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Song Stories

“Verses From the Abstract”

A Tribe Called Quest | 1991

Although there are bass samples all over The Low End Theory, thus giving the album its name, jazz legend Ron Carter plays upright acoustic bass live on this track. "He was a great guy — We definitely had a good conversation," Q-Tip said. "He was definitely interested in what we were doing with hip-hop, or I don’t think he would have done the track for us." Despite the title of the song, this is one of Q-Tip’s less abstract raps, with vocalist Vinia Mojica also lending a hand on the track. 

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“Fu-Gee-La”
Fugees | 1995
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“Penetration”
Iggy and the Stooges | 1973

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Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

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