De La Soul: Buddy (Native Tongues Decision)
From 12″ (Tommy Boy, 1989)
Also featured on Timeless: The Singles Collection.
Public Enemy: Shut ‘Em Down (Pete Rock Remix)
Fom 12″ (Def Jam, 1991)
These two remixes were part of a trend in the late ’80s and early ’90s where the remixes were so damn good, you forgot what the originals were. Seriously – I don’t even remember what the album version of “Shut ‘Em Down” sounds like…Pete Rock’s remix is both one of his earliest and still, one of his best. So full of life with the horns and just this infectious energy that makes Public Enemy sound uplifting in a way that we don’t typically equate with the Bomb Squad’s order ex chaos.
As for “Buddy,” I never liked the album version of this Native Tongues posse cut – not exactly sure why since the song was perfectly acceptable in its OG form but the remix improves on a good thing. It’s a great party song with its Tanaa Gardner “Heartbeat” beat and the biggest round of the Native Tongues this side of the JBs’ “We’re Doing Our Own Thang.” Where’s Chi Ali?
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