Us3 Cantaloop Review

: The resulting debut album, Hand on the Torch , became the first platinum-certified record in Blue Note’s history.

Us3’s existence is rooted in a unique legal twist. Producer originally sampled Blue Note tracks without permission. Instead of suing, the label realized the potential of his "jazz/rap hybrid" and gave him unrestricted access to their entire legendary archives. US3 Cantaloop

: The song opens with a famous spoken-word sample: "Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, we have something special down here at Birdland this evening..." . This is an actual announcement by Pee Wee Marquette from the 1954 album A Night at Birdland, Vol. 1 by the Art Blakey Quintet . : The resulting debut album, Hand on the

See how Us3’s masterpiece bridged the gap between classic jazz and modern hip-hop: Instead of suing, the label realized the potential

: At the time of the release, many viewed the legendary Blue Note Records as a "museum-like" label. "Cantaloop" changed that perception, bringing the label back to MTV and the Billboard charts for a new generation. The Blue Note Partnership

The track is built primarily around a sample of 1964 jazz classic "Cantaloupe Island" from his album Empyrean Isles . Us3 slightly altered the original piano riff and layered it over a boom-bap beat, featuring live trumpet solos by Gerard Presencer and rapping by Rahsaan Kelly and Kobie Powell .

: While it initially struggled in the UK, "Cantaloop" reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and was certified gold by the RIAA in 1994.