dork magazine.

Words and Music by Ken Peebles

Show four shines a spotlight on the not often used but always effective flute sample. I can’t think of any other instrument that can be jazzy, classical and surprisingly funky all at once. The sound from a great flute sample is always groovy and provides an unworldly soundscape.

1. Beasties Boys - Sure Shot

Absolute classic. Ill communication was probably my favourite album of the Beasties (plus through a price gun error I caught the full length for 12” prices!) Tough call between this and the obvious Flute Loop but this loop is undeniable and the drums are punishing. I gave you a little sample taste at the beginning of this too, but I’ll let you do the research on that one.

2. Pase Rock – Grey Matter

I actually heard this at random (again at the record store, killing my wallet) I went on to find out Pase Rock has done a lot of great stuff including working with Five Deez. This record just has a great swing to it. Rocking the Jimmy James drums, Pase flips the track on it’s ear by adding a crisp flute line. The effect overall is quite jazzy and laidback. It’s a great track to roll with or to chill with.

3. Lootpack – Answers

The swankiest beat ever? Well I know at Dork we like to stay away from absolutes so I’ll tone it down. This really was one of the most neck cracking grooves I ever heard on first listen though. Madlib provides a true triumph of simplicity. Slow rolling drums, a simple knocking bass line and one of the greatest flute samples since Sure Shot. This was another record I caught late in the game. I missed the original Lootpack LP when it came out and although I had heard a few tunes it was this tune that made me catch up with a quickness.

4. Edan – Beauty

I was introduced to Edan at a record shop called Dr.Disc back in London. It was the spot were I caught a lot of new music and after being pulled in by the crazy cover art, the song You Suck official sold me on this insanely creative Bostonian. There was a lot of anticipation for Edan’s second full length after he overtook the underground with his ’88 rap influenced debut Primitive Plus. It was hard to know what to expect. What Edan delivered was a vast departure, providing roaming melodies and vivid concepts. I think Beauty ties together what much of that album was about. As someone who at least attempts to make beats when you pick through this it’s amazing how much is going on here. Just let all those elements wash over you and hear the texture Edan was able to create. The man with more charisma than the average doesn’t disappoint with lines like The beautician is back / Humble Magnificent / Wizard of rap /Wearing tuxedos on the wax

5. Kardinal – Kemotherapy

Mr.Kardinal! As much as it’s probably better for everyone to keep genres and geography out of the equation of music I have to say Kardi is one of the greats to come out of Canada. Back in the mid nineties the visible Canadian hip hop scene was small enough for most fans to have a grip on who was who. The big dogs at the time where the F.O.S. Crew. That included among others Saukrates, Kardinal and Choclair. These three top players would all go on to extensive fame. Choclair made a good name for himself on the strength of his flow and voice. Saukrates would become in many ways the head of the Canadian hip hop movement as an incredible MC, producer and businessman. Kardinal stuck out as something special though. A great producer in his own right, Kardinal brought in his own love of Dancehall and Reggae to generate a new sound. This track sounds like something RZA would produce. File it under that ‘loop so repetitive it should annoy me, but I can’t get enough’ category. Simple progressive flute stabs pick you up and drop before grabbing you again.