Friday Flips: The Sample History Behind J. Cole’s “Crunch Time” Posted by Nathan S. on 02/22/13 | Filed under Opinion, J. Cole, Production Breakdown, Friday Flips

Every week a new mainstream beat drops containing a sample 98% of the non-rap-nerd listening public would never recognize. So it was only right that I teamed up with my fellow rap nerds Takin Mines for our new "Friday Flips" series.

Every Friday we'll break down the production history of one of the week's "biggest" tracks, this week tackling J. Cole's production on his new "Crunch Time" track.



Nathan S. (of RefinedHype)

Sweet baby jesus knows that I've been hard on J. Cole in the past, primarily because I think he's capable of greatness and often only gives us goodness, but the man definitely has a ear for dope samples. Case in point, the "Crunch Time" beat off his new "Truly Yours" EP.

As a general rule, anytime you can sample a man whose outfits were so crazy they made Rick James look like Mr. Rogers, and just so happened to be one of the best funk bassist of all-time, you're doing something right. With a source like Bootsy Collins' "Munchies For Your Love" most amateur producers would be tempted to really go wild, but often less is more, and Cole's loop of the guitar line and subtle percussion on "Crunch Time" are a study in how to do it.

But he's far from the only one to touch "Munchies"...

UGK "Diamonds & Wood"


While Cole let the guitar line take center stage, any track UGK are going to rhyme over has to have that slap, so producer No Joe lets a shorter and quieter sample hum in the background while the bass and snare truly drive the beat.

It's solid, and in No Joe's defense it fits well with Bun and Pimp C's flows (which is his mission as a producer), but that beat's not going in the UGK production Hall of Fame. The way Juicy J and DJ Paul flipped some classic Willie Hutch into "Int'l Player's Anthem"? Now that's how it's done.

Fat Joe "Say Word"


I know there are some younger folks who are going to press play on this and be surprised that Fat Joe used to rhyme so hard. Yep, way back in '95 the man was pumping out albums like "Jealous Ones Envy" that featured A-list hip-hop head production from the likes of Diamond D, DJ Premier and more.
Anyway...Domingo is responsible for the beat on "Say Word", and here "Munchies For Your Love" is harder to hear here than on "Crunch Time" or "Diamonds & Wood", mostly because that snare's so overpowering. I know that was the NY sound at the time, but still...I agree with Jay-Z on this beat.



aboynamedandy (of Takin' Mines)

Scarface "Now I Feel Ya"


The flip of Bootsy Collins' sample is probably not as obvious on Scarface's 1993 "The World Is Yours" album cut, "Now I Feel You," as it is on Cole's, but it's still easily recognizable. Instead of just upping the pace, producers James Smith and John Bido more so recreate that dreamy melody (at a very similar speed as "Crunch Time") and wrap it in some clunking drums and a gorgeous, deep bass line. Jermaine delivers a heartfelt, autobiographical dairy entry on his version, but there's no denying the storytelling of 'Face.

Steez (of Takin' Mines)

Ill Al Skratch "Where My Homiez? (Come Around My Way)


Of all the times that Bootsy's "Munchies For Your Love" have been flipped through the catacombs of Hip-Hop history, producer LG Experience takes the cake, for how he crafted Ill Al Skratch's "Where My Homiez? (Come Around My Way)." Ill Al Skratch was actually a duo, comprised of Bil Ill and Al Skratch, and their '94 debut was met with much acclaim for this single, which was a true staple 12-inch for any DJ, or vinyl head at the time.

This one takes me back to that Stretch and Bobbito era.. in fact I could just imagine this instrumental playing as the two Hip-Hop radio pioneers would build with their guests and crack on each other. I remember when I used to practice my blends and would always mix this with "Elevation (Free My Mind)" from the B.U.M.S. Certain records just evoke that emotion and take you back to a certain place, and Ill Al Skratch's "Where My Homiez" does just that for me. What made LG's rendition really standout was the use of those synth progressions, which added almost a West Coast/R&B vibe to an otherwise hard East Coast Hip-Hop records. '94 was definitely the era for that type of experimentation, and "Where My Homiez" epitomized that.

See Also:  Friday Flips: The Sample History Behind French Montana’s “Freaks”
See Also:  J. Cole Drops The Unexpected “Truly Yours” EP To The Delight Of Pretty Much Everybody (Listen)