Vanessa Carlton Defends Rappers Sampling "A Thousand Miles" On "Who I Smoke"

BY Erika Marie 9.1K Views
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Vanessa Carlton, Who I Smoke, A Thousand Miles, Sampling
Spinabenz, Whoppa Wit Da Choppa, Yungeen Ace, & FastMoney Goon faced backlash.

We all remember Terry Crews in the film White Chicks as he famously sang Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles," but a recent sample of the song on Spinabenz, Whoppa Wit Da Choppa, Yungeen Ace and FastMoney Goon's collaboration caused a stir. The group of artists released "Who I Smoke," and because the track boasted violent lyrics, people condemed the rappers for chopping and screwing the Pop classic. 

After receiving criticism from "A Thousand Miles" puritists, Vanessa Carlton hopped online to let folks know that she approves of the sample.

"To the white folks that have expressed anger/shock over my approval of A Thousand Miles' usage in the Spinabenz, Whoppa Wit Da Choppa, Yungeen Ace, & FastMoney Goon song Who I Smoke, I invite you to ask yourself why you feel this way & then read this," Carlton tweeted alongside a link to an article titled, "Share Cropping Blackness: White Supremacy and the Hyper-Consumption of Black Popular Culture."

She added another thought as she shared a clip of a famous scene from a Quentin Tarantino favorite. "Popular songs accompanied by white violence or tales of white violence aren't questioned. It's considered visceral or cinematic," she said. "Here we have Stuck in the Middle of you playing while a guy gets his ear cut off. Reservoir Dogs."

She corrected herself after mistaking the title: "Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealer's Wheel. People applauded Carlton's support of the track, especially following Mariah Carey's disapporval of YTK's "Let It Off," a snog that sampled the singer's classic hit, "Shake It Off." 

Check out the music video for "Who I Smoke" below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.