Does it matter where things start?
In 1987, Eric B. and Rakim released Paid in Full, one of the most influential rap records ever, and yet they never had a mainstream hit.
But Rakim uttered four simple words in “I Know You Got Soul” that became world famous:
Pump up the volume.
Those words were sampled and became the title of the lone number-one hit by M/A/R/R/S, a watershed moment in the history of sampling and a precursor to what would later become the mashup.
Not to mention that Christian Slater movie.
In 1985, Mantronix let loose The Album, a seven song collection that included a tune called “Needle to the Groove,” which sported some seriously funky vocoder-enhanced rap.
Eleven years later, Beck sampled five of those robotic words and made them world famous with ironic 13 year old white girls everywhere:
Two turntables and a microphone.
Last week, Chris Pearson stopped by and introduced a way for us non-A-listers to band together and promote each other. He then expanded on the idea at his own blog.
Now, lots of other people are promoting the idea.
The Indie Virus.
Wait a minute, you may be asking. Didn’t Robert Scoble do something similar with that brrreeeport thing?
Well, let me ask you… do we need an A-lister to start things for us? Or can we start something up ourselves?
In this case, the only reason it matters where the Indie Virus started is because it started with us.
Other than that, it only matters that the Indie Virus becomes world famous.
Unless, that is, you want to provide comprehensive proof that we are captive to the whims of the A-list bloggers.
As Rakim said, “It ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at.”
Get it?
Thanks to the Chartreuse (Beta) blog for daily inspiration. The views reflected in this post are not necessarily endorsed by Prince Campbell, Eric B., Rakim, Christian Slater, Curtis “Mantronik” Khaleel, MC Tee, Beck, Chris Pearson, or Robert Scoble. No animals were harmed in the drafting of this post.
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11 comments...
#1 Mike → 03.18.06 at 6:39 pm
In the world of blogs, as well as life, it ain’t where you’re from, or where you’re at, it’s more about where you’re going.
BTW - did I tell you this theme, and it’s hackedness, really do rawk ! ( as Chris would say )
#2 Brian → 03.18.06 at 6:42 pm Copyblogger
Yeah, but Rakim and/or Chartreuse didn’t say that, so I was stuck.
Plus, I believe what Rakim means by “where you’re at” is “what you’re about.”
And I think Pearson’s starting to get a big head between his designs and his memes, so let’s not compliment him much more.
#3 Mike → 03.18.06 at 7:04 pm
His head was big before he ever did any design work. I mean, look at the photo you used. His head encompasses the whole shot !…..oops, did I say that ?
#4 Chris P. → 03.18.06 at 10:33 pm
Muchas gracias on the themage, Mike!
Brian, you’re definitely looking like Char today! And where are you getting all this mid 80s obscure rap knowledge?
#5 Brian → 03.19.06 at 6:47 am Copyblogger
Chris, believe or not, white people did listen to rap before Eminem showed up (I should say before Vanilla Ice showed up, but that’s still just too embarrasing).
Of course, I’d rather listen to the Old School stuff over 50 Cent any day, but that just means I’m getting old, I guess.
#6 chartreuse (BETA) → 03.20.06 at 10:13 am
[...] I’ve been parodied [...]
#7 Dave → 03.20.06 at 12:57 pm
Vanilla Ice … LMAO Its Hammer time
#8 Mack Collier → 03.20.06 at 6:06 pm
I thought Eric B and Rakim were more famous for Milli Vanilli sampling the bass riff off Paid in Full?
#9 Brian → 03.20.06 at 6:11 pm Copyblogger
I’m sorry, please return your Grammy immediately as penalty for mentioning those fools on this blog.
#10 Brian → 03.24.06 at 10:47 am
You said:
But Rakim uttered four simple words in “I Know You Got Soul”
I think you need to learn to coun - that’s five words
I love me some old school 80s rap. Notice where Rakim is in my last.fm profile:
http://www.last.fm/user/brianpipa
If you haven’t heard the 7-minunte megamix of “Paid In Full” then you’re missing out.
Brian
http://candyaddict.com
#11 Brian → 03.24.06 at 10:55 am Copyblogger
Brian, the four words I was referring to are “pump up the volume,” which is a portion of one line in “I Know Your Got Soul.”
And I love that version of Paid in Full!