Here's an interesting taken off The
BigO WEEKLY REVIEWER No. 71 [April 2, 2004] Very
interesting!
GETTING' JIGGA WITH METALLICA
The Battle Over the Double Black CD
By PHYLLIS POLLACK
When Jay-Z released the accapella version of his Black CD, remixers
jumped on the album, and the mash-up was on. DJ Dangermouse flipped
it with Beatles samples, which roundly brought charges of blasphemy
from the Recording Industry Of America (RIAA), EMI and others who
had a vested interest in the Fab Four's musical catalogue. Since
the Beatles' White album was flipped with Jigga's Black, it was
dubbed the Grey album. When Weezer's Blue CD was hooked up with
Jay-Z's CD, it would snag a title that was already made famous by
the Rolling Stones, the Black And Blue album.
Now, enter Sandman. The Double Black CD is Jigga spitting over
Metallica, courtesy of Minnesota DJ, Cheap Cologne. Because both
Metallica and Jay-Z have a Black album, this CD is known as the
Double Black album
When the RIAA caught a whiff of Cheap Cologne, they quickly sent
him a letter, warning, "This activity has not been authorized by
our member record companies, and must cease immediately." Before
Lars Ullrich could even show up to complain on CNN, a copy of the
March 5, 2004 letter made its way to Lee Ballinger and Dave Marsh's
longtime music industry newsletter, Rock And Rap Confidential. In
the letter, Cologne was threatened with prison ("up to five
years"), and/or a fine up to US$250.000. The turn of events with
the Black album had the RIAA only seeing red.
Fresh out the frying pan, into the fire, Cologne explained on MTV
that the whole thing was just a joke. Even if he does happen to be
an incredibly talented producer. No doubt, the album proves that
you can be mad talented and have an uncanny sense of humor. Just
ask Eminem.
Cologne says that without any explanation, the RIAA called him "a
few days later and said it was a mistake." When he asked for
further clarification, it was refused.
Ironically, the Mouse, or at least his musical work, is attracting
major cheese. People were paying up to $160 on ebay for various
incarnations of the Grey Album. That kind of makes you wonder about
those claims from The RIAA that sales were down just because
"people don't want to pay for music anymore, and they just want to
download it for free." Ironically, the Grey album is one of those
records that proves people are willing to pay for their music -
that is, if they don't feel like they're getting ripped off.
Cologne says he only pressed 300 copies, which are promotional
items, in exchange for those who donate on Paypal and get his
stickers bearing his moniker, which are quickly becoming a
fashionable statement.
Meanwhile, the Double Black album has received critical acclaim.
Even the NY Times acknowledged, "Metallica riffs turn Jay-Z into a
rocker." Double Black is permeated with quality, although it
doesn't carry the Good Housekeeping Seal of the RIAA.
Jay-Z's remake of Ice-T's "99 Problems," laced with Metallica's
"Sad But True," spins so sick, it's terminal. Another impressive
track on the disc is "Change Clothes," which was mixed with
Metallica's "Wherever I May Roam." Throughout the entire CD, as
Metallica rides shotgun behind Jay-Z, it becomes strikingly clear
that there will continue to be more of these studio creations in
the future, whether sanctioned or not.
Had it been Dr. Dre who had recorded this, it's likely that his
label would have left no stone unturned to get most of these
samples cleared. Unfortunately, Cheap Cologne doesn't have such
corporate back up and, with his talent, he really should.
Sad but true.
Phyllis Pollack is a music
journalist and publicist in Los Angeles. The above first appeared
in Counterpunch.