Although some of my favorite tunes contain samples, I find myself hypocritically dismissing and hating songs when one of MY favorite childhood jams, especially one associated with a momentous memory is sampled. Big Sean’s Play No Games is a notable offender, sampling Guy’s Piece of My Love, a song that oozes sexiness AND the soundtrack of many adolescent slow dances, to create a song about choosing him. Bah! Potentially the hate comes from the fact that more often than not, the source material isn’t improved upon, musically or subject-wise. Don’t I sound like the cats that hated on Hip Hop for sampling THEIR music back in our day? However, there are many I love though. Por ejemplo: Alicia Key’s 2016 HERE contains She Don’t Really care/1 Luv which goes ALL the way in, snatching Bonita Applebum’s drums and The Heath Brothers’ vibes to create a 2 part suite that never fails to induce head nodding from start to finish. Additionally, it doesn’t hurt to have an uncredited Roy Ayers appearance to make the cipher complete.

The Heath Brothers’ The Smilin Billy Suite Pt II has become synonymous with Hip Hop for me (Nas’ One Love, Redman’s Soopaman Luva 3), but Heather Victoria’s One Love returns the classic firmly to its Jazz roots, unlike Alicia’s version entrenched in Hip Hop aesthetic. Assisted by The Gavin Quintet on production, Heather pens a much needed ode to loving one’s self and being comfortable in one’s own skin that is much needed in today’s society. Laid-back and sultry WITH a message, this is one of my favorite jams on a compilation that includes Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch and Rapsody. I digress, but Jericho Jackson’s Khrysis produced, Anita Baker sampled Machine & McQueen is a monster as well. I listened to Anita in my mom’s car on many trips when I was young, gaining an appreciation for her style even as a youth, and have 0 problems w/it. Grab Jamla is the Squad II HERE

Heather Victoria – One Love