Bonita Applebum
Encyclopedia
"Bonita Applebum" was the second single from A Tribe Called Quest
's debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
. It is believed to be based on an actual young woman from the group's high school. The song contains samples of ""Mathar" by The Dave Pike Set
, "Daylight" by RAMP
, "Memory Band" by Rotary Connection
, and "Fool yourself" by Little Feat
doing the intro by asking questions to Bonita. Then it has little stick figure cartoon characters who see Bonita and chase after her. The group is seen walking and dancing. Q-Tip starts the first verse at a party. Then the group stops because a kid is seen catching a baseball and they were going to be hit. They stop again because they see a man playing a piano
. Soon the kid who was playing baseball is seen dancing, and Q-tip is behind a violet curtain trying to impress Bonita. The group is wearing helmets while cassette tapes are dropped on them, and the video ends with the group at the party with other people dancing.
" by Carly Simon
. Another remix was done in 1993, with a new beat and new lyrics; it was later sampled for Joe
's "Just Relax" song from the album Ain't Nothin' Like Me. There is also a third remix titled "Bonita Applebum (Hootie Mix)" that samples The Isley Brothers
' "Between the Sheets
" and also has new lyrics. That version was briefly featured in the film Poetic Justice, which coincidentally stars Q-Tip.
"Bonita Applebum, I gotta put you on. If I didn't when we cuttin' the feeling would be too strong"
"Christina Applegate
, you gotta put me on"
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
's debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm is the debut album by the alternative hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released April 17, 1990 on Jive Records. Though the album was well-received critically, it had little mainstream appeal. The album did earn the band a devoted following,...
. It is believed to be based on an actual young woman from the group's high school. The song contains samples of ""Mathar" by The Dave Pike Set
Dave Pike
David Samuel Pike is a jazz vibraphone player. He learned drums at the age of eight and is self-taught on vibes. He has also played marimba, particularly with Herbie Mann. Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, and Cal Tjader were early inspirations for him.Pike made his recording debut with the Paul Bley...
, "Daylight" by RAMP
RAMP
RAMP was an American soul/jazz band from Cincinnati, Ohio. RAMP has mistakenly been said to stand for "Roy Ayers Music Production" and "Roy Ayers Music Project", but Ayers was not a member, though he did write and produce songs on their debut album....
, "Memory Band" by Rotary Connection
Rotary Connection
Rotary Connection was an American psychedelic soul band, formed in Chicago in 1966. The highly experimental band was the idea of Marshall Chess, son of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess. Marshall was the director behind a start-up label, Cadet Concept Records, and wanted to focus on music outside...
, and "Fool yourself" by Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
Music video
The video opens with Q-TipQ-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
doing the intro by asking questions to Bonita. Then it has little stick figure cartoon characters who see Bonita and chase after her. The group is seen walking and dancing. Q-Tip starts the first verse at a party. Then the group stops because a kid is seen catching a baseball and they were going to be hit. They stop again because they see a man playing a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. Soon the kid who was playing baseball is seen dancing, and Q-tip is behind a violet curtain trying to impress Bonita. The group is wearing helmets while cassette tapes are dropped on them, and the video ends with the group at the party with other people dancing.
Remixes
A popular "Why remix" was made, which heavily sampled the song "WhyWhy (Carly Simon song)
"Why", by Carly Simon, was one of a string of film-inspired singles from a less successful period in her career . Following her much publicized break-down on stage in 1980, it was recorded for the movie Soup For One in 1982. The movie flopped but the soundtrack was a success.The song, like all of...
" by Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
. Another remix was done in 1993, with a new beat and new lyrics; it was later sampled for Joe
Joe (singer)
Joseph Lewis Thomas , usually credited simply as Joe, is an American R&B singer and record producer.-Early life:Joe is a native of Cuthbert, Georgia and later moved to Opelika, Alabama. The son of two preachers, Joe spent much time in church singing, playing guitar, and even directing the choir...
's "Just Relax" song from the album Ain't Nothin' Like Me. There is also a third remix titled "Bonita Applebum (Hootie Mix)" that samples The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
' "Between the Sheets
Between the Sheets (song)
"Between the Sheets" is a quiet storm funk song released by American R&B/soul/funk band The Isley Brothers in 1983 off their album of the same name on the T-Neck imprint.-History:...
" and also has new lyrics. That version was briefly featured in the film Poetic Justice, which coincidentally stars Q-Tip.
Trivia
- Biz MarkieBiz MarkieMarcel Theo Hall better known by his stage name, Biz Markie, is an American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, comedian, singer, reality television personality, and commercial spokesperson. He is best known for his single "Just a Friend", an American Top 10 hit in 1989...
references the title character in his single "Tear Shit Up". - B.o.BB.o.BBobby Ray Simmons, Jr. , better known by his stage name B.o.B, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is currently signed under the labels of Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment, and Atlantic Records. His debut single "Nothin' on You" reached number one in both...
used the beat for his song "Put Me On". - Jay-Z refers to the song in his single "I Know"I Know (Jay-Z song)"I Know" is the third and final single from Jay-Z's tenth studio album, American Gangster. The song was released on November 4, 2007. Pharrell is featured in the song. -Music video:...
:
"Bonita Applebum, I gotta put you on. If I didn't when we cuttin' the feeling would be too strong"
- P.M. Dawn reference the song in their hit "Set Adrift on Memory BlissSet Adrift on Memory Bliss"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" is the signature hit by P.M. Dawn from their debut album, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience. Writing credit is given to Attrell Cordes and Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet as the song is built around samples of their 1983 hit "True," as well...
":
"Christina Applegate
Christina Applegate
Christina Applegate is an American actress. She is best known for playing Kelly Bundy on the Fox sitcom Married... with Children. Since then, she has established a film and television career, winning a Primetime Emmy and earning Tony and Golden Globe nominations...
, you gotta put me on"
- The song was sampled for the remix to MonicaMonica (singer)Monica Denise Brown , and professionally known as Monica, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, Monica began performing as a child and became part of a traveling gospel choir, by the time she was ten...
's 2003 hit single, "So GoneSo Gone"So Gone" is a song by American R&B singer Monica. It was written by rapper-producer Missy Elliott, Kenneth Cunningham, and Jamahl Rye and co-produced by Elliott and duo Spike & Jamahl for Monica's fourth studio album After the Storm , incorporating a sample of the 1976 recording "You Are Number...
", which also features Busta RhymesBusta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, Missy ElliottMissy ElliottMelissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
& TweetTweet (singer)Tweet is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.-Early years:The youngest child of Tom and Shirley Keys, Tweet was born in Rochester, New York on January 21, 1972, and grew up singing in the church along with her parents and her four older siblings...
. - The song was sampled for KarinaKarina PasianKarina Pasian is an American Grammy Award nominated singer and pianist. She is currently signed to Def Jam.-Life and career:...
's second single "Can't Find the WordsCan't Find The Words (Karina Pasian song)"Can't Find the Words" is the second single from Karina's debut album First Love. The song samples the breakbeat from "Bonita Applebum" by A Tribe Called Quest. The music video for "Can't Find the Words" debuted August 5, 2008 on BET.. The song wasn't released in the UK but was featured on the...
" from her album First LoveFirst Love (Karina Pasian album)First Love is the debut studio album by Dominican-American R&B singer Karina. The album was released on August 19, 2008. The album debuted on #57 on the Billboard 200.The album includes the singles "16 @ War" and "Can't Find The Words"....
. - The song is sampled in the Fugees cover of Roberta FlackRoberta FlackRoberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
's "Killing Me Softly with His SongKilling Me Softly with His Song"Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a 1971 song composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel. It has been covered by numerous artists, most notably by Roberta Flack whose version topped the U.S...
". - The song is sampled in Pacific DivisionPac DivPacific Division, better known by, Pac Div, is a rap trio that originated in Southern California and is signed to Universal Motown Records. It is composed of two brothers, Like and Mibbs, and a long time friend and acquaintance, BeYoung. They started to rap together in High School...
's song "Put Me On". - The Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed PeasThe Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
song "Rap Song" from their album Bridging the Gap references the song. - Lil WayneLil WayneDwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
refers to it in the solo version of I'm Going In, when he says "my style, is second to none, so you gotta put me on like bonita applebum, a tribe called quest, a guy called the best" - Redman refers to the song in his single "Mrs. InternationalMrs. International"Mrs. International" is the second single by hip hop artists Method Man & Redman from their album Blackout! 2. The track was leaked on April 3, 2009.-Music video:...
" where he says "I know your applebum like Bonita". - tabi BonneyTabi BonneyTabiabuè Bonney, . Part of Indie label Organized Rhyme and son of afro-funk superstar, Itadi Bonney, Tabi achieved recognition in the Washington, DC Metro area with his radio singles "The Pocket" and "Doin It" featuring Raheem DeVaughn. Tabi also has his own clothing line by the name of "Bonney...
refers to the song on the Curren$y collaboration "Radio" when he says "I got plenty girls but it ain't enough, so I ask Q-Tip, 'what's up with Bonita.'" - The song was remixed and released as part of Old School vs. New School - 4 on the Floor (Jive Electro) in 2000 and features a new vocal hook performed by Simon Green and Yazmin James.
- ShadShadThe shads or river herrings comprise the genus Alosa, fish related to herring in the family Clupeidae. They are distinct from others in that family by having a deeper body and spawning in rivers. The several species frequent different areas on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea....
makes reference to this in his single 'keep shining' - The Nextmen sample the words aint no need to question the authority in Break The Mould song
External links
- "Bonita Applebum" music video at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....