(JUAN.of.a.KIND)

Sample Tutorial by Hawkeye

Sample Source: Herbie Hancock - Jessica (Fat Albert Rotunda, 1969)

Play the sample source first if you want to guess what legendary hip hop joint sampled that beautiful composition (it happens within the first 10 seconds). I found it damn near impossible to recognize a familiar melody until I played the sample tutorial posted up top (which is magically awesome!). Then I went back to the original track and still had trouble hearing it (but, after multiple plays, it’s definitely there). The meticulous change in pitch is what has kept this unbelievable sample incredibly well hidden until now.

Specific details from the Soul Strut Forums (if you haven’t already, play the tutorial track first before reading on):

It is the right sample source. But Havoc only used one sample out of that piano, not two. As far as I understood it right, the guys at the-breaks.com said he used the beginning sounds and one part which begins 4 seconds after the start.

I think he only used the part which starts after 4 seconds. If you listen closely to Shook Ones Pts.2, you will hear a crackle/static noise, always starting on the 1 of every bar. This noise sounds pitched too. He had a crackle/static on the 1 of the sample which was pitched too as he pitched the sample.

The first bar of Shook Ones Pt.2 is pitched minus 14 semitones and the second is the same sample pitched minus 9 semitone.

I did a tutorial on that sample which you can listen to here.

I tweeked the EQ on that piano too so that you can hear that it is the original sample source.

Hawkeyes - Mobb Deep - Shook Ones Pt 2 Sample Tutorial.mp3 - 1.63MB

Peace
Hawkeye

And there you have it. One of the holy grails of hip hop samples has finally been uncovered (after 16 years!). Amazing job well done by Bronco (from the-breaks) and Hawkeye. Hip hop nerds rejoice!