T.I. dropped "Memories Back Then" earlier this year, but has now revealed that it originally contained a sample from last years smash hit "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye. The similarity between the tracks is pretty uncanny, so the announcement doesn't come as much as a surprise as a clarification. Tip explained that the producer was forced to recreate the sample because of clearance issues.
"We
just remixed it and did our own thing to it. Took the sample out so
we wouldn't have any trouble in our due diligence," said the Atlanta rapper. "I didn't want to waste the
opportunity because it was such great performances and such a
meaningful message from myself, from Bob and from Kendrick," he
explained."
Tip talked about being excited about the original beat when he first heard it. "'Memories,'
it began as a record that my DJ MLK, he brought a record to me that
was produced by Keno and it had a sample, the sample of the biggest
record last year and basically I just rocked out as soon as I heard
it."
Despite the switch up, T.I. seems to be pretty happy with the final product. "I think the record is just as hot, if not hotter without the sample," he said. "No disrespect to the people whose record we sampled. If we could've done it that way we would've loved to, but we didn't wanna step on no toes."
The song was originally intended for Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head.
[via]