"Devil's Pie" | ||||
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Single by D'Angelo | ||||
from the album Voodoo and Belly (soundtrack) | ||||
B-side | "Devil's Pie (Raw A Capella)" | |||
Released | October 31, 1998 | |||
Format | Vinyl 12", promo. | |||
Recorded | 1998 Electric Lady Studios (New York, New York) |
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Genre | Neo soul, hip hop, R&B, funk | |||
Label |
Virgin SPRO-10019 |
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Songwriter(s) | Christopher Martin and Shawn Carter | |||
Producer(s) | D'Angelo, DJ Premier | |||
D'Angelo singles chronology | ||||
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"Devil's Pie" is a song by American R&B and neo soul musician D'Angelo, released October 31, 1998 on Virgin Records. It was issued as a promotional single for his second studio album, 2000's Voodoo. The song was composed by D'Angelo and hip hop producer DJ Premier of the group Gang Starr. "Devil's Pie" served as a departure for D'Angelo from the urban contemporary style of his previous commercially successful singles to the more experimental, "jam"-like sound that is predominant on Voodoo, as well as the use of sampling in his music. The song appeared on the soundtrack to the 1998 film Belly. DJ Premier originally made the track for Canibus but later offered it to D'Angelo after Canibus rejected the song.
A part of the musical collective Soulquarians, Dilla served as a frequent collaborator of theirs. Although album tracks such as "Left & Right" and "Devil's Pie" help to bring this claim to light, J Dilla himself was not officially credited for production. However, he contributed significantly to Voodoo's overall sound, specifically the rhythm and percussion.
Produced by D'Angelo and hip hop producer DJ Premier, "Devil's Pie" is one of the more hip hop-oriented recordings on Voodoo, featuring extensive sampling and drum programming. Its distinctive sound consists of vintage P-Funk harmonies and contains several samples managed and programmed by Premier, including those from soul singer Teddy Pendergrass's 1977 "And If I Had", rapper Fat Joe's "Success", Pierre Henry's 1967 composition "Jericho Jerk", and "Interlude" by Wu-Tang member Raekwon.