Production Breakdown: Black Sheep’s “The Choice Is Yours” Posted by Richard on 05/20/11 | Filed under Top Stories, Features, Production Breakdown, Maffew Ragazino, Black Sheep

You've gotta love up-and-coming hip-hoppers who incorporate old-school influences into their music. I mean, you don't have to but, if you're tuned-in enough to be part of the RefinedHype readership, you most likely do. And it goes without saying that I love them,because they give me the perfect opportunity to go back and break down some of the classic beats of yesteryear.

The latest cut to send me running to Google to revisit an old-school hit came courtesy of Brooklyn buzzmaker Maffew Ragazino, whose new promo single, “Black Sheep,” found him taking inspiration from a classic cut by the veteran Queens duo of the same name (Black Sheep, not Maffew Ragazino): specifically, 1992's “The Choice Is Yours.” As usual, my research uncovered some dope and unexpected sample connections. Thus, I invite you to accompany me as I break down the vintage banger's Lawnge-produced instrumental. Or don't – the choice is yours.

For those who haven't been visiting DJBooth.net on the regular – shame on you, by the way – here is Ragazino's joint, off the rapper's forthcoming, untitled debut set.



And here's Black Sheep's “The Choice Is Yours,” released as the second single (with “The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)” – more on that later) off '91 debut album, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.



So, where did Lawnges get the raw material for this classic beat? Well, let's start with the break, drawn from jazz great Johnny “Hammond” Smith's “Big Sur Suite.” Off 1974 album Higher Ground, this cut provided the material for too many classic records to name.



If you're crunched for time, feel free to skip all the way to 8:05 for the portion in question – also note the clipped organ riff, prominent throughout “The Choice Is Yours.”

The verse groove also features a brass hit drawn from funk legends The Bar Kays' “Humpin'” – a cut famous both for its hilarious title (see: the intro to the Black Sheep joint) and for its own oft-sampled break.



In addition to the brass, it sounds like some of the “Humpin'” percussion may have been layered over the (very similar) “Big Sur” break for extra impact – it'll take someone with more sensitive ears than mine to be sure, though. Also note the guitar twangs in the intro, which made it into the chorus.

That's almost everything, but the bouncy guitar riffs on the chorus (layered with the “Humpin' guitar) are still unaccounted for. As it turns out, those were the work of Iron Butterfly, '60s rockers of “Inna-Gadda-da-Vida” fame. Titled “Her Favorite Style,” the record was included on 1969 LP BALL.



Yep, there they are in the intro. As a side note: damn, this song is weird. Definitely worth a listen – if only as a reminder of what it was like when LSD was still a major part of the musician's diet.

So, there you have it: the musical DNA of “The Choice Is Yours.” This original version of the record, however, seems to have been overshadowed by “The Choice Is Yours (Revisited).” Overshadowed to the extent that the album rendition of the record was actually rather tricky to find on Youtube.

Anyway, even if the first version failed to ring any bells, this one most definitely should.



Same basic idea, though with considerable tweaks. Actually, all three of the samples – Iron Butterfly, the Bar-Keys and Johnny Hammond – are in there, with some unfamiliar additions. First off, the main break is new; instead of “Humpin',””Big Sur,” or some mysterious combination thereof, we have a rhythm drawn from the opening bars of “Keep on Doin' It,” off The New Birth's 1973 LP, It's Been a Long Time.



And that repeated “Come on... uh!” is the work of soul singer (and percussionist) Linda Tillery. Specifically, those dope if distracting interjections originate in the feminist-themed “I'll Say It Again,” from 1970's Sweet Linda Divine. And, even more specifically, they're taken from 1:52 or so in the track.



Last but not least, the bass riff, which, as it turns out, was extracted from a long stretch of soloing/noodling prolific jazz pianist Tyner McCoy's “Impressions.” It's a damn impressive jam, but if you're in a rush (or aren't a jazz-lover) then you can skip to 3:03.



One classic record, two dope beats. Which is superior? That, my friends, is for you to decide. And, as always, feel free to drop some knowledge; if I even began to rattle off the records that sampled either version of “The Choice Is Yours” or shared samples with them, I'd be here all night, so I'll leave it to you to namedrop your favorites. Peace!

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