Chickenhead's Sample Chain

Project Pat's "Chickenhead" recontextualizes ESG's "U.F.O." from early 80s New York no-wave, building a Southern hip-hop hit that echoes through Public Enemy and Tricky.

Tracklist

  1. Chickenhead (feat. Three 6 Mafia & La Chat) — Project Pat
  2. U.F.O. — ESG
  3. Cavern — Liquid Liquid
  4. Dance — ESG
  5. Don't Believe The Hype — Public Enemy
  6. Ponderosa — Tricky
  7. Go Bang! — Dinosaur L

Transcript

Welcome to OffStereo. Good morning — let's get into it.

That unmistakable hook in Project Pat's "Chickenhead" is pure Memphis gold, but the source of that infectious groove has a story all its own. We're about to trace that sample back to its surprising origins.

Chickenhead (feat. Three 6 Mafia & La Chat) — Project Pat

Chickenhead by Project Pat ft. La Chat & Three 6 Mafia — this is the destination track, showcasing how the 'U.F.O.' sample was recontextualized into a seminal Southern hip-hop hit. This is where the thread starts.

U.F.O. — ESG

Project Pat's "Chickenhead" masterfully constructs its infectious Southern bounce from a fascinating mix of influences, including the distinctive guitar riff heard in this post-punk classic. This is ESG's "U.F.O.," a track that would become one of hip-hop's most sampled.

Cavern — Liquid Liquid

ESG emerged from the same early 80s New York no-wave scene as Liquid Liquid, pioneering a minimalist, percussive funk aesthetic. Richard McGuire of Liquid Liquid described ESG's 1980 performance as "mind-blowing," noting their songs were "held together by nothing — a couple of clacking sticks and a simple bassline."

Dance — ESG

ESG's debut 1981 EP, featuring "U.F.O.," also included this track, "Dance," further showcasing their signature sound. Renee Scroggins told the Chicago Tribune that their approach was about "making a sound on instruments that we could afford," utilizing percussion like claves and cowbells to incorporate a Latin feel into their funk.

Don't Believe The Hype — Public Enemy

The "U.F.O." sample quickly became a cornerstone of early hip-hop production, proving its versatility across genres. Public Enemy, known for their dense, politically charged soundscapes, notably incorporated the ESG riff into their groundbreaking track, "Don't Believe The Hype."

Ponderosa — Tricky

Decades later, ESG's influence continued to permeate music. The distinctive bassline from "U.F.O." found its way into the trip-hop landscape of the mid-90s, notably sampled by Tricky on "Ponderosa," showcasing the sample's enduring and pervasive impact across diverse artists and styles.

Go Bang! — Dinosaur L

The experimental, percussive spirit of ESG resonated with other artists in the early 80s New York dance scene. Dinosaur L, Arthur Russell's project, captured a similar minimalist energy on "Go Bang!," reflecting the shared creative pulse that made this era so influential for future sampling.

Thanks for listening to OffStereo. It's amazing how a single sound can hold so many stories, just waiting for us to uncover them.

Related