"Catch the Beat" was an early song for rapper

T-Ski Valley T-Ski Valley is an American rapper who had several hits during the 1980s. His song " Catch the Beat" was an early rap favorite in the US in 1981. He had a hit in the UK in 1983 with " Valley Style" which spent six weeks in the UK disco chart, and ...

. It was a hit for him in 1981. Over the years it has been sampled by many artists as well as charting with remixing and new titles.

Background

The song came about as a result of

who was known as Tyrone in the early days being hired to set up the break beat section at the back of the store run by

Brad Osborne T-Ski Valley is an American rapper who had several hits during the 1980s. His song "Catch the Beat (rap song), Catch the Beat" was an early rap favorite in the US in 1981. He had a hit in the UK in 1983 with "Valley Style" which spent six weeks in ...

. After asking Osborne if he could record some

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

songs, Osborne booked Tyrone some time with Bob Blank's

Blank Tape Studios Bob Blank is an American music producer and prolific sound engineer who ran Blank Tape Studios which opened in New York in 1976. Artists he has worked with include, James Chance, Kid Creole, Cristina, Lizzy Mercier-Descloux, Sandra Feva, Instan ...

. This was the same the studio where some early rap and disco artists such as

Musique Musique is the French word for music. Musique may also refer to: Music *Musique (disco band), a 1970s studio band produced by Patrick Adams *Musique, a British dance act consisting of Moussa Clarke and Nick Hanson best known for their 2001 song ...

and the

Salsoul Orchestra The Salsoul Orchestra was the backing Band (music), band of session musicians for many acts on the New York City label Salsoul Records and, under its own name, recorded several hit singles and albums between 1975 and 1982. History The orchestr ...

made their recordings. The single that emerged from Tyrone's recording session was "Catch the Beat" by T-Ski Valley. Produced by Brad Osborne, the song was released in the US on Grand Groove GG 7701. "Catch the Beat" uses a sample from "

Heartbeat Heartbeat, heart beat or heartbeats may refer to: Science and technology * Heartbeat (biology), one cardiac cycle of the heart * Heartbeat (computing), a periodic signal to indicate normal operation or to synchronize parts of a system ** Heartbea ...

" by

Taana Gardner Taana Gardner (born September 3, 1960) is an American disco and post-disco singer who found her success through West End Records since 1979. She is also a former member of the Aural Exciters. Early life Born in Newark, New Jersey (where she c ...

. It has been sampled in at least 82 recordings. The song "Over" by

will.i.am William James Adams Jr. (born March 15, 1975), known professionally as will.i.am (pronounced "will I am"), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He is the frontman of the musical group Black Eyed Peas, which he ...

which appears on his ''

Songs About Girls ''Songs About Girls'' is the third studio album by American musician will.i.am, known from his work with Black Eyed Peas, The Black Eyed Peas. The original title of the album was ''Keep the Beeper''. The album was released on September 19, 2007. ...

'' album uses a sample of "Catch the Beat".

Reception

In an article by Stuart Baker in ''Hot Stuff'' magazine issue #11, "Catch the Beat" was referred to as a groundbreaking rap song. Like " The Breaks" by

Curtis Blow Kurtis Walker (born August 9, 1959), known professionally by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Walker is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a major record label. ...

, it is an early rap favorite, the track has been described as a huge hit in the black community. According to Piccadilly Records, the song captures the

post disco Post-disco is a term and genre to describe an aftermath in popular music history circa 1979–1986, imprecisely beginning with the backlash against disco music in the United States, leading to civil unrest and a riot in Chicago known as the Disco ...

Bronx era of Rap. In 2002 a remix by Dimitri from Paris, "Catch the Beat (Dimi's & Mousse T.'s Old School Mix)" bw "Catch the Beat (Bibi Better Days Mix)", "Catch The Beat (Acapella)" was released on Peppermint Jam PJMS0063. The editor of The Beat Box, Hot Plate section (''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' 20 July) wrote that it was "cleverly reworked by Dimitri From Paris and Mousse T." and they had "collectively infused it with an old-school contemporary feel".

Hit

The song has been described as an underground hit. and according to the 31 August 1981 issue of ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'', "Catch the Beat" was in the East Coast Dance Music Top Ten for the week of 1 August 1981. As reported by ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of three major weekly music industry trade magazines in the United States, with ''Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 as ''Music Vendor''. In 1964, it was changed to ''Record World'' under the ...

'' in the 12 December 1981 issue, the New York area hit "Catch the Beat" was continuing to sell well.

Later years

In 1984, "

Catch the Beat (Scratch the Beat) "Catch the Beat (Scratch the Beat)" was a 1984 single for T-Ski Valley. It became a hit for him that year on the UK Disco Top 85 chart. It stayed in the chart more than two months during its run. Background "Catch the Beat (Scratch the Beat)" was ...

" was released on Master Mix 12CHE 8409 as well as BMC 3597. A hit in the UK, it spent ten weeks on the ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper published between 1954 and 1991, aimed at pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after ''New Musical Express'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK Album ...

'' disco chart, peaking at no. 33. It re-emerged on the Disco Top 85 chart at no. 75. It stayed in the chart for one more week.James Hamilton's Disco Page, October 6, 1984
Disco Top 85 – October 6, 1984
/ref>

References

{{reflist

External links

* Discogs
T/Ski Valley* / Grand Groove Bunch – !Catch The Beat! / !Catch The Groove!
* Cifraclub
Lyrics
1981 singles T-Ski Valley songs Songs written by T-Ski Valley Song recordings produced by Glen Adams