Signifying Rapper

Infobox Song
Name = Signifying Rapper
Cover
Caption =
Type = Song
Artist = Schoolly D
Album = Smoke Some Kill
Published =
Released = 1988
track_no =
Recorded = 1988
Genre = Hip hop, Gangsta rap
Length =
Writer =
Composer =
Label = Jive Records
Producer =
Tracks =

Signifying Rapper is a 1988 gangsta rap single by Schoolly D from his album "Smoke Some Kill". It was the target of several lawsuits following its use in the 1992 film "Bad Lieutenant".Tobias, Scott (November 27, 2002). [http://www.avclub.com/content/node/22601 Interview: Abel Ferrara.] "The Onion"]

The song is an homage to "Signifying Monkey" by Rudy Ray Moore, part of the signifying tradition in African folklore.fact|date=August 2007 It was published by Zomba Music on the Zomba Recordings label, a division of BMG's Jive Records. The song uses a sample from the Led Zeppelin song "Kashmir".Sound sample box align right|Music sample:Listen
filename=Schoolly D - Signifying Rapper.ogg
title=Schoolly D "Signifying Rapper" (1988)
description=Sample of main riff and break
format=Ogg

Litigation

The song was used in "Bad Lieutenant" during several scenes. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant sued via their publisher Flames of Albion Music, because the sample of "Kashmir" had not been cleared by Schoolly D's record company.fact|date=August 2007

The song was ordered removed from the soundtrack and from broadcasts. In 1994, Live Home Video and distributor Aries Film Releasing were ordered to destroy any unsold copies of "Bad Lieutenant" as part of a copyright infringement ruling.Sandler, Adam (December 14, 1994). Live Must Destroy 'Bad' Vids Sez Judge. "Variety"] Director Abel Ferrara was angered by the incident, which he felt "ruined the movie":

References

External links

* [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/schoollyd/albums/album/140501/review/5946307/smoke_some_kill Rolling Stone review of Smoke Some Kill]