Dionne Warwick: You’re Gonna Need Me
From Just Being Myself (1973)
Usher: Throwback
From Confessions (2004)
Produced by Just Blaze
J Dilla: Stop
From Donuts (2006)
Produced by J Dilla
Today’s Producer’s Spotlight on Just Blaze brought up an interesting question.
Dave asked:
“I don’t get it. ‘Throwback’ is the same beat as Dilla’s ‘Stop’ on Donuts. I mean its slightly different, but he even took Dilla’s idea of having Jada on it? Shouldn’t this be Dilla’s credit?”
Dave got my interest peak, cuz I somehow had forgotten about Dilla using this same beat. Well it turns out that Jus’ did use the sample first, but if you listen to Dionne Warwick’s original, you’ll hear that not much was switched up for either the Usher or Dilla songs.
In fact, I found this Just Blaze quote from 2006 on TheFader.com:
“I’d used Dionne Warwick’s “You’re Gonna Need Me” for Usher’s “Throwback,” Dilla used it for “Stop” on Donuts. When that song first leaked, right before he died, people were asking, “Is he trying to jack you?” No. And I don’t care. If you listen to the OG song, there are so many breaks you could take any part of that record. It’s hip-hop, this happens. He may have heard the Usher version, maybe not.”
So what do you all think? I don’t think this is much of a question of ‘who flipped it better’, but more like ‘did Dilla jack Just Blaze’? Or is it just a matter of two great talents using a hot beat? Let me know what you think…
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Dionne Warwick!!!!
Now you’re talking. Us mature folk need the calm stuff. LMAO
Lub Ya (and your crazy-funny email today),
B.
Personally, I think the Jus’ beat takes the cake. Normally I’d give j dilla the edge, cuz he tends to be the more the creative producer. But on Stop, his sample is pretty much straight half of Dionne’s song. Jus’ beat has its own sound, and a great baseline, even if the Usher verse is wack. If styles P took his place on this track, it would’ve been an all time classic.
I’m right along with you Dave. Damn, a D-Block remix would be tight! Take out Usher’s verse and add a Styles P and Sheek Louch verse? Hmmm, I might need to find an instrumental of this and hook it up!
good one Kevin – or maybe u can do a Roc remix seeing how Jada’s the newest member
i personally think Dilla was inspired by Just’s track, otherwise he wouldnt have sampled Jada’s catch-cry in his track
Thanks Jas! Yeah, I agree about Dilla. To think he may have been inspired by Jus’ for a moment? Hmmm….
Hey Kevin- I gotta random question for you. I used to have this remix of Pete Rock/C.L. Smooth’s Take You There that started with a female voice singin’ lover, lover, and this real melodic beat droppin as C.L. started his verse. I thought it was 9th’s, but it definitely ain’t the track in your 9th Wonder producer spotlight. All I can remember is that this was a serious joint by any standard. Any idea whose it is?
Dave, you sure it’s a remix and not the original version off ‘The Main Ingredient’? If it’s the original, Pete Rock did that beat. It samples “Keep Rising To The Top” by Keni Burke. I’ll have to see if there’s another remix of that song floating around.
Dave, is this what you were talking about? In that case, I got you man.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/5291666d120e78/
When I got the track it said 9th Wonder remix in it so I left it as such.
Yo good looks Edwin!! I have never heard that remix before and it mos def sounds like 9th Wonder on the beat. If that’s the case, did I miscredit the remix I posted? The more I listen to it, it doesn’t sound much like 9th. I got that remix off Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s Rare Tracks CD from 1998.
That’s it! Nice work, Edwin. Yeah, sounds like 9th to me too. Maybe it deserves a spot on your spotlight top picks, eh Kevin?
I went ahead and replaced the Take You There Remix in the 9th Wonder spotlight with the version Edwin posted. That’s definitely 9th. The more I listen to the remix I had posted, it sounded more like a Pete Rock remix, but I still can’t find the proper credits.
The beat first showed up on young gunz album and then confessions
Young Gunz?!?! Which song? I don’t hear it.
I dunno, Dilla flips it more creatively. Jus’ simply puts a standard beat over the extended sample and doesn’t do much chopping at all. Listen to Dilla’s version again… he cuts just a bit and uses Dionne’s vocal to extend the lyrics through most of the song. Plus, Jus’ version is tainted by Usher’s extremely boring vocals.
Also, neither did a whole lot to hide the sample. Compare the original song to both tracks and they all pretty much sound the same.
I had originally thought that Dilla ghost-produced the beat for Jus. I love Just Blaze’s drums – his is more of a polished sound. Dilla’s version is more grungy…it’s just a dirty, grimy-sounding sample. His definitely wouldn’t have worked for Usher lol. But I think I like Dilla’s better too.
Thatz alright with me if who used it. It’s different by fact of “how” it was used. Both used it’s epitome to “their” vision of how the sampled should be used. Dilla ripped it though..LOL!
Just Blaze Version Sounded Better, His sound was crispy and sounded more clean.