Just Blaze Unpacks His Samples For Beyoncé and Jay-Z | The Formula, S1E1

In the first installment of our new video series The Formula, producer Just Blaze unpacks the drum-centric samples he created for Jay-Z and Beyoncé. Whether he's tapping out sampled drums or incorporating live drummers in the studio, his ability to harness energy is what makes his sound so dynamic.

Watch the second season early at npr.org/theformula

READ THE COMPANION ESSAY
"'I Hate You, Man': Questlove On Just Blaze's Maddening Genius" by Questlove
The Roots' drummer and Tonight Show bandleader picks apart exactly why fellow producer Just Blaze's talent for finding and flipping samples in unexpected combinations is both inspiring and infuriating. That essay is here: https://n.pr/39vDSWa

FULL SERIES PLAYLIST HERE
   • The Formula - All Seasons  

CREDITS
Host: Rodney Carmichael; Producers: Nick Michael, CJ Riculan; Animator: CJ Riculan; Assistant Producer: Ben Naddaff-Hafrey; Director of Photography: Colin Marshall; Editors: Annabel Edwards, Nick Michael; Videographers: Annabel Edwards, Nickolai Hammar, Colin Marshall; Audio Recording Engineer: Nickolai Hammar; Audio Mix Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Supervising Producer: Nick Michael; Senior Producer: Abby O'Neill; Consulting Editor: Jacob Ganz; Managing Editor: Becky Lettenberger; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann, Keith Jenkins, Lauren Onkey

MUSIC
"Hovi Baby," Jay-Z, The Blueprint 2 (2002)
"Shaft In Africa (Addis)," Johnny Pate, Shaft in Africa (1973)
"Show Me What You Got," Jay-Z, Kingdom Come (2006)
"Let Me Try," Kaleidoscope, Kaleidoscope (1969)
"Freedom," Beyoncé, Lemonade (2016)
"Rose Water", DJ Face [series theme track]

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