Erykah Badu sampled RAMP's "American Promise" for her new album "New Amerykah", which will be in stores on February 26th.

"Sampled" is actually an understatement ... she used the entire song and put some effects on top. Let's hope that this will help RAMP to get back in the spotlight! However, since RAMP was neither compensated nor asked for this major rip-off, I hope that we can make some cash flow!

Check out www.myspace.com/ramp77 and listen to "American Promise". Then listen to Erykah's version ..


[Edited 2/23/08 10:00am]

There was a recent reissue of Come Into Knowledge on CD; came out end of 2007. I bought it for about $10 Canadian. People need this RAMP album!

MrSoulpower said:

Ooh the other 3 songs in the player are obvious faves as well.

"Come into knowledge" was also released on CD for the first time on Universal Music last November. It's definetely an essential album to have. And it's great that Erykah features "American Promise" as the first track on her new album. However, RAMP did not see a dime for that. Of course that's not Erykah's fault, but still ... quite distressing.

MrSoulpower said:

How do you know this?

I work with them. Erykah actually approached them, and we hoped that RAMP would get involved in recording a new version, but then it turned out that she just used the original track. RAMP never got paid any royalties for the album, not for the re-issue and CD release either. Quite a shame.

Cinnie said:

I got the new CD reissue. I've seen an older Jap import of it around.
I also have the vinyl reissue AND an original copy

MrSoulpower said:

Sweeeet jebus, that's hella cool

FuNkeNsteiN said:

How much did you pay for the OG? The original members don't even have it, some of them wanted to by my copy.

MrSoulpower said:

I bought it off of a friend of mine, so I got it a bit cheaper. I think I paid 65€ for it (~ 96$). I'd seen one around here earlier and the seller wanted 100€ for it (~ 150$). Compared to that, I got a sweet deal

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Oh and, whatcha pay for yours?

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Yeah, you paid about the same as I did.

RAMP a couple of weeks ago at Jazz Cafe, London ..

MrSoulpower said:

It's cool that they got all the original members on board. Not a lot of bands can pull that off, especially not after a 30 year break

I HAVE AN ORIGINAL VINYL COPY ON THE WALL IN MY BEDROOM !!!

prettymansson said:

Whatchu pay for it?

FuNkeNsteiN said:

If he has it on his bedroom wall, obviously he didn't pay much.

MrSoulpower said:

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Yeah, and they even sound as good as back in the day. We had the recent Jazz Cafe show recorded for a radio network in Japan. I will post the link as soon as it's up.

Haven't come across an OG on vinyl yet. FuNkeNsteiN!

why would you say that...?
My whole house is a music museum almost...Its on my wall like in a record shop..I have something built to display my rare vinyls/books/ect...I got it for $150.00 in 1994


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To

MrSoulpower said:

prettymansson said:

I thought you had nailed it on the wall to decorate your pad ... Naw man, I was just kiddin. I would like to display my records in a similar way, but wifey would kill me .. she says the home is masculine enough will all those record shelves and framed tour posters ..

$150 is what it usually goes for when it pops up on Ebay every now and then. Since RAMP got back together, you see more albums poppin' up.
[Edited 2/23/08 10:25am]

Its cool..Yeah...My home is my WORLD !!! I have like a zillion Posters..records..instruments..I want it tolook like a FUNK hard rock cafe !

MrSoulpower said:

prettymansson said:

Nice.. I hope that when your lady moves in she'll feel the same way about it. Mine is really into the music and she tolerates a lot of my decoration, but she wants some of her shit in the mix as well.

I dont have a lady for that reason !

MrSoulpower said:

prettymansson said:

I give you my nose
I give you my toes
I give you my eyes
I give you my ears...

I LOVE what Erykah did with the
whole blaxploitation theme
and "AP" in the background

Aisha brought it to my attention
of her sampling the record
and then it struck a chord in me
I'd remembered hearing the part
I just quoted a few weeks ago
when I stumbled upon the album

so... wow... it's that's rare to find?
they used to say the same thing about
Minnie's Perfect Angel...
and I found a mint condition copy
for like $3 bucks at the wrecka stow I frequent
I've never seen that RAMP album in there though

DirtyChris said:

Perfect Angel is easy to find.
Come into knowledge is a tough one, because RAMP was dropped from Blue Thumb before it was even released. They put it out in order to write it off, but the record was never properly promoted and therefore quickly disappeared from the racks.

MrSoulpower said:

oh wow... thanx for this
it took me like 3 years
to find PA on vinyl
(without ebay/internet)

but I almost pissed myself
when I saw it that day in
the crate I dug through
my heart skipped a beat
and then they only wanted $3 bucks
I hurried UP and slide em a 5
told em keep the change
I woulda paid whatever they wanted

and that is sooooo cool
that you work with RAMP
I heard Roy is real cool
a music friend of mine got to meet him
[Edited 2/23/08 12:06pm]

Cinnie said:

DirtyChris said:

It is indeed rare.