On February 12, Blue Note Records will release Droppin’ Science, a unique collection of the legendary label’s classic late 60s through mid-70s jazz-funk tracks, all of which have featured prominently as samples in some of the greatest hip hop cuts of the late 80s, 90s and beyond. Hip hop artists ranging from Dr. Dre to the Beastie Boys and A Tribe Called Quest have sampled Blue Note grooves by such jazz greats as Lou Donaldson, Grant Green, Donald Byrd, and Lonnie Smith. All of these original Blue Note tracks have been compiled for the first time on Droppin’ Science, which Blue Note will release as a 10-track CD, a 13-track digital album and vinyl LP, as well as individual ring-tunes that are based on the exact sampled loop.

Listen to “It’s Your Thing” by Lou Donaldson (Sampled by Madonna, Brand Nubian, The Lox and De La Soul) wm | real

The list of artists both sampled and sampling includes some of the most famous names in the world of jazz and hip hop, and covers a large breadth of time. In 1992, Kool G Rap used Joe Williams’ “Get out of My Life Woman” in his classic cut “Ill Street Blues;” then, nearly a decade later Jill Scott used the same sample in the song “Brotha” featured on her seminal neo-soul debut Words and Sounds: Vol 1. Landmark tracks from Brand Nubian (“Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down”), De La Soul (“Bitties in the BK Lounge”), and Lox (“Get This $”) all feature a groove from Lou Donaldson’s “It’s Your Thing.” A Tribe Called Quest used Jack McDuff’s “Oblighetto” in their smash “Scenario.” As recently as 2001, Dr. Dre sampled David McCallum’s “The Edge” in the infamous cut “The Next Episode” which featured Snoop Dog. The list continues, with Biggie Smalls’ “One More Chance” remix and Mary J. Blige’s “Everyday It Rains” featuring a sample from Lou Donaldson’s “Whose Makin’ Love.” Blue Note’s influence has even been felt in the pop world where Madonna used a Lou Donaldson sample (“It’s Your Thing”) in her song “I’d Rather Be Your Lover,” as well as a sample of Grant Green’s “Down Here on the Ground” in her song “Forbidden Love.” For a full sampleography, please see below.

TRACKLISTING and SAMPLEOGRAPHY

1. Lou Donaldson “It’s Your Thing” – Originally on the album Hot Dog (Blue Note, 1969).
Brand Nubian “Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down” (Elektra)
De La Soul “Bitties In The BK Lounge” (Tommy Boy)
Lox “Get This $” (Bad Boy/Arista)
Real Live “Day You Die” (Pirate/Big Beat)
Madonna “I’d Rather Be Your Lover” (Warner Bros.)

2. Ronnie Foster “Mystic Brew” – Originally on the album Two Headed Freap (Blue Note, 1972).
A Tribe Called Quest “Electric Relaxation” (Jive)
Rell “Real Love” (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
E.T.A. “Ayia Napa” (Flex)

3. Donald Byrd “Think Twice” – Originally on the album Stepping into Tomorrow (Blue Note, 1974).
A Tribe Called Quest “Footprints” (Jive)
Main Source “Lookin At The Front Door” (Wild Pitch)
De La Soul “Simply Havin” (Tommy Boy)
DJ Krush “Big City Lover” (Instinct)
J Dilla “Think Twice” (BBE)

4. David Axelrod/David McCullum “The Edge” – Originally on the album Music: A Bit More of Me (Capitol, 1968).
Dr. Dre “The Next Episode” (Aftermath/Interscope)

5. Jack McDuff “Oblighetto” – Originally on the album Moon Rappin’ (Blue Note, 1969).
A Tribe Called Quest “Scenario” (Jive)
J Dilla “Oblighetto Remix” (Blue Note)

6. Joe Williams “Get Out Of My Life Woman” – Originally on the album Presenting Joe Williams and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (Solid State, 1966).
Kool G Rap “Ill Street Blues” (Cold Chillin’/Warner Bros.)
Biz Markie “Funk Is Back” (Cold Chillin’/Warner Bros.)
Cadillac Tah “You Loose” (Def Jam)
Jill Scott “Brotha” (Hidden Beach)

7. Grant Green “Down Here On The Ground” – Originally on the album Alive! (Blue Note, 1970).
A Tribe Called Quest “Vibes & Stuff” (Jive)
Madonna “Forbidden Love” (Boy Toy/Warner Bros.)

8. Lonnie Smith “Spinnin Wheel” – Originally on the album Drives (Blue Note, 1970).
A Tribe Called Quest “Can I Kick It” (Jive)
Pete Rock And C.L. Smooth “Act Like You Know” (Elektra)
Brian Austin Green “Didn’t Have A Clue” (Yam Yum Entertainment)

9. Jeremy Steig “Howling For Judy” – Originally on the album Legwork (Solid State, 1970).
Beastie Boys “Get It Together” (Capitol)

10. Lou Donaldson “Who’s Makin Love (To Your Old Lady)” – Originally on the album Hot Dog (Blue Note, 1969).
Biggie Smalls “One More Chance” Remix. (Bad Boy)
Marley Marl & Craig G “Droppin Science” (Cold Chillin”/Warner Bros)
Mary J. Blige “Everyday It Rains” (Def Jams)

BONUS TRACKS (Digital album and LP version)

11. Ronnie Laws “Tidal Wave” – Originally on the album Pressure Sensitive (Blue Note, 1975).
Black Moon “Who Got The Props” (Nervous)
Jackson 5 “I Want You Back (Remix)” (Motown)

12. Monk Higgins “Little Green Apples” – Originally on the album Extra Soul Perception (Solid State, 1969).
Gangstarr “Code Of The Streets” (Chrysalis/EMI)

13. Donald Byrd “Wind Parade” – Originally on the album Places and Spaces (Blue Note, 1975).
Black Moon “Buck Em Down” (Nervous)
2 Pac “Definition of A Thug Nigga” (Columbia Pictures/Sony) and (Amaru/Interscope/Jive)
2 Pac “Late Night” (Interscope)
Organized Confusion “Stray Bullet” (Hollywood)

Pre-order Droppin Science

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