Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sample Set #165



Released in March of 2005, Beanie Sigel's The B. Coming stands as the titular bookend of Roc-A-Fella Records' Dynasty Era. Recorded between Sigel's guilty verdict and his trip up north, The B. Coming highlights the meshing of the Philly emcee's Biggie-like swagger with Scarface's patented paranoia rap. Despite the wide array of guest artists, the album is nonetheless a personal narrative of a man in solitude, expressing his existential qualms. Sigel's diary scripts are well-accompanied by the record's sound spectrum of 70s and 80s soul and rock. Production highlights include the sampling of Raphael Ravenscroft and Klaus Doldinger's wailing saxophones on the respective tracks "Feel It in the Air" and "Tales of a Hustler Pt. 2", Natalie Cole's sweet crooning on "Oh Daddy", and the string arrangement of David Crawford on René & Angela's "My First Love", lifted by Ty Fyffe for the Rell-assisted "Change". The album concludes with a harrowing reimagining of Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" as Sigel ponders life on the lam. Enjoy this sample set to one of my favorite albums of the aughts. Turn it up!!