May 8, 2006

Bill Withers on Hip-Hop

From the latest Wax Poetics, typed up by Kate404 on OKP:

When did you first learn of artists sampling your work?

Well, it's hard to remember. The earliest stuff (that I knew of) was Blackstreet, and then my wife started making me aware. People would request stuff. If it wasn't too foul-mouthed, then I would usually okay it.

A range of artists have sampled you. On one side, there is Will Smith and on the other there's Dr. Dre.

And Kayne West (for "Roses") on his new album.

Have you spoken with anyone who's sampled you?

I met Kanye West briefly. He was unveiling a painting he had commissioned from a friend of mine, Ernie Barnes (who painted the famous "Sugar Shack" that was used for the cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You"). So, I spoke with him briefly, but he was surrounded, and everyone was trying to talk with him. I've never really sat down and had much contact (with these artists).

What would you say or ask them?

You have to give them a lot of credit. I judge things by how difficult it would be to do. And when they are able to sample snippets of music and put it into their whole thing, it's an interesting art form. If you can get past the sociological differences in some of the stuff that is kind of angry and hedonistic and just look at the art form and how difficult it is (to do), I would probably enjoy having a conversation with some people. Especially the people you mentioned, like Dr. Dre and Kanye or Teddy Riley. People like that are very creative and would seem to be very interesting people. Probably the reason that I haven't had that kind of contact is, you know, sixty-seven-year-olds, as a rule, don't hang out with twenty to thirty-year olds!...

I would really like to understand, because it is just as creative and inventive an art form as jazz was. It doesn't require (schooled) musical virtuosity, but jazz didn't require as much (schooled) virtuosity. Especially (with) sampling, there is an art form. If it were so easy, how come you're not doin it? I couldn't do it! I don't have that forsight. I couldn't take little snippets of things and put it together. Most are forms we see, there's a more complex story behind it. Wouldn't it be interesting for a seventy-year old owner of a television repair shop to have an open-minded discussion with 50 Cent?

Posted by jsmooth995 at May 8, 2006 12:44 PM

Comments

That's great that Withers is so open-minded about new forms of music. Granted, he's making a little money off of it, but he's not shut down about hip hop like Oprah or Cosby. Artists like West and 50 Cent would do well to sit down with someone like Withers and try to learn from them.

Posted by: Didi at May 8, 2006 2:41 PM

That was refreshing.

Posted by: Sean at May 8, 2006 4:16 PM

GOD I love him so much I just can't stand it. He's amazing.

Posted by: nshgrl at May 8, 2006 5:02 PM

Nice.

Posted by: chr0me_kitten at May 8, 2006 7:50 PM

Now who woulda thunk that Bill Withers is up on his rappers like that?

He would love to talk to Dr. Dre and Kanye West and Bill also mentions 50 Cent. Wow!

I need to find this Wax Poetics magazine on the newsstands. I wonder if the magazine listed all the artists who has sampled Bill Withers work? I think the late and great J. Dilla is on that list.

Thanks for this post Jay and that goes double for Kate404 who transcribed it for OKP.

Props!

Posted by: Trent at May 8, 2006 11:17 PM

there is no list of artists who sampled Withers in that issue. to my knowledge, such a list wouldn't be too deep - but there are some big songs that have used withers' records.

another interesting fact came up after the piece went to press: bill left sussex with the rights to his music, so he has considerable control over his early hits.

Posted by: dan at May 9, 2006 2:14 PM

Still Bill: (Sussex 1971)
* "Lean on Me"
Big Daddy Kane - "Lean on Me"
* "Who is He and What is He to You?"
Cam'Ron ft Ma$e - "Horse & Carriage"
* "Lean on Me"
Club Nouveau - "Lean on Me"
* "Kissin' My Love" (Drums)
Dr. Dre - "Let Me Ride"
Dream Warriors - "Tune from the Missing Channel"
Ed OG - "Speak on It"
Eric B and Rakim - "In the Ghetto"
* "Use Me"
Funky Aztec - "Barrioism"
* "Bright Lights, Big City"
Geto Boys - "It Ain't"
* "Kissin' My Love" (Drums)
Jamal-Ski - "Jah Jah Vibes"
Jungle Brothers - "Straight out the Jungle"
Masta Ace - "Movin' On"
* "Who is He and What is He to You?"
Me'Shell N'degeOcello - "Who is He and What is He to You?"
* "Use Me"
Mission - "Now I Shine"
* "Kissin' My Love" (Drums)
Poor Righteous Teachers - "Each One Teach One"
Redman - "Rated R"
Roxanne - "Same Real Rox"
Scarface - "A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die"
* "Who is He and What is He to You?"
School of Hard Knocks - "Dirty Cop Named Harry"
* "Kissin' My Love" (Drums)
Schoolly D - "Education of a Black Man"
Threat - "When it Rains"
WC & the Maad Circle - "U Don't Work, U Don't Eat"
* "Lean on Me"
Winans ft Whitney Houston - "Lean on Me"
* "Kissin' My Love" (Drums)
X-Clan - "Tribal Jam"
* "Who is He and What is He to You?"
Yo-Yo - "I Got Played"

Just As I Am: (Sussex 1971)
* "Ain't No Sunshine"
Big Daddy Kane - "Get Bizzy"
* "Grandma's Hands"
Blackstreet - "No Diggity"
* "Ain't No Sunshine"
Freddie Foxx - "Ain't No Sunshine"
Kid Frost - "Ain't No Sunshine"
Neneh Cherry - "Somedays"
Tupac - "Souljah's Story"
* "Moanin' and Groanin'"
UMC - "Morals"

Making Music: (CBS 1975)
* "Don't You Want to Stay"
Biz Markie - "Romeo and Juliet"

Menagerie: (CBS 1977)
* "Lovely Day"
Ant Banks presents T.W.D.Y. ft Too $hort - "Player's Holiday"
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - "Lovely Daze"

Rhapsody and Blues: (MCA 1980)
* "Soul Shadows"
Tupac - "Papa's Song"

Menagerie: (Sony 2003)
* "Rosie" (Demo)
Kanye West - "Roses"

Making Music: (? ?)
* "Music is the Key"
Top Authority - "'93"

Posted by: Eric Nord at May 11, 2006 7:31 PM

with all the problems in the world who gives a crap about 50 cent and rap it sucks its just a venue for white kids to to act

Posted by: sean at July 22, 2006 4:44 AM

Guys common hes just like any other person out there
true there might be a difference but just the fact that he wants to talk with some of todays artists doesnt make him special in any way..i mean he makes musik and he wants to talk to other artists! isnt that a normal thing ? well i think it is anyways and i know he would aswell..

Posted by: thomas at August 6, 2006 11:26 PM


May 8, 2006 Bill Withers on Hip-Hop From the latest Wax Poetics, typed up by Kate404 on OKP: When did you first learn of artists sampling your work? Well, it's hard to remember. The earliest stuff (that I knew of) was Blackstreet, and then my wife started making me aware. People would request stuff. If it wasn't too foul-mouthed, then I would usually okay it. A range of artists have sampled you. On one side, there is Will Smith and on the other there's Dr. Dre. And Kayne West (for "Roses") on his new album. Have you spoken with anyone who's sampled you? I met Kanye West briefly. He was unveiling a painting he had commissioned from a friend of mine, Ernie Barnes (who painted the famous "Sugar Shack" that was used for the cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You"). So, I spoke with him briefly, but he was surrounded, and everyone was trying to talk with him. I've never really sat down and had much contact (with these artists). What would you say or ask them? You have to give them a lot of credit. I judge things by how difficult it would be to do. And when they are able to sample snippets of music and put it into their whole thing, it's an interesting art form. If you can get past the sociological differences in some of the stuff that is kind of angry and hedonistic and just look at the art form and how difficult it is (to do), I would probably enjoy having a conversation with some people. Especially the people you mentioned, like Dr. Dre and Kanye or Teddy Riley. People like that are very creative and would seem to be very interesting people. Probably the reason that I haven't had that kind of contact is, you know, sixty-seven-year-olds, as a rule, don't hang out with twenty to thirty-year olds!... I would really like to understand, because it is just as creative and inventive an art form as jazz was. It doesn't require (schooled) musical virtuosity, but jazz didn't require as much (schooled) virtuosity. Especially (with) sampling, there is an art form. If it were so easy, how come you're not doin it? I couldn't do it! I don't have that forsight. I couldn't take little snippets of things and put it together. Most are forms we see, there's a more complex story behind it. Wouldn't it be interesting for a seventy-year old owner of a television repair shop to have an open-minded discussion with 50 Cent? Posted by jsmooth995 at May 8, 2006 12:44 PM Comments That's great that Withers is so open-minded about new forms of music. Granted, he's making a little money off of it, but he's not shut down about hip hop like Oprah or Cosby. Artists like West and 50 Cent would do well to sit down with someone like Withers and try to learn from them. Posted by: Didi at May 8, 2006 2:41 PM That was refreshing. Posted by: Sean at May 8, 2006 4:16 PM GOD I love him so much I just can't stand it. He's amazing. Posted by: nshgrl at May 8, 2006 5:02 PM Nice. Posted by: chr0me_kitten at May 8, 2006 7:50 PM Now who woulda thunk that Bill Withers is up on his rappers like that? He would love to talk to Dr. Dre and Kanye West and Bill also mentions 50 Cent. Wow! I need to find this Wax Poetics magazine on the newsstands. I wonder if the magazine listed all the artists who has sampled Bill Withers work? I think the late and great J. Dilla is on that list. Thanks for this post Jay and that goes double for Kate404 who transcribed it for OKP. Props! Posted by: Trent at May 8, 2006 11:17 PM there is no list of artists who sampled Withers in that issue. to my knowledge, such a list wouldn't be too deep - but there are some big songs that have used withers' records. another interesting fact came up after the piece went to press: bill left sussex with the rights to his music, so he has considerable control over his early hits. Posted by: dan at May 9, 2006 2:14 PM Still Bill: (Sussex 1971) * "Lean on Me" Big Daddy Kane - "Lean on Me" * "Who is He and What is He to You?" Cam'Ron ft Ma$e - "Horse & Carriage" * "Lean on Me" Club Nouveau - "Lean on Me" * "Kissin' My Love" (Drums) Dr. Dre - "Let Me Ride" Dream Warriors - "Tune from the Missing Channel" Ed OG - "Speak on It" Eric B and Rakim - "In the Ghetto" * "Use Me" Funky Aztec - "Barrioism" * "Bright Lights, Big City" Geto Boys - "It Ain't" * "Kissin' My Love" (Drums) Jamal-Ski - "Jah Jah Vibes" Jungle Brothers - "Straight out the Jungle" Masta Ace - "Movin' On" * "Who is He and What is He to You?" Me'Shell N'degeOcello - "Who is He and What is He to You?" * "Use Me" Mission - "Now I Shine" * "Kissin' My Love" (Drums) Poor Righteous Teachers - "Each One Teach One" Redman - "Rated R" Roxanne - "Same Real Rox" Scarface - "A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die" * "Who is He and What is He to You?" School of Hard Knocks - "Dirty Cop Named Harry" * "Kissin' My Love" (Drums) Schoolly D - "Education of a Black Man" Threat - "When it Rains" WC & the Maad Circle - "U Don't Work, U Don't Eat" * "Lean on Me" Winans ft Whitney Houston - "Lean on Me" * "Kissin' My Love" (Drums) X-Clan - "Tribal Jam" * "Who is He and What is He to You?" Yo-Yo - "I Got Played" Just As I Am: (Sussex 1971) * "Ain't No Sunshine" Big Daddy Kane - "Get Bizzy" * "Grandma's Hands" Blackstreet - "No Diggity" * "Ain't No Sunshine" Freddie Foxx - "Ain't No Sunshine" Kid Frost - "Ain't No Sunshine" Neneh Cherry - "Somedays" Tupac - "Souljah's Story" * "Moanin' and Groanin'" UMC - "Morals" Making Music: (CBS 1975) * "Don't You Want to Stay" Biz Markie - "Romeo and Juliet" Menagerie: (CBS 1977) * "Lovely Day" Ant Banks presents T.W.D.Y. ft Too $hort - "Player's Holiday" DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - "Lovely Daze" Rhapsody and Blues: (MCA 1980) * "Soul Shadows" Tupac - "Papa's Song" Menagerie: (Sony 2003) * "Rosie" (Demo) Kanye West - "Roses" Making Music: (? ?) * "Music is the Key" Top Authority - "'93" Posted by: Eric Nord at May 11, 2006 7:31 PM with all the problems in the world who gives a crap about 50 cent and rap it sucks its just a venue for white kids to to act Posted by: sean at July 22, 2006 4:44 AM Guys common hes just like any other person out there true there might be a difference but just the fact that he wants to talk with some of todays artists doesnt make him special in any way..i mean he makes musik and he wants to talk to other artists! isnt that a normal thing ? well i think it is anyways and i know he would aswell.. 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