For today's song I pulled from one of my most played hip hop albums, O.S.T. by People Under the Stairs. Besides being an overall fantastic track, I've always loved it for being a song about a love of music and the process of making it.
O.S.T. was produced by the two members of People Under The Stairs, Thes One and Double K. It was released June 4th, 2002
The beat's made of samples cut from vinyl, a calling card for People Under the Stairs. The bass glides and the drums keep your head bobbin'. They've filled it out with vocal samples and scratches. It hits a nice break at 2:21 with things opening up before coming back in with new layers for the end. Like a lot of the other beats on this album it has a laid back party vibe. It's even got a little audio skit from 3:27 to the end.
The verse's are all about digging for samples, making beats and their passion for it. Thes One lays out what he gave up to buy vinyl:
"records before gas, wood and glass,
fuck it, I’ll walk for weeks
And sacrifice heats, looking for beats that coalesce
With chronic, like this here 45 on Microtronics"
and how he wants to be laid to rest:
"So when I die, don’t cry, put my records in a coffin
And bury me next to a very big tree with my MPC"
Double k echos a similar sentiment in his verse, professing the necessity of records in his life:
"Vinyl is like food, fool, I need it to live
My fingertips been touching wax since I was a small kid"
"I drop ten on some smoke, you know where the rest goes
More money to listen to, never dressing for the hoes
Fuck clothes, DVD, or holiday and real estate, relationships and bullshit
Ay-yo, I’m digging through the crates"
Thanks for your time, I'll be back soon with another song!