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Jay-Z and Kanye West-Otis review by John M. Ellison IV
*Gasp* Kanye West sampled Otis Redding? This is amazing! This is incredible! This is…not the first time that somebody sampled Otis Redding. I mean, “Try a Little Tenderness” alone has been sampled by Masta Killa on D.T.D. and Young Black Teenagers on “Tap the Bottle” For clarification, I have nothing against sample-based music at all. In fact my favorite rappers have used a…how to put this eloquently a “shitload” of samples that where some productions verged upon being considered an urban equivalent of Edgar Varese’s “Musique Concrete.” I’m just not just seeing the unnecessary “dick hopping” that hip-hop’s doing right now over an awkwardly sampled Otis Redding cover.
Yes folks, “Try a Little Tenderness” is a cover of a ballad written in 1932 by “Irving King” (or James Campbell and Reginald Connelly) and Harry M. Woods and performed by the Ray Noble Orchestra with vocals by Val Rosing. Personally, the Otis Redding version is more appealing than the original.
To be fair, I’ll point out the good in the track. There were a few amusing lines from Kanye West like “sophisticated ignorance, write my curses in cursive.” Aside from that, I didn’t see this as anything more than just a studio “outtake.” But in comparison to the dreck that passes for rap now and that cover of “Try a Little Tenderness” by Chris Brown I can see how this can be considered re-invigorating.
In closing, if you aren’t a fan of Jay-Z or Kanye West…this might make you dislike. If you’re a fan, than you’ll have this on a constant loop.
Listen here
Life and Times Otis
6 Comments to “Jay-Z and Kanye West-Otis review by John M. Ellison IV”
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Okay, Sketch, when this “song” came across my dashboard a few days ago, I gave it a chance. But the slow ass tempo got my miffed. So I tried to listen until the MC’s started. But I just couldn’t do it!!! I love Otis and I wasn’t going to listen to their bastardized version, for nothin!!!! Nope. I just cain’t do it. Cain’t.
Nice article. I had NO idea that Otis sang a cover of ballad written in 1932!!! Wow.
^^COMPLETELY AGREE
I can tell ya’ll much prefer the sounds of Drakeville, Weezieburg, Mileytown and cRaponia. This song “Otis” is dope! Classic back-n-forth rhyming with a dope sample. No overly loud saw-synthesizer blaring on an overly loud hook… just a dope sample played throughout. This is what Hip Hop sounds like young’nz… you’ve just been conditioned and blinded by commercial radio and “Hip Pop”. Get a clue… lamers.
I can tell ya’ll much prefer the sounds of Drakeville, Weezieburg, Mileytown and cRaponia. This song “Otis” is dope! Classic back-n-forth rhyming with a dope sample. No overly loud saw-synthesizer blaring on an overly loud hook… just a dope sample played throughout. This is what Hip Hop sounds like young’nz… you’ve just been conditioned and blinded by commercial radio and “Hip Pop”. Get a clue… lamers!
@MinceMeat Eh, more into MF Doom, Esham, Tech N9ne if anything. If you like the song, cool I’m sure Jay-Z and Kanye West really appreciate you taking up for ‘em on an indie music site.
The song is amazing; it shows the level of intelligence Kanye embodies. He produced a track that the typical rapper is not able to comprehend becuase of the sound diversity enevoleped within it. Jay showed his ability to let Kanye take the lead, and by showcasing this level of maturity the two completed a great track. One that does not like this is either ignorant or simply has a differenc of opinion.