Soul by the Pound

Last updated
"Soul by the Pound"
Common - soul by the pound.jpg
Single by Common Sense
from the album Can I Borrow a Dollar?
B-side "Can-I-Bust," "Heidi Hoe"
ReleasedJuly 13, 1993
Genre Hip hop
Length4:20
Label Relativity Records
Songwriter(s) Common, No I.D., Anthony Craig
Producer(s) Immenslope, The Twilite Tone
Common Sense singles chronology
"Breaker 1/9"
(1993)
"Soul by the Pound"
(1993)
"I Used to Love H.E.R."
(1994)

"Soul by the Pound" is the third single from rapper Common Sense's 1992 debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar? . Its beat, produced by Immenslope and The Twilite Tone, is similar to much production from Common's second album, Resurrection . [1] Its beat contains samples from "I Like It" by DeBarge, "Feelin' It" by Ultramagnetic MC's, "Sneakin' in the Back" by Tom Scott, and "A Chorus Line" by Ultramagnetic MC's (Tim Dog). [1] It is considered to be a "black solidarity" track, but has been attacked for its misogyny. A music video was made for the "Thump Mix" version of this song, but not for the album version. "Soul by the Pound (Thump Mix)" contains samples from "Pot Belly" by Lou Donaldson, "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim, "Jazz (We've Got)" by A Tribe Called Quest (Q-Tip), "Tonight's Da Night" by Redman, and "Check It Out" by Grand Puba with Mary J. Blige. The "Thump Mix" can be found on the Guidance Recordings compilation album 2001: A Rhyme Odyssey.

Contents

Track listing

A-side

  1. "Soul by the Pound (Thump Mix)" (4:35)
  2. "Soul by the Pound (Thump Mix Instrumental)" (4:35)
  3. "Soul by the Pound (Album Version)" (4:20)

B-side

  1. "Can-I-Bust (Vocal)" (5:40)
  2. "Heidi Hoe (Radio Edit)" (4:30)
  3. "Heidi Hoe (LP Version)" (4:30)

Chart positions

Chart (1993)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles 8
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles 7

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultramagnetic MCs</span> American hip hop group

The Ultramagnetic MCs is an American hip hop group based in The Bronx, New York City. Founded by Kool Keith, the group also includes Ced Gee, TR Love, and Moe Love. Tim Dog became an unofficial member in 1989. In 1990, DJ Jaycee was added as a road manager and backup DJ. Big.D was put down with the crew by Kool Keith in 1989. A former member, Rooney Roon, was fired following an assault arrest. Beat-boxer Rahzel was also involved with the group early in its career. The group's work was associated with unorthodox sampling, polysyllabic rhymes, and bizarre lyrical imagery.

<i>Life After Death</i> 1997 studio album by The Notorious B.I.G.

Life After Death is the second and final studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released on March 25, 1997, on Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. A double album, it was released sixteen days after his murder. It features collaborations with guest artists such as 112, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Mase, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort, Angela Winbush, D.M.C. of Run-D.M.C., R. Kelly, The Lox, and Puff Daddy. Life After Death exhibits The Notorious B.I.G. further delving into the mafioso rap subgenre. The album is a sequel to his first album, Ready to Die, and picks up where the last song, "Suicidal Thoughts", ends.

<i>Reasonable Doubt</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Jay-Z

Reasonable Doubt is the debut studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on June 25, 1996, by Priority Records and Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records. The album features production provided by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and also includes guest appearances from Memphis Bleek, Mary J. Blige, Jaz-O and The Notorious B.I.G., among others. The album features mafioso rap themes and gritty lyrics about the "hustler" lifestyle and material obsessions.

<i>The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One</i> 1999 compilation album (Mixtape) by The Prodigy (Liam Howlett)

Prodigy Present: The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One is a 1999 solo mix album by Liam Howlett of The Prodigy, initially produced for BBC Radio 1's mix show The Breezeblock.

<i>Critical Beatdown</i> 1988 studio album by Ultramagnetic MCs

Critical Beatdown is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Ultramagnetic MCs, released on October 4, 1988, by Next Plateau Records. Production for the album was handled primarily by the group's rapper and producer Ced-Gee, who employed an E-mu SP-1200 sampler as the album's main instrument. Music journalists have noted the album for its innovative production, funk-based samples, self-assertive themes, ingenious lyricism, and complex rhyme patterns by Ced-Gee and fellow rapper Kool Keith.

<i>Resurrection</i> (Common album) 1994 studio album by Common Sense

Resurrection is the second studio album by American rapper Common, then known as Common Sense, which was released on October 4, 1994, by Relativity Records. It was mainly produced by No I.D., who also produced most of Common's 1992 debut Can I Borrow A Dollar? It is the last album to feature the rapper's full stage name, as after this album the "Sense" portion of the name was dropped, making the rapper simply known to this day as "Common".

<i>Can I Borrow a Dollar?</i> 1992 studio album by Common Sense

Can I Borrow a Dollar? is the debut studio album by American rapper Common Sense, now known as Common, which was released on October 6, 1992, by Relativity Records. The album was entirely produced by No I.D. and The Twilite Tone, with additional production by The Beatnuts, and includes guest vocals from Immenslope, Miss Jones and Common's then-girlfriend Rayshel. Entertainment Weekly's Neil Drumming described it as "a clever but little-noticed first album".

<i>The Infamous</i> 1995 studio album by Mobb Deep

The Infamous is the second studio album by the American hip hop duo Mobb Deep. It was released on April 25, 1995, by RCA Records and Loud Records. The album features guest appearances by Nas, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Q-Tip. It was largely produced by group member Havoc, with Q-Tip also contributing production while serving as the mixing engineer. Most of the leftover songs from the album became bonus tracks for Mobb Deep's The Infamous Mobb Deep album (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C.R.E.A.M.</span> Song by hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan

"C.R.E.A.M." is a song by the American hardcore hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on January 31, 1994 by Loud Records, as the second single from their debut studio album Enter the Wu-Tang (1993). The song was produced by the group's de facto leader RZA, and contains a sample of the Charmels' 1967 song "As Long As I've Got You" throughout. It features two verses from members Raekwon and Inspectah Deck, who discuss their upbringings while living in New York City, and Method Man, who sings its hook. Its music video, featuring all Wu-Tang Clan members in New York City, was released in 1994.

"777-9311" is the second track and lead single from The Time's second album, What Time Is It?. Recorded for the album at Prince's home studio in May–June 1982, the song was produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince with Morris Day later adding his lead vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight's da Night</span> 1993 single by Redman

"Tonight's da Night" is the third single released by Redman from his debut album, Whut? Thee Album. It features a jazzy beat produced by Erick Sermon and Redman himself, and contains samples from many songs, including "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls, "The Payback" by James Brown, "Tonight's the Night" by Raydio, and "A Few More Kisses to Go" by Isaac Hayes. The song starts off with Redman rapping about being "smooth to any groove", and he is then interrupted by Hurricane G who wants him to rap some "rough shit". Redman goes on to talk about guns and other illegal things. A remix can be found on Redman's second album, Dare Iz a Darkside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It EZ</span> 1992 single by Common Sense

"Take It EZ" is the debut single by Chicago rapper Common from his debut album Can I Borrow a Dollar?. It is produced by 2 pc. DRK, a production team made up of Immenslope and The Twilite Tone. The song's beat mixes keyboards and saxophone playing by Lenny Underwood and Tony Orbach respectively, as well as a sample from "When Will the Day Come" by Rasa. Its beat anticipates the soulful production from Common's second album, Resurrection. It reached #5 on the Hot Rap Singles chart making it the most popular single from Common's debut album. Stanton Swihart of Allmusic considers it to be a standout track on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaker 1/9</span> 1993 single by Common Sense

"Breaker 1/9" is a song by Common, released in 1993 as the second single from his debut album Can I Borrow a Dollar?. Produced by Immenslope and The Twilite Tone, it samples both "Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers and also contains a lyric from the theme to Three’s Company. Its beat also contains "booming" drums sampled from "Get Out of My Life, Woman" by Lee Dorsey and made for the "jeep beat collective." Its lyrics recount romantic adventures humorously. It holds the worst chart position of any single from that album, yet still reached #10 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bitch in Yoo</span> 1996 song by Common

"The Bitch in Yoo" is a single and diss song released by rapper Common in 1996. The song first appeared on the Relativity Records compilation Relativity Urban Assault and later on Roc Raida's Crossfaderz. It was also performed live alongside De La Soul on their album Live at Tramps, NYC, 1996. The b-side of "The Bitch in Yoo" is "The Real Weight", a solo track by No I.D.

<i>One</i> (Bob James album) 1974 studio album by Bob James

One is the third solo album by jazz keyboardist Bob James. It was an important album in the early smooth jazz genre and is famous for its end track, "Nautilus", which became important to hip hop as one of the most sampled tracks in American music.

<i>Livin in a Hoe House</i> 1990 studio album by H.W.A.

Livin' in a Hoe House is the only studio album by American female rap group H.W.A. The album was released in 1990 via Drive-By Records and was produced by Dangerous D and Ronnie Vann. The record was mildly successful, reaching #38 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. No singles made it to the Billboard charts.

<i>Tom Scott and The L.A. Express</i> 1974 studio album by Tom Scott and The L.A. Express

Tom Scott and The L.A. Express is a Jazz/Fusion album released in 1974 by Tom Scott backed by the L.A. Express.

<i>Habits & Contradictions</i> 2012 studio album by Schoolboy Q

Habits & Contradictions is the second studio album by American rapper Schoolboy Q. It was released on January 14, 2012, exclusively on iTunes, by Top Dawg Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from ASAP Rocky, Jhené Aiko, Dom Kennedy, Currensy, Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock. The production was handled by American producers The Alchemist, Lex Luger, Mike Will Made It, Best Kept Secret and ASAP Ty Beats, as well as members of Top Dawg in-house production team Digi+Phonics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10% Dis</span> 1988 single by MC Lyte

10% Dis is a single from MC Lyte's album Lyte as a Rock produced by the hip hop duo Audio Two, who are also credited as songwriters.

References

  1. 1 2 Jost, Matt. "Can I Borrow a Dollar? Review at RapReviews.com" . Retrieved March 24, 2007.