White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | "In 1983 [[Melle Mel|Grandmaster Melle Mel]] releases "[[White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)]]", copying the [[bassline]] of "[[Cavern (Liquid Liquid)|Cavern]]". [[99 Records]] sues [[Sugar Hill Records]] for the similarities. However, when Sugar Hill is ordered to pay $660,000 in damages, it declares bankruptcy shortly after." --Sholem Stein | ||
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| "'''White Lines (Don't Do It)'''" is a song by [[Grandmaster Flash]] and The Furious Five, released as a [[12-inch single|12"]] in [[1983]] on [[Sugar Hill Records (rap)|Sugar Hill Records]]. The song, which warns against the dangers of [[cocaine]], [[drug addiction|addiction]], and [[drug smuggling]], is one of Melle Mel's [[signature song|signature tracks]]. The instantly recognizable [[bassline]] is sampled from a performance of the Sugar Hill house band playing [[Liquid Liquid]]'s "[[Cavern (Liquid Liquid)|Cavern]]". When originally released it was credited to Grandmaster + Melle Mel. This was done to mislead the public into believing that [[Grandmaster Flash]] participated on the record, when in fact he played no part and had already left the record label the previous year . | "'''White Lines (Don't Do It)'''" is a song by [[Grandmaster Flash]] and The Furious Five, released as a [[12-inch single|12"]] in [[1983]] on [[Sugar Hill Records (rap)|Sugar Hill Records]]. The song, which warns against the dangers of [[cocaine]], [[drug addiction|addiction]], and [[drug smuggling]], is one of Melle Mel's [[signature song|signature tracks]]. The instantly recognizable [[bassline]] is sampled from a performance of the Sugar Hill house band playing [[Liquid Liquid]]'s "[[Cavern (Liquid Liquid)|Cavern]]". When originally released it was credited to Grandmaster + Melle Mel. This was done to mislead the public into believing that [[Grandmaster Flash]] participated on the record, when in fact he played no part and had already left the record label the previous year . | ||
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"In 1983 Grandmaster Melle Mel releases "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)", copying the bassline of "Cavern". 99 Records sues Sugar Hill Records for the similarities. However, when Sugar Hill is ordered to pay $660,000 in damages, it declares bankruptcy shortly after." --Sholem Stein |
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"White Lines (Don't Do It)" is a song by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, released as a 12" in 1983 on Sugar Hill Records. The song, which warns against the dangers of cocaine, addiction, and drug smuggling, is one of Melle Mel's signature tracks. The instantly recognizable bassline is sampled from a performance of the Sugar Hill house band playing Liquid Liquid's "Cavern". When originally released it was credited to Grandmaster + Melle Mel. This was done to mislead the public into believing that Grandmaster Flash participated on the record, when in fact he played no part and had already left the record label the previous year .
"White Lines" peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in 1983. The song fared better in the United Kingdom, reaching number 7 on the UK Singles Chart in July of 1984, spending nearly an entire year in the top 75, (and number 13 in the UK's top 50 songs of the year).
The unofficial music video was directed by New York University film student Spike Lee and starred Laurence Fishburne.
For some reason, in 1988, the song was used as part of an anti-heroin public information film in the UK.
Samples
The song "White Lines" has been sampled in many other songs, including:
- "It Takes Scoop" by Fatman Scoop feat. The Crooklyn Clan (2004)
- "White Girls" by Mighty Casey (2003)
- "Tobisugi" by King Giddra (2002)
- "Quiet Storm" by Mobb Deep (1999)
- "Phenomenon" by LL Cool J (1997)
- "Ego Trippin' (Part Two)" by De La Soul (1993)
- "Arts in D Minor (Harry Houdini)" by Kon Kan (1989)
- "White Lines '89 - Part II" by Grandmaster Melle Mel and The Furious Five (1989)
