You asked, and we deliver! I know Thomas has been working on a few Mobb Deep sample sets for quite some time. The sample credits have just been really hard to come by. When someone on the blog here requested the samples from Mobb Deep’s The Infamous, Thomas stayed up all night trying to complete this set. Unfortunately, no one here nor anywhere that we’ve come across can figure out what Havoc sampled on “The Start of Your Ending”, “Survival of The Fittest”, or “Eye for an Eye”. Well, we can’t hold this set back any longer.
Released on April 25, 1995, The Infamous is the second album from Mobb Deep. This is the album the broke them through from being an unknown hip hop duo to an influential, successful one. The album’s haunting style, defined by its evocative melodies, sullen rhymes, and rugged beats, reflected the dark side of New York City’s urban landscape in a manner that garnered special recognition and critical praise. Furthermore, the album helped redefine the sound of the hardcore hip hop genre using its production style—which incorporated eerie piano loops, distorted synthesizers, 8th-note hi-hats, and sparse bass lines.
The Infamous was an important contribution to a regional stylistic change. Consequently, the New York style of production greatly changed from upbeat and jazz-influenced, into raw, gritty, stripped-down, and minimalist beats. This style of production, often characterized by low-fidelity drum samples and heavily filtered bass lines under melodic loops, would soon be recognized nationally as unique to New York City.
- “That’s Alright With Me” by Esther Phillips
- Sampled in “Give Up The Goods (Just Step)”
- Produced by Q-Tip
- “It’s A New Day” by Skull Snaps
- Sampled in “Give Up The Goods (Just Step)”
- Produced by Q-Tip
- “UFO” by ESG
- Sampled in “Temperature’s Rising”
- Produced by Q-Tip & Havoc
- “Where There Is Love” by Patrice Rushen
- Sampled in “Temperature’s Rising”
- Produced by Q-Tip & Havoc
- “Body Heat” by Quincy Jones
- Sampled in “Temperature’s Rising”
- Produced by Q-Tip & Havoc
- “I’m Tired of Giving Up” by The Spinners
- Sampled in “Up North Trip”
- Produced by Havoc
- “You Are My Starship” by Norman Conners
- Sampled in “Trife Life” and “Q.U.–Hectic”
- Produced by Havoc
- “Kitty With The Bent Frame” by Quincy Jones
- Sampled in “Q.U.–Hectic” and “Shook Ones, Pt. II”
- Produced by Havoc
- “Benjamin” by Les McCann
- Sampled in “Right Back At You”
- Produced by Havoc, Prodigy, and Schott Free
- “And If I Had You” by Teddy Pendergrass
- Sampled in “Cradle To The Grave”
- Produced by Havoc
- “I Remember I Made You Cry” by The Headhunters
- Sampled in “Drink Away The Pain (Situations)”
- Produced by Q-Tip & Havoc
- “Dirty Feet” by The Daly Wilson Big Band
- Sampled in “Shook Ones, Pt. II”
- Produced by Havoc
- “Thackeray Meets Faculty” by Ron Grainer
- Sampled in “Shook Ones, Pt. II”
- Produced by Havoc
- “Lonely Fire” by Miles Davis
- Sampled in “Party’s Over”
- Produced by Havoc & Matt Life
Download The Infamous: Original Samples
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks a million
thanks Kev… keep it up!
This has gotta be one of my favorite sets of samples so far in terms of listening enjoyment. Pure skrilla no filla! Its a shame though that the possible best track of the album (eye for an eye) doesnt have its inclusion in this set. PLEASE NEXT make Hell On Earth. I can tell you that Apostles Warning is a Jacksons song, cant remember the name though. Im sure Hell On Earth would be one of the hardest to research as its full of so many obscure piano loops that I read in a Havoc interview where he said in those days all his samples were taken from his grandfathers case of records that were kept in an attic, long forgotten, and so obscure they didnt need to be cleared.
Forgot what Havocs like now, this dude was one of the most underrated in the sample game in NY. This dude could really hear a sample. Not many embodied gritty NY in sound like this man did back on those 2 albums.
Thanks for the continued sample sets, Kevin. These are always a treat.
I was wondering, do you plan on doing any sample sets from turntablism/trip-hop albums such as DJ Shadow’s “Endtroducing…”? Or more instrumental albums, such as Pete Rock’s “The Surviving Elements”?
Keep up the good work! It’s greatly appreciated!
P.E.A.C.E.
John, yeah Thomas has already started diggin’ for Hell on Earth samples and so far he said it’s looking close to impossible.
Double R Dub, we’re def gonna hook up some Pete Rock. Currently working on a few now, but check out Goon’s blog for that DJ Shadow. He’s already hooked it up!
http://goondancing.blogspot.com/2008/04/endtroducingmy-magnum-opus.html
Cause I was requesting this, I really really have to thank you. I appreciate the work you and Thomas put into this set. Thank you again…
Thank you Kevin.
The Orange and Blue Album is one of my three favorites. I was at a dinner party two months ago, and the “Star Ship” song came on and I was like “Is that Trife Life”?
It was both weird and affirming.
Who knew?
LMAO… that’s good stuff m.dot!
Nice! This is awesome.
Quick question. Does anyone know the song where the line “I might crack a smile but aint a damn thing funny” from eye for an eye is used in the hook? I’ve got it somewhere on my computer, but I can’t find it and it’s drinving me nuts!!!!! Please help! Thanks.
We had problems tracking down sample credits for “Eye For An Eye” so if anyone knows, hit us up!
You should post more of mobb deep’s albums.
Havoc’s samples are hard to come by. We have some incomplete Mobb Deep sets, but not worthy of putting out now.
Hey man, loving all the work you guys are putting in.
What are the chances of getting the samples from Hell On Earth?
Cheers
B
Hell on Earth would be grossly incomplete. Might give yall what I have. This album has been one of the toughest to figure out.
Hey man…Shook Ones p2 also samples Kitty with the bent frame by Quincy Jones
Chevyboy….check the list again. “Kitty…” was sampled for two tracks!
Good looks. I was just listening to this album and I had to have the originals.
Dope set. Any chance of you putting together an Alchemist Set?? Dudes a beast!
Only One Mobb Deep Set?? Damn…
apostles warning is “people make the world go round” jackson 5 no wonder theres only one mobb set havocs a fuckin enigma
anyone know the actual song hell on earth??