Catch the Beat (song)
"Catch the Beat" was an early song for rapper T-Ski Valley. It was a hit for him in 1981. Over the years it has been sampled by many artists as well as charting with remixing and new titles.
Background
The song came about as a result of T-Ski Valley who was known as Tyrone in the early days being hired to set up the break beat section at the back of the store run by Brad Osborne. After asking Osborne if he could record some hip hop songs, Osborne booked Tyrone some time with Bob Blank's Blank Tape Studios. This was the same the studio where some early rap and disco artists such as Musique and the Salsoul Orchestra made their recordings. The single that emerged from Tyrone's recording session was "Catch the Beat" by T-Ski Valley. Produced by Brad Osborne, the song was released in the US on Grand Groove GG 7701."Catch the Beat" uses a sample from "Heartbeat" by Taana Gardner.
It has been sampled in at least 82 recordings. The song "Over" by will.i.am which appears on his Songs About Girls album uses a sample of "Catch the Beat".
Reception
In an article by Stuart Baker in Hot Stuff magazine issue #11, "Catch the Beat" was referred to as a groundbreaking rap song. Like "The Breaks" by Curtis Blow, it is an early rap favorite, the track has been described as a huge hit in the black community. According to Piccadilly Records, the song captures the post disco Bronx era of Rap.In 2002 a remix by Dimitri from Paris, "Catch the Beat " bw "Catch the Beat ", "Catch The Beat " was released on Peppermint Jam PJMS0063. The editor of The Beat Box, Hot Plate section wrote that it was "cleverly reworked by Dimitri From Paris and Mousse T." and they had "collectively infused it with an old-school contemporary feel".