Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedBring the Noise
Hip-Hop1980s110BPM
E minKey
More around 110 BPM → · More in E minor →
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The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record — including James Brown and George Clinton, both officially co-credited via sampled material and both in this catalogue. No dispute found; the lyric even nods to “these Honeydrippers” (Impeach the President, also here).
Quick Facts
Released1987
AlbumIt Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
GenreHip-Hop
LabelDef Jam Records
ProducerThe Bomb Squad
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Chuck D, Hank Shocklee & Eric Sadler (+ James Brown & George Clinton via samples)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally Def Jam; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Sampled by De La Soul and Kanye West, and famously covered by thrash-metal band Anthrax in 1991. Ranked #160 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record and no dispute found.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
James Brown is officially co-credited on this track via sampled material; his catalogue is represented here (already in this catalogue)
George Clinton is officially co-credited on this track via sampled material (already in this catalogue)
Nodded to directly in the lyric — “these Honeydrippers” (already in this catalogue)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Chuck D (Carlton Ridenhour), Hank Shocklee & Eric “Vietnam” Sadler — plus James Brown & George Clinton (both officially credited via sampled material)
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A meta-nod to this catalogue
The song’s own lyrics reference “these Honeydrippers” in a Flavor Flav ad-lib — a direct nod to The Honey Drippers, whose “Impeach the President” is already in this catalogue. No lyrics reproduced.
riquespeaks · read it →
Three flows from three songs
Chuck D achieved three distinct vocal flows across the track by combining verses he’d originally written for three different, separate songs into this one.
riquespeaks · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Rolling Stone #160; covered by Anthrax (1991)
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itDe La Soul · Kanye West · Anthrax
Who to Contact
BN
Chuck D / The Bomb Squad (Def Jam)
The confirmed songwriters 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 14)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass