Meet Reggie Stephens, who also goes by the name Famouz; a former player for the New York Giants and the Arena Football League’s Nashville Kats, Famouz became, er, sorta famous today for being the first person to legally sample a Bon Jovi song on a hip-hop track. (Yes, we’re pretty shocked that it took this long, too.)
You can probably guess what song is sampled by Famouz’ “Bad Name,” and on first listen, we can say that it’s definitely better than the 311y version of the song that appeared on the band’s ill-fated covers album This Left Feels Right a few years back. What’s interesting is why Jon Bon Jovi picked Famouz for his band’s initial foray into the hip-hop world–you’d think he’d have angled for someone at least on the level of, say, Fabolous. Perhaps the Arena Football League bond is, indeed, that strong–or maybe Jon just wanted to wash the taste of Blake Lewis’ groundbreaking (and ear-shattering) beatbox version of “You Give Love A Bad Name” out of his mouth as soon as possible.
Bad Name Feat. Jon Bon Jovi: Famouz [HHNLive]
Famouz AKA FMZ [MySpace]
Reggie Stephens [arenafan.com]
Not too shabby. Best use of a Bon Jovi sample still remains Orbital’s live version of “Halcyon (And On And On).” That actually got released commercially in various forms, I wonder if Bon Jovi cleared that.
I was kind of hoping this would be better. I love clever samples if they’re integrated in unique ways, but this track sounds like it took about 10 minutes to put together.
@Audif Jackson Winters III: I saw Orbital do that bit live, and it was so good. They started looping the Bon Jovi bit backwards and then looping “Heaven is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle over it and I thought my head was gonna turn inside out.
Hey! My first two comments in one day!
GHETTO COMMISSION sampled “Wanted Dead or Alive” for “I’m a Soulja” back in 1998. With permission, at least according to the liner notes. You remember when MASTER P ruled the world?
yeah beanie and cam’ron used “wanted dead or alive” for “runnin” in ’04. not sure if it was legal though.
i’m waiting for a jersey-themed redman/joe buddens/bon jovi collab though.