DJs Kon and Amir have selected their top 50 greatest Hip Hop Samples, and the list has been circulating the interwebs the last week or so: http://best.complex.com/lists/Kon-Amir-Present-The-50-Greatest-Samples-In-Hip-Hop-History.
There are full clips of original songs available as well as clips from artists who sampled original tracks. Among the list of distinguished ‘originals’ are the likes of David Axelrod, the Meters and James Brown.
When you are only choosing 50 songs you can’t include everyone, but I was surprised the ladies of ESG didn’t make the list.
The South Bronx, Post-Disco/Post-Funk trio of sisters Maria Scroggins (congas, vocals), Renee Scroggins (vocals), and Valerie Scroggins (drums) have made music sampled by Public Enemy, Notorious BIG, J Dilla and many others (http://www.whosampled.com/artist/ESG/).
I can’t imagine if you read Tom Tom Mag you haven’t heard ESG, but if you haven’t, these albums will blow your mind:
- 1983: Come Away with Me
- 1991: ESG
- 2002: Step Off
- 2006: Keep on Moving
-Allie