“Live at the Barbeque” by Main Source feat. Dre could flip something so smooth into something so sinister is beyond us, but the legendary boardsman made the impossible look elementary in his construction of this 1998 conceptual number, which pairs Eminem and himself with The Isley Brothers 1975 cut,’ “Sensuality.”Ħ. R&B vocalist Joe draws from Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1992 drop, “Brazilian Rhyme (Beijo Interlude)” for his contribution to Big Pun’s 1998 platinum smash, “Still Not a Player,” which dominated radio in 1998 and remains one of the late lyricist signature records.ģ. Diddy revisited the classic slow jam, delivering it to The Notorious B.I.G., who molded his 1994 single into one of the most enduring rap anthems in history.Ģ. The Isley Brothers unleashed their bedroom ballad, “Between the Sheets,” in 1983, and barely a decade later Chucky Thompson and P. Isley Brothers Join Janet Jackson And New Edition For Kentucky Derby PerformancesĪs music lovers across the globe prepare for an unforgettable night of great entertainment and insights behind some of the most iconic records of all time, VIBE takes a deep dive into The Isley Brothers’ and Earth, Wind & Fire’s contributions to hip-hop and highlights fifty classic rap songs that wouldn’t exist without their music. That reverberation is bolstered in part by the work of various figures within hip-hop, who have drawn from their respective catalogs in the parocess of creating a soundtrack of their own, resulting in even more music that has and will go on to stand the test of time. Dominating the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, both groups are responsible for dozens of classics that doubled as a soundtrack to black life in America and continue to reverberate decades after their creation. They are recognized as two of the most decorated and influential black bands of musicians of the past century. Two predecessors that have played a pivotal role in shaping rap music are The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind & Fire. Over time, however, it has become embraced, as it signals a bridging of the gap between generations and benefits each party and keeps the music alive and thriving, past, present, and beyond. Many of rap’s most monumental records have been enhanced by samples of material from artists that came before them, a practice that was once frowned upon by those very artists. In addition to those who were of age during each band’s prime years will be a generation of rap fans tuning in, who know them from their favorite rap songs, as well as their own original classic material that is rooted in R&B, Funk, and Soul.
From Doo-Wop songs to Soul tracks, Funk grooves to Disco beats, the Isley Brothers have always remembered how to inject a memorable melody into every number they record.Today, Easter Sunday (April 4), legendary music groups The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind & Fire are set to participate in the latest Verzuz showdown and the second since its partnership with streaming platform Triller. Among other accomplishments, they toured with a young guitarist named Jimmy James (later known as Jimi Hendrix - his work can be heard on the single "Testify"). Some of their best work can be found on the album Brother, Brother, Brother, but the seminal "Footsteps in the Dark" is not to be missed either. Marvin and fiery guitar player Ernie (plus a brother-in-law on keyboards).
Centered for most of their career on the vocal talents of Ronald, Rudolph and Vernon, in their 3 + 3 era the Isleys benefited from the addition of a couple more brothers to the backing band: bassist From "Who's That Lady" to "It's Your Thing," they've produced numerous hits that are still blaring on radios (and commercials) across the land. The Isleys have had success in many genres since their beginnings in the 1950s, arguably hitting their peak and writing some of their tightest music in the '70s.