SAMPLED is a column that examines the skeletal production of a contemporary Rap/R&B/Hip-Hop or Pop song. From what song did the loop, sample, or chopped up vocal providing the backbone for a new interpretation originate? We look at the original song with some historical context, and then review the modern-day production that samples the original. For better or worse, this is the process by which a huge portion of contemporary pop music is assembled. On a weekly basis, SAMPLED aims to approach it case-by-case, and examine the dividing practice of using samples in the creation of music.

This week, the sample in question comes from controversial political satirist Tom Lehrer’s 1952 song “The Old Dope Peddler”:

Tom Lehrer is a songwriter, pianist, satirist, and mathematician who was born in Manhattan in 1928. At an early age, he took both classical and popular piano lessons, penning many of his own comical songs and show tunes before leaving his childhood home to study mathematics at Harvard. Lehrer proved to be quite the academic, graduating from Harvard at nineteen, teaching classes at MIT, Harvard, and Wellesley College, and continuing doctoral studies at Harvard. Lehrer would continue to teach until he was well into his seventies, but his music career didn’t really get started until 1953 when he paid $15 to record his first album, Songs by Tom Lehrer. His subject matter was too controversial to play on Harvard radio, so Lehrer sold his records on campus for $3 each. His popularity came through word of mouth, and his growing reputation for writing shocking musical satire. Lehrer stopped writing music when the counterculture movement of the ’60s gained momentum, citing boredom and irrelevance, but Lehrer developed a cult following despite only writing 37 songs over a 20 year career. “The Old Dope Peddler” is a piano ballad satirizing the impactful role of a neighbourhood’s local drug dealer.

“The Old Dope Peddler” was sampled by hip-hop producer Mr. Bangladesh on “Dope Peddler,” from 2 Chainz’ Based On A T.R.U. Story:

2 Chainz’ Dej Jam debut Based On A T.R.U. Story hasn’t been met with critical acclaim, but that didn’t stop the collection of elevated trap anthems from debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 147,000 copies in its first week. On “Dope Peddler,” producer Mr. Bangladesh borrows a large section of Tom Lehrer’s original for the hook, increasing the pitch slightly. In its new context, Lehrer’s satirical song shifts in meaning; it goes from being about a dealer getting children hooked on drugs, to glorifying a drug dealer’s rise to wealth and luxury. In the verses, Bangladesh chops samples from Lehrer’s original, complemented with a gut-wrenching sub bass and painstakingly crafted drum programming. I never thought 2 Chainz would be sampling a song that’s over sixty years old on a trap album, but Mr. Bangladesh made it happen.