The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed songwriters of record (Hurby Azor & Ray Davies), no confirmed formal dispute — Davies’ credit is documented as a settled co-writing credit. Connects to “Tramp,” already in this catalog, as its original release pairing.
Quick Facts
Released1987
AlbumHot, Cool & Vicious
GenreHip-Hop, Pop Rap
LabelNext Plateau Records
ProducerHurby Azor
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Hurby Azor & Ray Davies
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — originally Next Plateau; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
A much-sampled hip-hop landmark; it also itself samples Coal Kitchen’s 1977 “Keep on Pushin’” for the whispered hook.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record and no confirmed formal dispute.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Push It was the B-side to Salt-N-Pepa’s own “Tramp” — their sampling of the Otis Redding & Carla Thomas cover of this Lowell Fulson blues original (already in this catalogue)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Hurby Azor & Ray Davies
A documented, settled co-writing creditThe song’s ending reworks the opening lyric of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” (1964), which earned Ray Davies a formal co-writing credit. It is documented as a settled credit; whether it arose from litigation or an informal agreement isn’t independently confirmed, so it’s presented as a settled credit, not an asserted lawsuit.
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
The group hated their biggest hit
Salt-N-Pepa themselves reportedly hated the song at the time — feeling it undermined their rap credibility and lacked lyrical direction — and considered it just a throwaway B-side cut, only for it to become, unexpectedly, their most popular song ever. No lyrics reproduced.
Songfacts · read it →
A sampled hook
The whispered “Push it” hook itself was sampled from Coal Kitchen’s 1977 track “Keep on Pushin’.”
TV80s · read it →
Cultural impact
Ranked #446 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and #9 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.”
Wikipedia · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
A B-side that became their signature hit
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
PI
Hurby Azor & Ray Davies (Next Plateau)
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 12)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass