What it mountain dew y’all? It’s a new semester. Everything is full of promise. There are no grades yet and life is good. So, you know what that means. It’s time for Sample Sundays to break you off with some muzak for your hard drive.

Now, since we all will have tons of reading to do very soon, there’s no point in wasting any time, people. This week’s sample, the one I’ve chosen to kick off this guaranteed funky fresh semester, is one that I’ve been bumpin’ all Christmas break. It comes to us from a silky-smooth vocalist who had the R&B game on lock from the mid-90s to the early 2000s: Jon B.Starting in 1995, with his gold album Bonafide, Jon B. has always provided tons of flavor and tons of baby making music. This week’s sample comes from his gold album from 2001, Pleasures U Like (his second album, Cool Relax, went platinum as well).

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb6mZ9LJVZU&w=420&h=315]

Jon B. – Calling on You

(If James Bell was a DJ: ‘This jam goes out to all the people reunited with their distant lovers. Make it count and make it nasty y’all.’ Cue track.)

This is one of my favorite tracks off of a fantastic album. Pleasures U Like is hit after hit, and even has a guest appearances from two NY legends, Nas and AZ. If that doesn’t sell you on this album, then nothing will. Well, except when I tell you who sampled it.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zsYD7MLsgM&w=560&h=315]

Drake – Cameras

(40 – Drake’s go-to producer – is a fool for this one.)

It should come as no surprise that everyone’s favorite monotone crooner/rapper, Drake, sampled this classic from Jon B. On “Cameras,” Drake makes no bones about paying tribute to a man who was clearly one of his influences, as the song heavily samples Jon B’s “Calling on You.” Though it may not be the best track on Drake’s smash Take Care, it is definitely the track with the best sample.

Bonus Sample:

This week’s bonus sample comes to you from another one of Drake’s influences, and a man who would have been his label mate had Drake been rapping in the 90s.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL2txMU50CI&w=420&h=315]

Juvenile – Back That Ass Up

Make sure to check this timeless video from the late 90s devoted to the glorious gluteus maximus.

(You know its gangster when there is a guy playing violin in the middle of the street. And I think the young Lil Wayne could probably make 10 pairs of the pants he wears today with the one’s he rocks in the video — “wobblety wobblety wa a wobble.”)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxdwxUS1JIQ&w=560&h=315]

Drake – Practice

(The most interesting interpolation I’ve ever listened to.)

 

Thanks for checking back for another semester y’all. See you next week. Peace and chicken grease.