Ashley's Roachclip Explained

"Ashley's Roachclip" is an instrumental by funk group the Soul Searchers from the 1974 album Salt of the Earth on Sussex Records.^[3] A portion of the track from 3:30 to 3:50 contains a widely recognized drum break performed by Kenneth Scoggins, that has been sampled countless times in songs across several genres.^{[4] [5]}

Among the most popular songs that have sampled the drum break are "Paid in Full" by Eric B. & Rakim, "Hey Young World" by Slick Rick, "Run's House" by Run-DMC,^[6] "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" by P.M. Dawn,^[7] "Girl You Know It's True" by Milli Vanilli^[8] and "Unbelievable" by EMF.^[7]

Personnel

• Bass guitar - John Euwell
• Congas, bongos - Lino Druitt
• Drums - Kenneth Scoggins
• Flute, saxophone - Lloyd Pinchback
• Guitar - Chuck Brown
• Organ - Bennie Braxton
• Percussion - Donald Tillery, John Buchanan, Kenneth Scoggins, Lino Druitt, Lloyd Pinchback
• Trombone, piano, synthesizer - John Buchanan
• Trumpet - Donald Tillery

Sampling in music culture

A list of the samples is available on WhoSampled:^[9]

Drum break

• "Paid in Full" by Eric B. & Rakim (1987)
• "Girl You Know It's True", "All or Nothing" and "Baby Don't Forget My Number" from Milli Vanilli's album All or Nothing (1988)
• "Scarface" by Geto Boys (1989)
• "Unbelievable" by EMF (1990)
• "Take Your Time" by Mantronix feat. Wondress (1990)
• "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" by P.M. Dawn (1991)
• "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day" by The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M. feat. Michelle Visage (1992)
• "You Gotta Be (Love Will Save The Day Mix)" by Des'ree (1994)
• "First Cool Hive" by Moby (1995)
• "Face in the Crowd" by Mac Miller (2011)

Other elements

• "Jack the Ripper" by LL Cool J (1987)
• "Bass & Key Duet" by J Dilla (2005)

Ashley Roachclip was a character on Cheech & Chong's 1972 album Big Bambu called Rebuttal: Speaker Ashley Roachclip.

Notes and References

1. Blame It on the Feign Edition. Hit Parade Music History and Music Trivia. Slate. Molanphy. Chris. May 20, 2021. February 11, 2024.
2. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: P.M. Dawn's "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss. . December 27, 2021 . July 6, 2024. ...“Ashley’s Roachclip,” the same once-obscure 1974 funk instrumental that had already emerged from the rap world....
3. Book: Thompson, Dave . Dave Thompson (author) . 2001 . Part Four: The New School . Funk: Third Ear - The Essential Listening Companion . 1st . . . 297–299 . 0-87930-629-7. Google Books.
   - Web site: Soul Searchers: Salt of the Earth . Discogs. 1974 . 4 October 2014.
4. Web site: Ashley's Roachclip. Who Sampled. 4 October 2014.
   - From Go-Go's Heyday to Today: One Musician's Love Affair With D.C. Music . 2 December 2016 . The Kojo Nnamdi Show . Nnamdi . Kojo . Kojo Nnamdi . . February 14, 2014 .
5. Web site: Ashley's Roachclip . 23 August 2010 .
6. Web site: BBC - Craig Charles' 5 Genius Hip Hop Samples. BBC.
7. Web site: The Number Ones: P.M. Dawn's "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss". December 27, 2021.
8. Web site: The Number Ones: Milli Vanilli's "Baby Don't Forget My Number". July 26, 2021.
9. Web site: Songs that Sampled Ashley's Roachclip by The Soul Searchers . WhoSampled.