Sound of da Police
Encyclopedia
"Sound of da Police" is the second and final single from rapper KRS-One
's first solo album, Return of the Boom Bap
. The song begins with KRS-One whooping twice to evoke a police siren
(the "sound of the police"); this recurs several times throughout the song. This song was used in the trailer for Cop Out
. "Sound of da Police" was released as a CD single featuring a b-side, "Hip-Hop vs. Rap". The song is produced by Showbiz from DITC.
The lyrics refer to police, in places like Bronx, New York
. The lyrics are a protest against institutionalized racism, oppression and violence against the black community. This is all purveyed with lines like "Are you really for peace and equality?", comparing police officers to plantation
overseer
s, from the slave trade. This song is very similar to a song released by N.W.A called Fuck tha Police
, released 5 years earlier.
and "Ain't No Sunshine" by the Gregory James Edition. However, the song is known for KRS-One's various interpolations of songs starting halfway through the song and continuing until the end of the song. These songs, in order of appearance, are:
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
's first solo album, Return of the Boom Bap
Return of the Boom Bap
Return of the Boom Bap was KRS-One's first official solo album, released in 1993 on the Jive Records label. It peaked on the Billboard 200 charts at position 37 on October 16, 1993. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums...
. The song begins with KRS-One whooping twice to evoke a police siren
Siren (noisemaker)
A siren is a loud noise making device. Most modern ones are civil defense or air raid sirens, tornado sirens, or the sirens on emergency service vehicles such as ambulances, police cars and fire trucks. There are two general types: pneumatic and electronic....
(the "sound of the police"); this recurs several times throughout the song. This song was used in the trailer for Cop Out
Cop out
Cop out is an idiom which means to avoid taking responsibility for an action, fulfilling a duty or meeting expectations; as a noun, it refers to someone who 'cops out'.Cop out or cop-out may also refer to:...
. "Sound of da Police" was released as a CD single featuring a b-side, "Hip-Hop vs. Rap". The song is produced by Showbiz from DITC.
The lyrics refer to police, in places like Bronx, New York
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. The lyrics are a protest against institutionalized racism, oppression and violence against the black community. This is all purveyed with lines like "Are you really for peace and equality?", comparing police officers to plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
overseer
Overseer
Rob Overseer is an English DJ/producer, born in Leeds whose works have been included in soundtracks for Animatrix, Snatch, Any Given Sunday and The Girl Next Door, as well as video games like Need for Speed: Underground, NFL Gameday 2004, several Matchstick Productions ski films, and Stuntman,...
s, from the slave trade. This song is very similar to a song released by N.W.A called Fuck tha Police
Fuck tha Police
"Fuck tha Police" is a protest song by the gangsta rap group N.W.A that appears on the album Straight Outta Compton. Despite not being a single, it ranked #425 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time....
, released 5 years earlier.
"Hip-Hop vs. Rap"
The b-side of "Sound of da Police" was the song "Hip Hop vs. Rap". The song contains samples of "The Bird" by Jimmy McGriffJimmy McGriff
James Harrell McGriff was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader who developed a distinctive style of playing the Hammond B-3 organ.-Early years and influences:...
and "Ain't No Sunshine" by the Gregory James Edition. However, the song is known for KRS-One's various interpolations of songs starting halfway through the song and continuing until the end of the song. These songs, in order of appearance, are:
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show uses the song as his entrance music, and hollers "Woop-Woop!" during the stunts although he claims that he started howling "Woop-Woop!" before the "Sound of da Police" was released to the public in 1993. - "Sound of da Police" was later sampled by Fatboy SlimFatboy SlimNorman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
in his song "Mad Flava" and Girl TalkGirl Talk (musician)Gregg Michael Gillis , better known by his stage name Girl Talk, is an American musician specializing in mashups and digital sampling. Gillis has released five LPs on the record label Illegal Art and EPs on 333 and 12 Apostles....
in his song "Too Deep". - The b-side "Hip Hop vs. Rap" was later sampled for KRS-One's "MC's Act Like They Don't Know", The Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
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in his song "Constables", The Alkaholiks in their song "2041", Will SmithWill SmithWillard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
in his song "Pump Me Up" and Kanye WestKanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
in his song "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been) (DJ Premier Remix)". - Used in the trailer for Cop OutCop outCop out is an idiom which means to avoid taking responsibility for an action, fulfilling a duty or meeting expectations; as a noun, it refers to someone who 'cops out'.Cop out or cop-out may also refer to:...
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used the first few lines in their song Babylon - Sonic Boom Six use the 'whoop whoop, that's the sound of the police' in their song 'Piggy in the Middle'
- Sampled in "S.O.D.P." and "S.O.D.B." by Born To Funk Featuring Tyree Cooper in 2007.
- British comedy panel game show Never Mind the BuzzcocksNever Mind the BuzzcocksNever Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
occasionally features a round entitled "Whoop Whoop! Dat's Da Sound Of Da Police" in which each team will be shown a clip of a band or singer and must guess how the artist got in trouble with the police. - Used in a scene for the movie Attack the BlockAttack the BlockAttack the Block is a 2011 British science fiction action film written and directed by Joe Cornish. The film stars Jodie Whittaker, John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Simon Howard. Set on a council estate in South London on Bonfire night, the film follows a street gang which have...