triptych 2 - Dig that DNA

Once upon a time, a former Beatle named George Harrison was prosecuted for "stealing" a melodic line from a classic girl group song by The Chiffons called "He's So Fine."  So what if music throughout the ages was a tradition of sounds and melodies passed down from generation to generation.

George Harrison

Then came hip hop, which begat sampling, which blew the whole joint open.


Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's famous "White Lines" builds upon a bassline from the song "Cavern" by an obscure New York post-punk disco funk act called Liquid Liquid.  I once got in a stupid argument with a college friend who said it wasn't possible -- musical acts couldn't just steal someone's song.  It only sounded that way.  But he was wrong'em, boyo.  Then LL Cool J returned the favor a few years, using the same riff as a foundation for his hit "Phenomenon."


Here are the three tracks back to back, beginning with the seminal groove from Liquid Liquid.

Liquid Liquid

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

LL Cool J

Access the DNA here:

DNA Mix