Song Clearance Sheet
2 sources citedThe Mexican
Rock1970s112BPM
B minKey
More around 110 BPM → · More in B minor →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriter of record (Alan Shacklock, plus a Morricone interpolation), no dispute found — a breakbeat DJ Kool Herc used in hip-hop’s earliest days.
Quick Facts
Released1972
AlbumFirst Base
GenreRock, Funk Rock
LabelHarvest Records
Recorded atAbbey Road Studios, London
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Alan Shacklock (+ Morricone via the interpolation)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — a breakbeat DJ Kool Herc used in hip-hop’s earliest days; sampled across genres and covered by GZA.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriter of record and no dispute found.
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Alan Shacklock (+ songwriting connections via the Morricone interpolation)
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A socially-conscious origin
Shacklock wrote the lyrics as a deliberate response to the 1960 John Wayne film “The Alamo,” which he felt was historically inaccurate and failed to show the human side of the Mexican troops at the Battle of the Alamo. No lyrics reproduced.
Wikipedia · read it →
A break at hip-hop’s founding, and a disco favorite
DJ Kool Herc used the break in hip-hop’s earliest days; sampled by Afrika Bambaataa, Doug E. Fresh, Jungle Brothers, Grandmaster Flash, Kool Moe Dee, N.E.R.D and The Prodigy’s Liam Howlett, and covered by GZA. Also a favorite at the legendary NYC club The Loft.
The Listening Post · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A DJ Kool Herc–era breakbeat
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itAfrika Bambaataa · Grandmaster Flash · GZA
Who to Contact
MX
Alan Shacklock
The confirmed songwriter of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 8)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass