Interpolation: How I Laugh @ Thee

In case you're not a music head, Interpolation (pronounced: enter-poe-lay-shun) by definition is: an abrupt change of elements with (almost immediate) continuation of the first idea.

The reason I bring this up is because of two songs that are currently receiving some radio/video buzz right now.


Flo'rida--"Right Round". This is an interpolation of Dead Or Alive's "You Spin Me Round(Like A Record)". In case you have never heard the original song before, it is featured on The Wedding Singer Soundtrack.


The other song I'm addressing is Slim Thug's  "I Run" which is an interpolation of A Flock Of Seagull's "I Ran(So Far Away)".


Now, I usually never have a problem with emcees who interpolate old songs, it's essentially the same as sampling or covering a song, BUT..........my problem with interpolations is when the covering artist uses the new song as their first single. Flo'rida and Slim Thug aren't the only cats on my shit list for this act. This goes for Kanye West, Jay-Z and everybody else who has done it.


Listen to the original song in which Kanye got "Jesus Walks" from. Essentially, all he did was rap on it. He didn't change the premise of the song whatsoever. I'm not hating the record because of that, it's still a great song, however, I think it inhibits the creativity to use the same premise the song has set before you. 


Don't talk shit Em, what about your "If You Love Me" song, or "Chasing Payments"? 


I'll address that. "If You Love Me" comes from Coldplay's "Violet Hill", the chorus sampled out of that song took the meaning in a completely different direction. "Chasing Payments" comes from Adele's "Chasing Pavements". She's talking about following her destiny, we're gonna rap about chasing paychecks, that's different...........I guess not.


I do enjoy most rap interpolations though. For instance, this is a call to action by the way. Youtube or download these songs:


Nas--"U Wanna Be Me"
The Isley Brothers--"Between The Sheets"
Just listen to the intro of Nas' song, it makes me laugh....The whole song isn't an interpolation, just the lines that go: "Ooooooh, baby, baby. Keep it thug, and keep yo heat, nah, nah, nah." If you know The Isley Bros., you'd recognize this as: "Ooooh, baby, baby, we're making love, between the sheets."


Jay-Z--"Blue Magic"
En Vogue--"Hold On"
I missed out on '90s music by a decade so, I didn't know this was a rip. "Don't waste your time fighting the light. State your course and you'll understand." As opposed to Vogue's: "Don't waste your time fighting blind minded thoughts of despair." I rather enjoy both versions.


Gwen Stefani--"Rich Girl"
Fiddler On The Roof Musical--"If I Were A Rich Man"
"If I were a rich girl (a lot of na's). See I'd have all the money in the world if I were a wealthy girl." versus, "If I were a rich man, ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum, all day long I'd be a biddy biddy bum, if I were a rich man."


50 Cent--"Get It In"
Alexander O'Neil and Cherrelle--"Saturday Luv"
"I get it in, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturdaaaay." Hahaa, the original: "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday love."


After all, I guess an interpolation here and there isn't so bad, after all, the original artist did give the newer artist permission to use their song. I just don't approve half of it.


Montezuma Zanzibar Abiza OUT!


P.E.A.C.E