That’s My Jam is a weekly feature where one person from the Selective Hearing staff goes to wax poetic about music that is pivotal to their musical tastes. Whether that would be an album, a song, or anything in-between. We all had to start somewhere. This week: Ill Al Skratch’s I’ll Take Her
Track Listing
Side A
- I’ll Take Her (Radio Version)
- I’ll Take Her (Extended Version)
- I’ll Take Her (Brian’s Flow)
Side B
- Brooklyn Uptown Connection(Club Version)
- Brooklyn Uptown Connection (Instrumental)
- Brooklyn Uptown Connection (Acapella)
Review
I decided to dig into the way back machine and came up with Ill Al Skratch’s 1994 single I’ll Take Her featuring Brian McKnight. Taken from their debut album Creep Wit Me, this is probably their most famous song or, in the minds of some, their greatest hit since they didn’t achieve much commercial success afterwards.
And as an aside, you know this is pretty damn old when I’m listing sides in the track listing. Ain’t nothing these days come with “sides” in the modern age of digital distribution unless you’re still one who collects vinyl.
This is a hidden gem amongst 90’s Hip-Hop/R&B crossovers that most heads probably forgot about in the shuffle of goodness back in the day. I don’t know if anyone else I know recalls this track.
Regardless of whether you remember it, it is one smooth track that was a bit of a rarity for Hip-Hop artists out of the east coast at the time. There’s that perfect blend of street and soul, thanks to the silky smooth vocals of a young Brian McKnight.
If you listen carefully, there’s some clever wordplay and an actual continuous narrative as the two MCs trade verses. Sure it boils down to some exaggerated bragging, but at least it’s delivered in a manner that’s not dumbed down.
Of course, the original vinyl and cd singles are out of print and probably collecting dust in some 30-something’s basement. I recommend that you also give Creep Wit Me a thorough listen. It’s fairly decent.
