Sleeve Notes1975

Zimba Ku

Black Heat · 1975

Recording

Recorded at Track Recorders in Washington, D.C., in August 1974, the track features Esco Cromer on drums and Raymond Green on congas. Jimmy Douglass produced the recording for the band’s final album, Keep On Runnin’. Released on Keep On Runnin’ in 1975, the track showcased the Washington band’s layered percussion, horn arrangements and call-and-response vocals. Its opening drum break became a recurring source for later producers. Documented samples include Biz Markie’s Return of the Biz Dance, MC Breed and 2Pac’s Gotta Get Mine, and Chance the Rapper’s 14,400 Minutes.

ArtistBlack Heat

Year1975

StudioTrack Recorders, Washington, D.C.

LabelAtlantic Records

ProducersJimmy Douglass · Lenny Lee Goldsmith · Bill Tate · Joel Kerr

How curators tag this

Funk100%

Sound check

SamplesFig. B

Return of the Biz Dance

Biz Markie · 1988 · sampled-by

Gotta Get Mine

MC Breed feat. 2Pac · 1993 · sampled-by

Posse Love

Tone Loc · 1993 · sampled-by

14,400 Minutes

Chance the Rapper · 2012 · sampled-by

Arrow

Vanilla · 2015 · sampled-by

Year · 1975Fig. C

Cross The Track (We Better Go Back)

Maceo and the Macks · 1975

Wailing Wail

Nicolas Flagello · 1975

Put Your Love (in My Tender Care)

Fatback · 1975

Funky Music

Dynamic Corvettes · 1975

Theme From S.W.A.T.

Rhythm Heritage · 1975

Same GenreFig. D

Different Strokes

Syl Johnson · 1967

Brick House

Commodores · 1977

Yum Yum (Gimme Some)

The Fatback Band · 1975

It’s a New Day

Skull Snaps · 1973

Bouncy Lady

Pleasure · 1974