{"product_id":"beat-bop","title":"Beat Bop","description":"\u003cp\u003eMuch about \u003cem\u003eBeat Bop\u003c\/em\u003e is shrouded in mystery. Who really produced it? Why was \u003cstrong\u003eJean-Michel Basquiat\u003c\/strong\u003e relegated from rapper on the track to drawing the cover and labels? What are they actually rapping about for most of the ten-minute length?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese questions, however, are all part of the enigma and rich legend surrounding a song that is an undisputed piece of true hip-hop genius. The combination of graffiti artist \u003cstrong\u003eRammellzee\u003c\/strong\u003e and rapper \u003cstrong\u003eK-Rob\u003c\/strong\u003e is a potent one, with each MC adopting a persona - hustler and B-Boy respectively - that they maintain against an unusual swirling backdrop that must be one of the best instrumentals ever committed to wax.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe original Tartown Record pressing was limited to 500 copies, a mere test pressing in the eyes of the assembled artists, with scarcity further driven by Basquiat's rising rep in the art world. Those few hundred copies – and a subsequent re-release on Profile Records (the same label where K-Rob played out the rest of his brief career) – punched well above their weight in terms of lasting influence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConsider the early vocal tones of the \u003cstrong\u003eBeastie Boys\u003c\/strong\u003e (who also sampled the track), or the huge part it played in the sound of \u003cstrong\u003eCypress Hill\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eB-Real\u003c\/strong\u003e. His voice is almost homage to Rammellzee's on \u003cem\u003eBeat Bop\u003c\/em\u003e, while they also lifted the chorus of \"Shoot 'Em Up\" and even a sample of Cypress Hill from the track too. It's unsurprising – this is a multi-layered, complex song that reveals a little more of itself each time you play it but remains damn funky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis reissue boasts the vocal and instrumental versions in full, as well as both the full cover and label artwork from the original Tartown Release.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mr Bongo","offers":[{"title":"Black | 12\"","offer_id":50471846641995,"sku":"1045246","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2931c57a-da8f-4e52-a776-73cbfee4ae7a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727412123","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/products\/beat-bop","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}