Re: Fujees sampling ABBA

Zachary.Cutler@oberlin.edu
Sat, 08 Feb 1997 16:24:40 -0400 (EDT)


I don't think you guys are really being fair. Personally, I don't think
the Fugees are all that. However, to say that they only know how to rap
is untrue. I think it's Wyclef who plays guitar and keyboards for the
band, and isn't all too bad at playing. Additionally, I know one of them
(I think Wyclef again) is a talented remixer, retracking all his stuff
with live instrumentation.

Also, although I do agree the Fugees sometimes sample a bit too
liberally, I don't think that invalidates them. Rapper's Delight,
considered to be the second rap record, (The Fatback Band beating them by
a week...) uses Chic's "Good Times" completely undisguised. The tradition
of recontextualizing older music isn't a new one in african-american
music, either. When Charlie Parker reworked "How High The Moon," or
completely distorted "My Favorite Things," he was putting the music in a
new context that forced you to re-interpret it as a juxtaposition to the
the original composition. Similarly, when the Fugees do Bob Marley or
Roberta Flack, or when US3 uses "Song For My Father," the music becomes a
completely new vehicle for the artist. Although the Fugees may uses
easily recognizable resources for their music, people often don't notice
the more obscure music used in hip-hop used to as obvious an extent.
Coolio is public Enemy #1 in this area - not that I dislike coolio. But
he does completely use old funk songs as simple loops in his music:
Lakeside's "Fantastic Voyage," Kool and the Gang's "Too Hot," etc.

Anyway, I've said enough. Forgive me, but i just feel it's easier to get
wrapped up in the technicallity of the music than try to really
*understand* it. Off the soapbox, back on the dancefloor for me...

Peace always -

Z-Love
Jazz/Funk director WOBC

On Fri, 7 Feb 1997, Cosmic Girlie wrote:

> KEVIN D. ENGLAND wrote:
> >
> > Didn't the Fugees also sample Clannad or Enya on "Ready or Not...here I
> > come"?
> >
> > k
>
>
> Yes they did. Personally I preferred the original version. Why can't the
> fugees write their own music? They only know how to rap. I really
> dislike when Lauren sings "buffalo soldier, dread-locked rasta"
> *HOW* annoying.
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