The verdict
No Payment Mechanism
One of the most-sampled recordings in hip-hop, yet the collapse of Sunburst’s parent (Opal Productions) shortly after release left the rights genuinely orphaned — the same practical reality as Amen Brother and Bam Bam: not an adversarial dispute, but no clear administrator to actually pay.
Sampled 1,000+ times
Used by independents?
Yes — used by De La Soul & Naughty by Nature (independent Tommy Boy) and Big Daddy Kane (independent Cold Chillin’), among 1,000+.
Quick Facts
Released1973
GenreFunk, Soul
LabelSunburst Records
ProducerHerb Rooney
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Herb Rooney (writer/producer); Melvin Bliss (performer)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — orphaned by the Sunburst/Opal collapse; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Grokipedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — one of the most-sampled recordings in hip-hop (1,000+ per WhoSampled) — but there’s no clear rights holder to pay.
Do they allow reuse?
No mechanism on record — the label collapse left administration genuinely unclear, a practical reality rather than a refusal.
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Herb Rooney (former member of The Exciters); performed by Melvin Bliss (Melvin McClelland)
Why there’s no clear administratorThe single failed to chart specifically because Sunburst’s parent, Opal Productions, collapsed shortly after release — the same orphaned-rights pattern documented for Amen Brother and Bam Bam. There is no clearly identified administrator to actually pay today.
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A chance encounter that made the record
Bliss visited a Queens concert hall to promote himself and happened to meet Herb Rooney’s mother while waiting — which led directly to the recording. Bliss has said neither he nor Rooney had any real sense of what the song was about; they just needed a B-side. No lyrics reproduced.
Wikipedia (Melvin Bliss) · read it →
Among the most sampled recordings in hip-hop history
First sampled by Ultramagnetic MC’s on “Ego Trippin’” (1986), since used in 1,000+ songs per WhoSampled — N.W.A, Ice-T, Naughty by Nature’s “O.P.P.,” 50 Cent/Eminem/Adam Levine’s “My Life,” Common, LL Cool J, Logic and Wu-Tang Clan.
WhoSampled · read it →
A delightful cross-genre reach
Hanson’s massive pop hit “MMMBop” (1997) also directly sampled this same drum break — a surprising reach for a track meant as a forgettable B-side.
WhoSampled · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
1,000+
Times sampled
One of hip-hop’s most-used breaks
Covers
1986
First flip
Big names who used itUltramagnetic MC’s · N.W.A · Naughty by Nature · Hanson
Who to Contact
SS
Herb Rooney (writer) / Melvin Bliss (performer)
The confirmed writer and performer — but no clear administrator today
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
Find a similar sound that's 100% freeBrowse the catalog →
References
Every source cited on this page — 5 in total
Was this page helpful?
Page history · 4 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 7)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass
Jul 2026Page created — full research (New Discovery batch)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending a separate manual keyfinder pass