Production Breakdown: Jay Electronica’s “Exhibit C”

So, I spent this morning doing what I always do when I'm running low on inspiration: browsing YouTube for songs sampled in DJBooth.net features. As unproductive as that may sound, I nearly always learn something new. for example, did you know that P-funk great Bootsy Collins recorded a Christmas-themed version of “I'd Rather Be With You,” the track sampled on up-and-coming emcee Laws' “Number One?” I sure didn't. Even if it's basically the same song with “...this Christmas!” appended to the chorus in a Zapp & Rogers-style vocoder voice, it beats the hell out of Bing Crosby (apologizes to the Bing Crosby fanatics who might be reading – all none of you).

I just felt I had to share that with everyone. The real topic of this column is Jay Electronica's much-buzzed-about promo single "Exhibit C", which found producer Just Blaze borrowing a groove and vocal hook from old-school R&B singer Billy Stewart's '67 ballad “Cross My Heart.” You know, this instantly-recognizable jam:



If you've spent as much time as I have browsing video comments while checking out classic R&B/soul records, you may have noticed a trend: increasing numbers of old people are figuring out how to use YouTube, and they're using their newfound power to vent their fury at modern-day music – especially rap. Though most keep it civil, there are usually one or two comments like this (hilarious) example:

Billy Stewart is the consummate singer of this generation. Personally, I'd like to hear any hip-hop artist sIng (sic) this, or any of his songs--not by grabbing your 'nuts'--just sing the damn song. . .if you can, which you damn well CAN'T, then start singing music, instead of horse sh*t (censorship mine)!

Damn. Notwithstanding the fact that the commenter in question has a strange idea of how rapping is done (Nut-grabbing is purely optional, for one thing.) that is one wicked burn on hip-hop. But, getting back to my 'point.' Remember how, a couple paragraphs ago, I described “Cross My Heart” as “instantly-recognizable?” I was fibbing. As is usually the case when I point out a sample's origin in a DJBooth.net track review, I had never encountered “Cross My Heart” or Billy Stewart till I heard his work sampled in “Exhibit C” and Googled the lyrics.

You probably see where I'm going with this: if it weren't for tracks like “Exhibit C,” and this one:



and this one,



and this one,



and this one,



How would young folks like myself become hip to the classics? If any of the aforementioned angry old people happen to be reading, allow me to set the record straight: hip-hop is all about respect for the past. Producers who sample your favorite tunes from back in the day aren't trying to ruin your precious memories, they're exposing those golden oldies to a new generation – some members of which will be curious enough to track down the source material. There's no need to feel threatened, so why not cool it with the “I hate rap” stuff? And, for the record, I was kidding about the Bing Crosby thing. I love that guy. Really.