Sample Appreciation Post: Shaun Boothe finally puts Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” to GREAT use with “Poor Boy.” And an Awesome Video To Match.

I'm impressed.

So Bohemian Rhapsody is special to me. One of my first introductions to rock music, it’s a song that sticks dear to my heart, as well as zillions of other people. If you know this song, you know it has an amazing intro, story, lyrical content and epic rock transitions EVAR… and you had a sense that someday soon, someone was going to cover or sample the song for their own personal use. Welp, someone did it. And it actually sounds like he did it right.

Shaun Boothe uses “Poor Boy,” and a great Video Concept to make an intriguing return to hip hop after a brief absence. Taking the piano riff and lyric from the intro part of Bohemian Rhapsody, he loops said piano phrase and lyric perfectly, and uses it as an emphasis on growing up in the hood as said Poor Boy. Adding on interesting drumwork and some pretty decent lyrical content (“I had to be outstanding in order to Stand Out”), it turns out to be a wonderful chop and usage of a great song.

On top of that, he gives you a fun video where if you happen to have 3D glasses…. Shaun gives you his visual definition of a “3D Rapper.”

He’s also already teamed up with Talib Kweli for this interesting cut as well…

Download the links and have fun.