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About Matt Maguire
Expertise
I am new to allexperts, but have plenty of knowledge and experience in the realm of Sublime. Guarantee: you will receive an answer within 2 days of posting the question -- I have no feedback so far and would like to build some.
I can answer most questions about the band, the significance of the lyrics, the show dates,
the unreleased albums and tracks, misinformation, and, above all, I am an expert on their
influences and related music.
Experience
I have been a huge fan for 14 years, I ran a server which distributed Sublime's live and unreleased music 24/7 for 4 years, I have answered questions about the band daily for years on their old website, and I know some of the largest collectors in the world. I created the 5 CD bootleg "Rewind Selector" which documents the influences of Sublime and was the topic of a Spin Magazine interview.
Education/Credentials
I did not study music in college, but I majored in English, so I can write a clear response. I worked as a research assistant in the past, so I have skills in research if I need to figure out an answer.
Past/Present Clients
Sublime fans aren't my clients, but I have distributed swag and rare tracks to all those who want them for years at no cost.
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You are here: Experts > Music/Performing Arts > Ska/Reggae > Sublime > Greatest Hits
Expert: Matt Maguire
Date: 5/6/2008
Subject: Greatest Hits
Question
bradley used (stole) the guitar on "Greatest Hits" from a sweet Michigan & Smiley
dub. do you know the name of that song?
Answer
The name of the song you are referring to is "Diseases" but I would disagree with the word choice "stole". Here's what I wrote regarding this track in the text supplement to the project Rewind Selector:
<<17. Diseases / Greatest Hits (Michigan & Smiley)
There are certain songs that are obvious influences of Sublime, but without looking at the band’s record collections, it is impossible to know which came first for them. The guitar riff is identical, but through my research on this particular reggae influence I met a man who has developed an entire thesis upon this song/riddim. His name is Wayne Marshall and after several emails back and forth in which we helped each other understand this trend better, he had this nugget of wisdom: “…I quite agree, as is true for the reggae (and hip-hop) tradition more generally: understanding someone's influences doesn't subtract from their ‘originality’; rather, it enriches one's sense of their distinctive voice.” This is part of the idea of Rewind Selector as a project. Please check out his paper on this famous riddim: http://wayneandwax.com/?p=137 >>
This is "meme" borrowing and it is extremely common in reggae and hip hop. This same riff exists in many songs (research courtesy of Wayne...seriously read that article because it is a great and enlightening bit of info):
A Brief (Incomplete) Timeline of the Zunguzung Meme:
1982 — Yellowman, “Zunguzung” (see also, Live at Aces version, w/ Fathead) (This version is very important to understand how Sublime and Notorious BIG are imitating the same meme.)
1982 — Sister Nancy, “Coward of the Country”¯
1984 — Frankie Paul, “Alesha”
1984 — Toyan, “Hot Bubble Gum”¯
1985 — Super Cat, “Boops”
1987 — BDP, “Remix For P Is Free”
1987 — Sublime, “Roots of Creation”
1988 — BDP, “Tcha Tcha”¯
1989 — Nice & Smooth, “Nice & Smooth”¯
1989 — Nice & Smooth, “Dope on a Rope”
1992 — Sublime "Greatest Hits"
1993 — K7, “Zunga Zeng”¯
1993 — KRS-One, “P Is Still Free”
1993 — Buju Banton, “Big It Up”
1994 — Ninjaman, “Funeral Again”
1994 — Bounty Killer, “Kill Or Be Killed”
1995 — Buju Banton, “Man a Look Yu”
1995 — Junior M.A.F.I.A. (feat. Biggie Smalls), “Player’s Anthem”
1996 — 2pac, “Hit ‘Em Up”
1998 — Black Star, “Definition”
1998 — Mr. Notty, “Sentencia de Muerte”
2000 — Dead Prez, “It’s Bigger than Hip-Hop”
2001 — Nejo, track 14 (DJ Joe’s Fatal Fantassy 1)
2003 — Joe Budden, “Pump It Up”
2004 — Jin, “Learn Chinese”¯
2004 — Vybz Kartel, “Tight Pussy Gyal”
2005 — DJ /rupture (Filastine + dead prez), “Judas Goat”¯ + “It’s Bigger than Hip-Hop (acapella)”
2006 — POD, featuring Matisyahu, “Roots in Stereo”
2007 — White Rappers, “One Night Stand”
Great question, Seif!
Matt
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