| "Impeach the President" | |
|---|---|
| Single byThe Honey Drippers | |
| B-side | "Roy C's Theme Song" |
| Released | June 1, 1973[1][2] |
| Genre | Funk |
| Length | 3:17 |
| Label | Alaga Records,Tuff City Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Roy Charles Hammond |
| Producer(s) | Roy C |
"Impeach the President" is a song by funk bandthe Honey Drippers, written and produced by Roy Charles Hammond, known asRoy C. It was first released as a single on Alaga Records in 1973, and was re-released to iTunes byTuff City Records in 2017, after being sampled hundreds of times since the mid-1980s.[3] It is aprotest song advocating theimpeachment of then–U.S. PresidentRichard Nixon.[4] In the chorus, the band chants the song's title while Roy persuades them to stop. The B-side is "Roy C's Theme".[5]
The song takes its drum pattern from "Funky Drummer" byJames Brown; one of the most widely heard beatssampled andinterpolated inhip hop,R&B,jazz andpop music.[6][7][8]
According to Mark Katz,Marley Marl in 1986 "became the first hip-hop producer to sample and reconfigure a recorded drum break" when he used the drum break from "Impeach the President" as the instrumental basis forMC Shan's song "The Bridge".[9]
In 1987,Audio Two used a two-second sample of "Impeach the President" on the song "Top Billin'".[10]
Digital Underground sampled the song on "Flowin' on the D-Line" from their 1991 albumSons of the P.[11]
In 1992,Tuff City Records suedSony Music andDef Jam Records, alleging that samples of "Impeach the President" were used inL.L. Cool J's songs "Around the Way Girl" and "6 Minutes of Pleasure", as well asEPMD's "Give the People".[12] In a commentary inBillboard magazine, Aaron Fuchs, president oF Tuff City Records, stated that he charged a "low four-figure sum ... (three figures and less for indie labels)" to license "Impeach the President".[13]
Digable Planets sampled the song in "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" in 1993.[14]
ASprite commercial in 1995 featuredLarge Professor andGrand Pubafreestyling over the song'sbreakbeat.[15]
"Impeach the President" was among the samples used inNas's song "I Can".[16]
Kali Uchis sampled the beat in "Mucho Gusto" on her mixtapeDrunken Babble.