{"id":26380,"date":"2024-07-26T12:59:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T17:59:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/?p=26380"},"modified":"2024-07-26T12:59:21","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T17:59:21","slug":"5-memphis-soul-songs-that-shaped-the-sound-of-hip-hop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearememphis.com\/play\/music\/5-memphis-soul-songs-that-shaped-the-sound-of-hip-hop\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Memphis Soul Songs That Shaped the Sound of Hip-Hop"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the past half century, hip-hop DJs and producers have been in a constant state of competition to find the perfect sample to help bring a track to life. Unsurprisingly, the music of Memphis\u2013particularly \u201860s and \u201870s soul\u2013has proven to be an especially fruitful source for the perfect snippet. Although we\u2019d love to list the hundreds of Memphis soul songs that have contributed to the vast hip-hop canon, we\u2019re whittling it down to 5 of the most essential.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Song: Wu-Tang Clan\u2019s \u201cC.R.E.A.M.\u201d (1993)<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Sample: The Charmel\u2019s \u201cAs Long As I\u2019ve Got You\u201d (1967)<\/b><\/h3>\n

Widely considered one of the most iconic songs in hip-hop history, Wu-Tang’s timeless “C.R.E.A.M.” was instrumental in ushering in the era of grimy NYC street tales that would later be adopted by the likes of Nas, the Notorious B.I.G, and countless others. RZA, the group’s de facto leader and producer, built the song off of a sample from Memphis girl group the Charmels, who were signed to Stax Records. Although the group’s single “As Long As I’ve Got You” failed to gain much traction during its time, the song’s eerie instrumentals proved to be a perfect fit for Wu-Tang’s ominous and dusty sound.<\/p>\n