Various Artists – 'Gold Digging; As Sampled By Jay-Z' (Harmless)

Headlines
Wonder where Jay-Z gets all his samples? Well worry no longer, because the second in the Gold Digging series (the first explored Kanye West’s sampling habits) should lift the lid. Needless to say, it’s a blinding collection of music from start to finish. Billy Squier’s anthemic The Big Beat shows the origins of 99 Problems, while it emerges that the Chi Lites were largely to thank for the hook bestowed upon Crazy In Love (a track called Are You My Woman). There’s also Al Green’s Free At Last (used in Momma Loves Me) and the glorious There Is Nothing In This World, pilfered for Girls, Girls, Girls. Grab the vinyl and you’ll look like the most knowledgeable jock on the block. For shizzle.
(Ben Arnold)
OUT NOW

