Beyoncé introduced a new generation to the titan soul group Frankie Beverly and Maze after she flipped their “Before I Let Go” on 2019’s Homecoming: The Live Album.
Others might know the group, particularly “Before I Let Go,” as a backyard barbecue classic that might be a staple in their parents’ or grandparents’ party playlist. Who can resist when people play the jam at a family function and people not only bust out the electric slide but join each other in the chorus?
Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx, who also DJs on the side, said Beverly’s songs are important to the culture, uniting people of all color.
Beverly and the group have transcended generations, class, race and other categories without even trying. Whether talking about the original songs or songs that many R&B and Hip-Hop artists have sampled, their music is steeped in Black music’s DNA.
Check out five of Frankie Beverly and Maze’s#### songs that have been sampled and crossed generations below.
5) “I Need You,” 1978
Over the last three decades, quite a few rappers have discovered the musicality of this ’70s gem. It made its way into three of the street’s most beloved grooves: 50 Cent’s “Hustler’s Ambition,” Jeezy’s “Talk to Em,” and Boosie and Webbie’s “I Need U.”
4) “Happy Feelings,” 1977
A little over a dozen major recording artists have tapped this vibey song to create a new track for their catalog. However, when Tupac Shakur flipped it in 1995 with his song “Can U Get Away” it was something special for the ladies on Me Against The World.
3) “We Are One,” 1983
When this song came out, it was an anthem to unify the community and became a go-to sample for a few members of California’s most elite ’90s MCs, including WC and Tha Dogg Pound.
WC dropped the sample in his “Better Days” song featuring the smoothed out Jon B, who always seemed to find himself on a chilled-out West Coast rap song. Tha Dogg Pound members Daz Dillinger and Kurupt used it on the track “Hittin’ Donutz in Tha Streetz” and Kurupt, on his solo dolo vibe, got busy on the song titled “Under Pressure,” which also sampled it.
2) “Joy And Pain,” 1980
“Joy And Pain” was sampled at least 13 times, but the most popular use of the song has to be Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s 1988 jam with the same name. The song featured vocalist Omar Chandler on the iconic chorus, who effortlessly mimicked Beverly’s hearty voice.
1)“Before I Let Go,” 1981
Yes, “Before I Let Go” was covered by Beyoncé, introducing it to millions not familiar with the tune. But before Queen Bey went into the vocal booth to add her spin to it, it’d been sampled by a few heavy hitters.
Steady B rocked it on his joint “Use Me” as did 50 Cent, Big Daddy Kane, Nate Dogg, Fat Joe, Kool Keith, Ice-T, Uncle Murda and Doug E. Fresh, who sampled it twice on his joints “Back in the Dayz” and D.E.F.”
Three songs that really stand out are Keith Murray’s “The Rhyme,” Funky 4+1’s “Do You Want to Rock” and K-Solo’s “Your Mom’s in My Business.”
At 77, Frankie Beverly remains a cross-generational beacon. Beverly and Maze are still performing. The group is currently on their I Wanna Thank You Tour, a winter white affair, on Saturday (December 23) at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. Tickets are available here.
They will be joined by The Isley Brothers, another group deeply influential in the Hip-Hop world— just peep Ron Isley’s run as Mr. Biggs in the ’90s and Erykah Badu and André 3000’s “Hello” remake.