Origins: The Samples From Logic's Debut Album, "Under Pressure"

For almost a year, living in his friend’s basement, MC Logic worked non-stop on a deadline to make "it" happen before the year was up. And that he did. The Maryland native signed with Visionary Music Group and Def Jam, and began working on his first project, Under Pressure. The album debuted at #4 last month on the Billboards, falling only behind veteran emcee T.I. and his Paperwork album. Logic’s freshman album has also sold over 84,000 copies since its release- an impressive feat for someone working from a friend’s basement all year, and with little to no radio airplay.

The Under Pressure cover is an illustration depicting Logic, Castro, and 6ix working in Big Lenbo’s basement. The Young Sinatra enlisted illustrator Sam Spratt to capture an everyday scene for him to share. He also included several interludes throughout the record to narrate the album making process. This week we bring back Origins to further narrate the LP. We delve into the basement, into the tracks and we examine a catalog of tracks that producers No I.D., 6ix, Logic, and more used to help create for Under Pressure. A corroboration of classic hip-hop drum breaks layered beside samples can be found. Beginning with the intro, let’s take a listen.

"Intro"

Under Pressure begins with jazz, funk, and psychedelic soul all wrapped in one under '70s Ohio band, Wee and “ Aeroplane.” You'll probably notice that Kanye also sampled Wee’s keyboard track for "Bound 2."

A robotic voiced woman guides us through out the album- similar to A Tribe Called Quest’s intro in their classic “Midnight Marauders, which is definitely were Logic got his inspiration from.

"Soul Food" contains direct organ sample from Alkebulan feat. Quentin Miller and Alexis Glenn in "1970s."

"The Champ" is perhaps one of the most commonly used sample in hip hop. KRS-One, Ice Cube, Lloyd Banks, De La Soul, Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar and a slew of others have laid bars over the organ-heavy track.

"I’m Gone" takes a direct sample from The Physics’ song, “Take a Win." 

This gangsta record samples hip-op legend KRS-One and his song "Mad Crew"

Sample appears in “Gang Related” at 3:25 and throughout

Sample appears at 0:00

A direct sample is pulled from Sepalcure's " Carrot Man"

Sample appears in “Gang Related” at 0:30 and throughout

Sample appears at 0:00

"Never enough" interpolates/cuts phrases from Kid Cudi’s "Pursuit of Happiness" and Outkast’s "So Fresh, So Clean"

Sample appears in “Never Enough” at 0:11

Sample appears at 0:00

Sample appears in “Never Enough” at 2:45

Sample appears at 0:00

Rob Knox and Logic show off their keen ear when producing this track. The two created a drum pattern birthed from drum breaks in American singer Bill Withers popular hit, “ Use Me.” 

Sample appears in “Metropolis” at 0:00 and throughout

Sample appears at 0:58

Logic and 6ix sample acoustic guitar and piano from “ Love is Green”- a 1970s solo from British guitarist Jeff Beck. They later layer on a few drum patterns towards the middle. 

Logic pulls a sample from another legendary hip hop artist, Eazy- Z with "Eazy-Duz-It" 

The sample intro vocals appear in “Under Pressure” at 0:00 and throughout

Samples Appears at 0:02

There's also a smooth sample of drums in Bill Wither’s "Use Me" hit.  

Sample appears in "Under Pressure" at 4:48 and throughout

Samples appears at 0:58

The final sample includes jazzy vibes from Grant Green’s guitar towards the ending of the song.

Sample appears in "Under Pressure" at 3:25 and throughout

Samples appears at 0:58

Cudder fans will recognize this sample from "Cudi Spazzin'." It's a direct sample pulled from N.E.R.D.’s “Spaz” track. 

The sample also appears in "Driving Ms. Daisy" at 0:00 and throughout the cut

Samples appears at 0:00

Logic enlisted Toronto producer Arthur McArthur, along with Swiff D. and 6ix to produce "Now," a bonus track off his debut album. The trio dived in a 90s old school ATL crate and pulled an early record from Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz, sampling the repetitive underlying vocals. 

Sample appears in "Now" at 0:00 and throughout

Samples appears at 0:00