Wax Only

Saturday, June 3, 2017

The Samples Behind Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Wu-Tang Forever’

Wu-Tang Forever

It’s been two decades since the Wu-Tang Clan dropped their highly anticipated second studio album, Wu-Tang Forever. Released on June 3, 1997, the project featured three singles: “Triumph,” “It’s Yourz,” and “Reunited.”

Produced almost entirely by RZA, Wu-Tang Forever debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 612,000 copies in its first week. It also earned the group a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album and has since been certified quadruple platinum.

To celebrate its anniversary, Power 106’s Wax Only series has taken a look at some of the album’s most recognizable samples. Watch the video above.

Related: The Samples Behind DMX’s ‘It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot’

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Friday, May 12, 2017

The Samples Behind DMX’s ‘It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot’

DMX

Power 106‘s Wax Only series has returned with a new episode, this time to review the samples from DMX’s debut studio album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot.

Released on May 12, 1998, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It sold over five million copies and was certified quadruple platinum in December 2000.

It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot featured the singles “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem,” “Get at Me Dog,” “Stop Being Greedy,” and “How’s It Goin’ Down.” It was produced by Dame Grease, PK, Swizz Beatz, Irv Gotti, and Lil Rob. Some notable samples on the album include Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me,” and The Bee Gees’ “Nights on Broadway.”

Watch above to see Vin Rican go through the samples.

Related: The Samples Behind Nas’ ‘Illmatic’

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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

The Samples Behind Nas’ ‘Illmatic’

Illmatic

On April 19, 1994, a young Queensbridge rapper by the name of Nas released his debut album, Illmatic. Now, to honor its 23-year anniversary, Power 106’s Wax Only series has examined the samples used on the project.

Illmatic is widely regarded as the greatest hip-hop album of all time by critics and fans alike. Wax Only host Vin Rican agrees, naming it his pick for best ever. The album peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and eventually went platinum.

The album was produced by some of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time, including DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor, and Q-Tip. It sampled artists like Michael Jackson, The Gap Band, Average White Band, Ahmad Jamal, and Donald Byrd.

Watch above to see Vinny go through the samples.

Related: The Samples Behind Eazy-E’s ‘Eazy-Duz-It’

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Monday, March 27, 2017

The Samples Behind Eazy-E’s ‘Eazy-Duz-It’

Eazy-E

Power 106 has released a new episode of Wax Only to honor the 22nd anniversary of Eazy-E‘s death. The episode looks at the samples behind the rapper’s solo debut album, Eazy-Duz-It.

Released in 1988, “Eazy-Duz-It” peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 that year and was certified double platinum in 1992. It re-entered the chart at No. 32 in 2015 following the debut of the N.W.A. biopic film, Straight Outta Compton.

The album, which was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella, features samples from artists like The Temptations, Bootsy Collins, The Bar-Kays, and The Sugarhill Gang.

Watch above to see Vinny go through the samples.

Related: The Samples Behind Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’

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Thursday, March 16, 2017

The Samples Behind Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’

To Pimp a Butterfly

After much anticipation, Power 106 has dropped an episode of Wax Only that examines Kendrick Lamar‘s third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly.

Released on March 15, 2015, To Pimp a Butterfly debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart and won five Grammy awards. It featured the singles “Alright,” “These Walls,” and “King Kunta,” the latter of which sampled Curtis Mayfield’s “Kung Fu.” Other notable tracks were “The Blacker the Berry,” which sampled Cold Grits’ “It’s Your Thing” and “i,” which sampled The Isley Brothers’ “That Lady.”

In addition to its many accolades, the album was recently commemorated at Harvard University’s music library. It was one of the first four hip-hop albums to be archived as part of their Classic Crates project. The other three albums honored were Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Nas’ Illmatic, and A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory.

Wax Only is a series that showcases samples used on classic hip-hop albums. It’s hosted by Power 106’s Production Director, Vin Rican.

Watch above to see Vinny go through the samples from the album.

Related: The Samples Behind The Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Ready to Die’

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Thursday, March 9, 2017

The Samples Behind The Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Ready to Die’

The Notorious B.I.G.

On the 20th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.’s death, Power 106‘s Wax Only series is back with a new episode to commemorate his debut album, Ready to Die.

Wax Only is a series that showcases samples used on classic hip-hop albums. It’s hosted by Power 106’s Production Director, Vin Rican.

Ready to Die was Biggie’s only studio album to be released during his lifetime. It featured the singles “Juicy,” “Big Poppa,” and “One More Chance,” and sampled artists like Dr. Dre, James Brown, and The Isley Brothers, and Mtume. Released on Bad Boy Records, the album reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified quadruple platinum in 1999.

Watch above to see Vinny go through the samples from the album.

Related: The Samples Behind Big L’s ‘The Big Picture’

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