Emerald, Sapphire and Gold better known as ESG were the original proto Disco Funk Dance Punk that is so very hip(ster) these days. They opened for Public Image Ltd. and A Certain Ratio, they released records on the same label as Liquid Liquid, they had their music sampled countless times, and they became a playlist staple at ’70s dance clubs like the Paradise Garage and the Music Box. ESG came together in 1978 and were comprised of mostly the 43 (really 6 tho) Scroggins sisters and produced by Martin (Zero) Hannett ( best known as the producer of Joy Division).  ESG has went though many formations, but none so well known as the formation of their samples that are littered throughout hip hop songs. Especially their eerie squelching UFO which has been sampled by the likes of Das Efx, EPMD, Biggie Smalls, Big Daddy Kane, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, NWA, Mobb Deep, Tim Dog, Doug E Fresh, Masta Ace, and Gang Starr… to Dilla, Peanut Butter Wolf and Nine Inch Nails… it is easily one of the most famous samples in hip hop. Though in 1992 ESG released an EP titles “Samples Don’t Pay Our Bills”, it ocures to me fairly obvious that without samples ESG would perhaps be even more obscure than they are, and that in fact samples do pay “some” bills. And the more people that know ESG… the more people that itunes & Amazon.

Throwback: ESG – It’s Alright (don lowed)

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Throwback: ESG – Erase You (don lowed)

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Throwback: ESG – Tiny Sticks (don lowed)

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Throwback: ESG – UFO (don lowed)

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