In Celebration Of The 88th Birthday Of Jazz Legend & Innovator John Coltrane Okayplayer Presents A Few Of The Coldest Trane Samples.
On what would have been the 88th birthday of legendary saxophonist and sonic pioneer John Coltrane, we present some of the most memorable sample flips and interpretations of songs from Trane's time-honored catalog. His birthday falls this year as fans celebrate the recent formal release of Offering: Live at Temple University - a heavily bootlegged concert played in Philadelphia shortly before Trane's death - courtesy of non-profit label Resonance Records. While Coltrane's career as a leader and sideman would produce a decent amount of recorded material - from his early recordings in the Navy to his final years on the Impulse roster - his catalog remains surprisingly untouched in the realm of hip-hop. In a genre that is a direct byproduct of his contributions to the American musical canon, the phenomenon - reportedly a result of the protective measures put into place by Coltrane's estate - has left his music to exist largely within statements of reverence and sonic references to his unmistakably visceral style. We have, however, managed to assemble a few tracks that sample Trane and/or pay proper homage to the man and his music. Click through to check out the gems we found and help us celebrate John Coltrane properly. Purchase the Offering: Live at Temple University LP via resonancerecords.org.
The Wascals' J-Swift produced “F.U.N.” samples John Coltrane's “But Not For Me.”
Da Bush Babees' “Swing It” (Jazziness) samples a portion of Coltrane's “I Hear A Rhapsody.”
Joey Bada$$ and Chance The Rapper's Thelonius Martin produced collaborative track “Wendy & Becky” samples Coltrane's “Naima.”
Lupe Fiasco's “Life, Death & Love From San Francisco” samples John Coltrane's “Part 1: Acknowledgement.”
Lords Of The Underground's golden era classic “Chief Rocka” samples John Coltrane's “Amen.”
The Pharcyde's “Pack The Pipe” samples Coltrane's “Autumn Serenade.”
A direct byproduct of the Coltrane lineage, Flying Lotus' “Comet Course” samples “The Sun” by John and Alice Coltrane.
Scientifik's “Fallen Star” samples John Coltrane's “Africa.”
3rd Eye and Group Home's Who's The Man soundtrack standout “Ease Up” samples John Coltrane's “Syeeda’s Song.”
Da Nuthouse samples John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" for their hip-hop rework entitled “A Luv Supream” - a gem from Bobbito's now defunct Fondle 'Em imprint.
Asheru and Talib Kweli deliver one of the most beautiful interpretations of Trane's work on “Mood Swings”, which samples Trane and Duke Ellington's “In A Sentimental Mood.”
The Dead Presidents deliver a funky flip of Trane's "Cousin Mary" on their boom-bap era heater “Spread Butter.”
Ghostface Killah samples John Coltrane's "My Little Brown Book" on his pensive street treatise "Malcolm."
Aceyalone's sinister classic "The Hunt" samples a portion of John Coltrane's "Ole."
Last but note least, Outkast serves up a frenetic, afro-futurist rework of Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" that combines his classic take on the standard with manic percussion and big booty bass.
