Biz Markie was sued for sampling a Gilbert O’Sullivan song on his last album. It was a historical case that changed the entire music biz. Rappers used to steal bits of other artist’s songs with little to no legal consequence. Now those Samples have to be Cleared.

The most recognizable bit is a fun disco anthem entitled Let Me Turn You On, which, perhaps because it’s permitted, not only samples but nearly karaokizes McFadden And Whitehead’s Ain’t No Stoppin. Other songs utilize their samples in a more conventional way.

The rapper also covers his own songs. Family Tree is a needless and inferior interpolation of the On And On verse before he started freestyling. In contrast, the first cut sounds like it was co-written by Big Daddy Kane. The album is otherwise slightly subpar.

my rating : 3 of 5

1993