Part of the art of finding a sample is understanding the nuances of the songs you’re hearing and the thought process of expanding these indistinguishable moments into pure magic. It isn’t always the hook of a classic funk song that grabs the attention of the producer, and it isn’t always the driving melodies of a soul ballad that evoke a spiritual presence to overtake a producer when flipping a sample. Sure, some of the more recognizable melodies come from this process, but some of the most iconic samples can be found within the weeds of its source material.
Such is the case for The Gap Band’s 1980 hit “Yearning For Your Love.” The highlight from the legendary funk band’s fifth studio record, The Gap Band III, contains a small slice of soulful ambiance that would prove to be the foundation for some legendary Hip-hop moments. For this week’s Golden Age Thursday, we look towards the first thirty seconds of “Yearning For Your Love” to find a familiar melody employed by Nas, The Pharcyde, and Heavy D. You can hear the original sample and how it became positioned right next to Hip-hop below.
Original Sample: The Gap Band – “Yearning For Your Love”
Produced by Lonnie Simmons
Nas – “Life’s A Bitch” (Feat. AZ & Olu Dara)
Produced by L.E.S.
The Pharcyde – “Runnin'” (Jay Dee Remix)
Produced by J. Dilla
Heavy D – “Keep It Comin'”
Produced by Heavy D, DJ Battlecat, & Tony Dofat
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