The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record, no dispute found, and one of hip-hop’s workhorse drum breaks — 90+ documented samples across five decades of legitimate reuse.
Sampled 90+ times
Used by independents?
Yes — used by The Prodigy on the independent XL label, and across drum & bass.
Quick Facts
Released1969
AlbumKool and the Gang
GenreFunk, Soul
LabelDe-Lite Records
ProducerGene Redd Jr.
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Kool & the Gang (band collective)
WhoSampled → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally De-Lite Records; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
WhoSampled → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — per WhoSampled, sampled in more than 90 songs, tagged as one of the most-used drum breaks in hip-hop.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record, no dispute found, extensive real precedent of legitimate reuse.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
A same-era, same-milieu breakbeat workhorse already in this catalog
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Kool & the Gang (band collective)
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
Extensive, well-documented sample history
Sampled by Eric B. & Rakim (“Don’t Sweat the Technique”), Gang Starr (“Take a Rest,” “Jazz Thing”), Organized Konfusion (“Intro”), Amerie (“Hate 2 Love U”), Deee-Lite (“Deee-Lite Theme”), The Prodigy (“Android”) and Break (“Headz Up”), among many others.
WhoSampled · read it →
A reported, not independently confirmed, additional layer
One community comment on WhoSampled suggests the track’s first drum break may itself be drawn from The Meters’ “Hey! Last Minute” — presented as reported, not independently verified in this research pass.
WhoSampled · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
90+
Times sampled
A workhorse hip-hop drum break
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itEric B. & Rakim, Gang Starr
Who to Contact
GU
Kool & the Gang
The confirmed songwriters of record (collective credit)
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 4)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass