In a statement released by Wu-Tang Clan concerning the claim that was made that their new song “My Heart Gently Weeps”, contained the first ever cleared Beatles sample, they said, “The statement on Wu-Tang Clan’s myspace site is incorrect and we apologize for any confusion it may have caused. We did not sample the Beatles, rather we did an interpolation of the classic George Harrison composition ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps.’ In a historic collaboration, Dhani Harrison, son of George, through his friendship with the RZA, played guitar on the song and he himself helped secure the reuse license. Also appearing on the song are John Frusciante, guitar player for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Erykah Badu singing the chorus. To satisfy everyone’s curiosity, the song will be streamed exclusively on loud.com tonight. It will be the first single and video from the forthcoming album 8 Diagrams, in stores December 4.”
“EMI freaked out about this whole thing, but it’s less about a major corporation talking to another major corporation, it’s more like two friends — RZA and myself — talking about working together,” Dhani Harrison said. “[The RZA] asked me to see if he could use the song, which is owned by us [the Harrison Estate], and we said yes. It’s not the original master — they’ve never been cleared — but the song is used compositionally. I play a bit of guitar on it, John Frusciante played some guitar too, and Erykah is on there,” he continued. “I haven’t heard the final version, but whatever capacity the RZA wants to use all of those parts in, I’m sure he will.”
Legally cleared Beatles samples have long been the Holy Grail of hip-hop. The Beastie Boys famously ripped a bevy of Beatles samples on “The Sounds of Science,” from their landmark 1989 album, Paul’s Boutique, but that was in the heady days before clearing samples became a litigious nightmare.
In 2002, the Roots worked parts of “Hey Bulldog” into the Phrenology track “Thought @ Work,” but were forced to remove them when the sample couldn’t be cleared.
COMMENTS
first
so played and stupid...im out
fuck the beatles, and fuck some loser who says "first"
Fuck the Beatles... how can u say that?? I dont give a fuck what color you are... if you got respect for music you got respect for the Beatles, plain and simple... You are a sorry person.
EMI Got Those Beatles Tapes Locked Away Cos Its Musical History They Dont Wanna Do Anything To Ruin It, Im Sure If John Lennon Were Alive He Have Done A chorus On Someon Like Kanye West, Talib Kwali, Or Common's Songs Cant Really See Him And 50 Kicking It
Rome Jones C.E.O of Redefinition Records...ReDef. The Family/Clique
it would been sick if they could have sampled the beatles. Wu Tang and The Beatles were the best groups that came out during their time. I love the wu cuz they brought that hot grimy hardcore shit to the game. And i loved the beatles cuz they be singing about doing drugs, and "peace not war". rock on motha fuckas
my heart gently weeps for their album sales in the future, which, hip-hop record sales are at an all time low. down by 33% since they last dropped an album. sad.
that song is hot though
damn, to sample a beatles song is gonna be the hardest shit to clear...even Just Blaze said that he will never sample the beatles cos clearing it will be impossible so if u make a hot beat and cn't clear the sample, whats the point???
wu-tang used 2 b hard dey still is but i dnt giv a fuk bout em no mo ya dig i giv dem my respect 4 wat dey did n da rap game but otha dan dat i dnt giv a fuk
Cant wait to get their new album !!!!!!!!!!!! Wu-Tang for ever, bytch
FIRST! I WANNA MEET SOME MOTHERFUCKER WHO SAYS THAT SHIT AND SLAP THE SHIT OUT OF EM...& IF U CAN'T RESPECT THE BEATLES 4 WHAT THEY DID 4 MUSIC....KILL URSELF