Song Clearance Sheet
4 sources citedRockit
Electro1980s111BPM
G majKey
More around 110 BPM → · More in G major →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Hancock, Laswell, Beinhorn), no dispute found — a historic turntablism moment (Grandmixer DXT became the first DJ to win a Grammy), by the same artist as “Cantaloupe Island.”
Used by independents?
Unconfirmed — the page doesn't yet document enough sampler detail to tell.
Quick Facts
Released1983
AlbumFuture Shock
GenreElectro, Jazz-Funk
LabelColumbia Records
ProducerBill Laswell · Michael Beinhorn
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell & Michael Beinhorn
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — #1 Hot Dance Club Play, a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental; a turntablism landmark widely referenced and licensed.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed writers of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Hancock’s own earlier jazz standard (already in this catalog)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell & Michael Beinhorn
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
The first DJ ever to win a Grammy
The 1984 Grammy performance featured Grandmixer DXT scratching live with robot-costumed breakdancers — making DXT the first DJ in history to win a Grammy and the first time scratching and breakdancing appeared in a Grammy performance; musicologists credit it as inspiration for a generation of turntablists.
Songfacts · read it →
The turntable as a lead instrument
Widely described as the first record to use scratching as a genuine musical style — Laswell and DXT treated the turntable as the ensemble’s lead instrument, not a novelty. Hancock has said he discovered Malcolm McLaren’s “Buffalo Gals” and told his producers he wanted to do something with scratching.
Produce Like a Pro · read it →
Five VMAs at the first-ever ceremony
The Godley & Creme video (with Jim Whiting’s robotic sculptures) won five awards at the inaugural 1984 MTV VMAs — more than any other artist that night, including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Wikipedia · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A turntablism landmark
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
HH
Herbie Hancock, Bill Laswell & Michael Beinhorn
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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References
Every source cited on this page — 4 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 3)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass