With it being *shudders* Black History Month, Starr takes the time out to dedicate a post to one of the GOATs. And as always, if you’re digging this, hit up Gangstarr Girl for a fresh take on hip-hop, politics, fashion and other worldly and wordy things through the eyes of a New York-helmed around-the-way girl. Without further adeiu…
As influential as Curtis Mayfield still is today, he never enjoyed the same success in the 60s and 70s as his Motown counterparts. Luckily for him, he wasn’t just a singer, but also a an excellent guitarist and songwriter who penned hits for the likes if Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Staple Singers and Aretha Franklin. He had a hand in shaping the sound of three Blaxploitation soundtracks including Superfly, Sparkle, and Claudine.
Two of his most famous hits are “Freddie’s Dead” and “Superfly” from the Superfly soundtrack. En Vogue’s 1992 remake of “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” helped to continue his legacy, as well as the crate digging producers in hip-hop who have sampled his music.
DOWNLOAD: Beastie Boys – Egg Man
DOWNLOAD: Curtis Mayfield – Give Me Your Love
But since tomorrow is Valentine’s Day (if you care), slow it down a bit.
DOWNLOAD: Mary J Blige – I’m The Only Woman
Kanye also sampled Move On Up in “Touch the Sky”
fucking legend.
A genius and a legend.
Next to James Brown and the Isley’s, Curtis Mayfield is probably the most sampled musician in hip hop. Thanks for spreading knowledge.
Give me your love is TOO DOPE!!!
TIMELESS Classic
“Trippin out” one of the greatest love tunes ever made.. So underated as an artist
curtis mayfield FTW!
One of my favorite songs of him is suffer which was sampled by 9th wonder for why couldn’t i see and by madlib for “dillalide ride” to his beat konducta vol. 5-6