one of the artists who played a major role in bringing fusion jazz into the mainstream. Often called a progenitor of smooth jazz, he has also had an affect on hip-hop, as his compositions have been heavily sampled.
Tracks from James’ simply titled albums have frequently been looped and inserted into hip-hop hits. James released “One” in 1974, and two tracks from that album are touted as being the most heavily sampled tracks in hip-hop history. Eric B. and Rakim used “Nautilus” in their 1988 hit “Follow The Leader”. Hip-hop icons Run-DMC also sampled the track on “Beats to the Rhyme”. One source shows “Nautilus” has been sampled approximately thirty-two times. In 1975, James’ “Two” was released, which included “Take Me to the Mardi Gras”. This track was sampled an incredible forty-two times. Some of the best known hip-hop artists who have sampled this work are Run-D.M.C. again, LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Missy Elliot, Will.i.am, Common and Wu-Tang Clan.
The 1981 release of “Sign of the Times” still found James making music that would subsequently be sampled in hip-hop. Witness Warren G’s “Regulate”. It would appear that Bob James is the real gangsta here.
©2010 Ronald B. Cason, All rights reserved.
