Yes Indeed – ‘Buck ‘Em Down (Remix)’ Beat Deconstruction
Black Moon – ‘Buck ‘Em Down (Remix)’
taken from Diggin’ In Dah Vaults (Nervous, 1996)
Donald Byrd – ‘Wind Parade’
taken from Places And Spaces (Blue Note, 1976)
Lafayette Afro Rock Band – ‘Hihache’
taken from Soul Makossa (Musidisc , 1973)
Although I’ve got a load of ideas floating about for beat deconstructions at the moment, two key factors have brought about today’s drop. First and foremost, it looks like Spring may have finally arrived in good old Blighty following the snow (!) over the Easter weekend, so my listening habits are once again returning to those songs that complement the season. Secondly, Donald Byrd’s fantastic Places And Spaces landed on my doormat earlier in the week. The upshot? Black Moon’s seminal remix of an already great song ‘Buck ‘Em Down’ gets served the deconstruction treatment. God bless the sunshine!
Byrd’s aforementioned LP was initially released on Blue Note in 1976, a veritable sample spotter’s dream with essentially every track on the album having been mined by the hip hop set at one time or another. ‘Wind Parade’ is no exception, the basis of the remix of the track currently under the microscope as well as a host of other jams that you’re likely to be familiar with (the other most notable use for me can be found on Organized Konfusion’s fantastic ‘Stray Bullet’). Two key sections to look out for here, the first beginning at the 0.24 mark with the four bars that form the main groove and then at 3.17 for the break that finds its way into the chorus of Da Beatminerz produced remix. Although there’s some filter work at play here to add depth and variation, this is essentially a straight loop, a production aesthetic that finds its way into many of the landmark Beatminerz-helmed cuts of the era including ‘Who Got Da Props?’ and the bangin’ ‘I Got Cha Opin’ remix.
The drums are sourced from Lafayette Afro Rock Band’s ubiquitous ‘Hihache’, a song that can be found on their second LP entitled Soul Makossa, officially released in the States under the moniker Movin’ & Groovin’. It’s no surprise that the break has been used widely as the beautifully clean pattern that can be found at the very beginning of the track is basically tailor made for chopping and rearranging. The rest of the song is equally delightful, a hard groove that features blazing horns and a tight guitar solo that won’t fail to put put a little shuffle in your step: be warned. Production-wise, it’s interesting to note that the drums take on a more aggressive quality at the 0.30 mark of the Black Moon cut, a subtle touch that gives the song extra punch as the listener is propelled towards the first verse.
Throw these elements together and you get what must be one of the greatest summer hip hop jams ever committed to wax, and Buckshot knows it: notice his assertion at the beginning of the track that the ‘weather is looking mad fine and everything’s looking smooth’. I couldn’t have said it any better myself…
March 28th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Great stuff… Wouldnt the Buck Em Down Remix have been 1994 though? Enta Da Stage came out in late 93. Not sure exactly when the Buck Em Down single dropped.
Just saying. I know it ended up on that Diggin in Dah Vaults comp in 1996.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Oh my bad… I see you have the date on the album not the track. Misread that….
March 28th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Black Moon – Donald Byrd: the perfect match!
Keep spreading knowledge.
Peace
March 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
> The other most notable use for me can be found on Organized Konfusion’s fantastic ‘Stray Bullet’
The most notable use of "Wind Parade" besides this remix has to be "Definition Of A Thug N-gga" by 2Pac (produced by Warren G) from the Poetic Justice soundtrack.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Hence the ‘for me’…
March 29th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I've been waiting for you to discuss this. It's one the top 5 remixes I've ever heard. Buckshot's voice rides the beat effortlessly and The Beatminerz do it again on production. I still have the original maxi-single cassette of the remix that I used to play in my car all throughout the summer of '94.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Can’t wait for the sunshine to get to New England so I can begin delving into my spring archives – I’m a little jealous, Dan.
I’ve always found Places and Spaces to be pretty miserable as far as Mizell/Byrd’s ’70s output goes, but there are some great samples/loops to be found here. Check the earlier Street Lady and Stepping into Tomorrow if you’re interested in exploring his catalogue.
Lovely deconstruction, as always!
March 29th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Great post Dan, this one of my all time favourite remixes and my favourite Black Moon remix
March 30th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Not a lot I can add that hasn’t been said, but how great were the Beatminerz in their prime?
Another example of producers who haven’t been the same since they upgraded their equipment.
I feel like I could listen to this on a loop for an hour.
Great writeup, Dan.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I Gotcha' Opin Remix next…maybe???
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 am
Eric – I’m going have to go with that now, right?! Can’t knock a quality request!
April 4th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
beatminerz with the QUALITY samples…
April 5th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
yo, this is fantastic work. May I make a request though? Someone please–yall have way more expertise here than I do–break down Midnight Marauders and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx like Dan did for Illmatic (nuff respect!!)?
April 6th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
For those who don't know Murder MC's by Black Moon contains samples from Lee Michaels – Think I'll Go Back 1969 (Bass & Organ 2 Bars)/Dennis Coffey – Whole Lotta Love 1971 (Drum Half Bar)/Herbie Hancock – Suite Revenge 1974 (Violon 2 Bars)
April 28th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
[...] In his ongoing, always edifying “Sample Deconstruction” series, Dan Love of From Da Bricks picks apart Black Moon’s “Buck ‘Em Down Remix” and the backbone of the Beatminerz’ beat: the drums from the LaFayette Afro Rock Band’s stunning “Hibache” and Donald Byrd’s “Wind Parade.” My best advice: Download all three immediately, burn them onto a CD, and start your weekend off right. [From Da Bricks] [...]
July 21st, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Beatminerz = Genius
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