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7 Times That Hip-Hop Sampled Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly

7 Times That Hip-Hop Sampled Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly

Published Wed, September 11, 2024 at 12:40 PM EDT

Legendary Soul singer and band leader Frankie Beverly has died at 77 years of age. Beverly and his band Maze, who were nurtured by the late great Marvin Gaye hit the scene in 1977 and dominated the next decade with hits such as "Happy Feelin's", "Golden Time Of Day", "Southern Girl", "Joy And Pain", and the urban anthem, "Before I Let Go".

Hip-Hop embraced the soulful sounds of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly early on, with DJ's manipulating standards such as "Before I Let Go", and producers later sampling "Joy And Pain" and a plethora of songs by the band. Here are 7 times that Hip-Hop sampled Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly. R.I.P. Frankie Beverly.

1. Use Me - Steady B (1987)

Steady B's sophomore album, What's My Name is considered a Hip-Hop classic. "Don't Disturb This Groove", "My Benz", and "Believe Me Das Bad" were all standouts, but one of the most talked about songs on the project was "Use Me (Before I Let Go)". With its interpolation of "Before I Let Go" and it's shaker filled drum track, "Use Me" stands as one of MC Boob's best.

2. Joy And Pain - Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock (1988)

Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock dropped a sonic bomb with the single "It Takes Two" and the full length album of the same name. That 1998 album contained the hits "Don't Sleep On It" and "Get On The Dance Floor", but it was "Joy And Pain" that rivaled "It Takes Two" on the dance floors. With its "Joy And Pain" hook sung by Omar Chandler, and the interpolation of "Put The Music Where Your Mouth Is" by Olympic Runners, "Joy And Pain" is still a certified party starter.

3. Do You Wanna Rock - The Funky 4 Plus One (1982)

First generation MC crew The Funky 4 Plus One released their version of the infectious "Before I Let Go" in 1982. "Do You Wanna Rock (Before I Let Go)" demonstrated the harmonizing abilities of this mixed gender group as much as it highlighted their rhyme skills. The Funky 4 Plus One are the first ever in a long line of Rap artists to use "Before I let Go".

4. The Rhyme - Keith Murray (1996)

Abstract MC and Def Squad member Keith Murray was on fire in '96. His Follow up to 1994's The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World was the 1996 project, Enigma. "The Rhyme", one of the album's stand out singles used a clever interpolation of the bassline from "Before I Let Go", and a clever sample of Frankie Beverly's vocal from the classic.

5. Can You Get Away - 2Pac (1995)

1995's Me Against The World is widely regarded as 2Pac's most vulnerable and intimate album. "Can You Get Away" sees Pac serenading a young lady who is already in a relationship. Over an interpolation of "Happy Feelin's", Pac attempts to gain the company of his love interest who is in an abusive relationship.

6. Southern Girl - Lil 1/2 Half Dead (1996)

On the well produced "Southern Girl", Long Beach MC Lil 1/2 Dead created an anthem for 90's southern girls. Not many artists used "Southern Girl" in comparison to the more popular "Before I Let Go and Joy And Pain". "Southern Girl" was a stand out from 1/2 Dead's 1996 album, Steel On A Mission".

7. Your Mom's In My Business - K-Solo (1990)

K-Solo blessed the world with his debut album Tell The World My Name in 1990. While "Spellbound" and "Fugitive" were popular songs on the album, it was "Your Mom's In My Business" with its "Before I Let Go" vocal sample and bass line loop that served as his breakout hit. Solo created an anthem for brothers with girlfriends who have nosy mothers.

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