Nearly a year later and I still want Rev. Al Green to clear the sample of “What A Beautiful Thing Love Is” for Kendrick Lamar’s “6:16 in L.A”. Meanwhile, Monk Higgins’s estate is giving free reign to Kendrick and DJ Mustard. Two songs from his debut album, MacArthur Park have been huge catalysts for the various successes of the West Coast Hip-Hop icons.
Fun Fact: Higgins’s “One Man Band (Plays All Alone)” was also used for ScHoolboy Q’s “There He Go.” S/O to Sounwave.
Milton Bland, professionally known as Monk Higgins, was a saxophonist from Menifee, Arkansas. His 1968 debut album covered songs from artists such as Richard Harris and Ray Charles. The title track is a cover of Harris’s “Macarthur Park” and was sampled by Dijon (Excuse me, MUSTAAAARRRRRDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!) for K.Dot’s “TV Off” off his 2024 album, GNX. MAN, that song there! Arguably, my favorite song from the album. I’m taking bets that it will be the first song we hear at halftime. But for today’s R&B Sunday selection, we’re focusing on the sample from the song that changed the world. Ray Charles’s “I Believe To My Soul” landed at track 9 of Mr. Higgins’s album. That cover landed as the finishing move from Kung-Fu Kenny is his little squabble last year. I expect to hear it played by a HBCU marching band in the video I’ll watch later, not live. Sorry Tubi, but it’s still FUCK THE NFL. Yall enjoy! S/O to the Super Bowl parties that have deviled eggs.
Also, did you know Black people love Kendrick Lamar?