The DNA of Music

One of my BIGGEST (latest) projects, is my "Sample Collection." I have been three main sources, Wikipedia, whosampled.com, and my musically-inclined dad, to unearthing the history of music I love from artists such as Erykah Badu, Common, Talib Kweli, Little Brother, Slum Village, Kanye West, Blacksheep and A Tribe Called Quest. In my last relationship, my ex-boyfriend loved music, specifically Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop, just as much as I did. He turned me on to Nujabes, Foreign Exchange, 9th Wonder, J Dilla, Nicolay, Tanya Morgan, etc. He opened my ears moreso to the musicality of the listening experience mostly through his love for instrumentals. It's not just about lyrics, it turns out. There's a reason why we are attracted to certain sounds, similar to the way we are attracted to certain foods. That's why they call it a music taste. Now I only wonder why my generation cannot seem to appreciate music we now consider old-school especially when so many of the artists we enjoy sample that generation. It also turns out that I am not actually in love with Neo-Soul and Hip Hop, I am in love with Soul and Jazz period, Johnny Hammond and other artists I had never heard of prior to this time-consuming project. The role that the actual composition plays in what pleases our ears. In otherwords, what do we vibe to? Granted, my ex started this project first, although I'm not sure how far along he is with it. I had already started a small gathering of GOOD music, but besides school and work, my summer has been significantly consumed by my involvement in breaking down music to the white meat, to the seventies and sixties from which my dad comes. My recent discoveries include a 1976 cut of bass guitarist Jaco Pastorius' "Portrait of Tracy" and Soul Mann & The Brother's "Bumpy's Lament" from a "Shaft" remake album. Feast your ears!

Sampled in SWV's "Rain" and Chingy's "Pullin Me Back"

Sampled in Erykah Badu's "Bag Lady" and Dr. Dre's "Xxplosive"