Sometimes, a sample comes to us from a legend who has passed. The tricky thing about samples is giving the original artist their proper due, ensuring that songwriting credits go to the artists who laid the foundation for the inspiration these ideas drew from. Other times, though, we get to see a living artist enjoy the fruits of their timelessness. Ronnie Foster, producer and acclaimed fusion organist, has seen the many iterations of his work transform Hip-hop into something ethereal and palpable.
Foster, who has performed with greats like Roberta Flack and Grant Green, began his solo career in the early 70’s with the release of his now-classic debut album, Two Headed Freap, on Blue Note Records. Among the stellar 8-song outing is a soft-spoken number called “Mystic Brew,” an immersive, breathing, organ-driven highlight with jaw-dropping beauty. This song brings us to this week’s Golden Age Thursday, where we hear how A Tribe Called Quest and Madlib turned this four-minute masterpiece into one of the more recognizable samples Hip-hop has seen. Foster, who is now 75 and released his comeback LP Reboot in 2022, is here to witness this resurgence, which is reason enough to celebrate. You can check out “Mystic Brew” and how it’s made its way into Hip-hop below.
Original Sample: Ronnie Foster – “Mystic Brew”
Produced by George Butler
A Tribe Called Quest – “Electric Relaxation”
Produced by A Tribe Called Quest
J. Cole – “Forbidden Fruit” (Feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Produced by J. Cole
Madlib – “Mystic Bounce”
Produced by Madlib
