Get Your Snap Snap

Swizz Beatz “Take A Picture” – Swizz Beatz has always made a point of avoiding samples in lieu of writing his own tracks from scratch, so it’s kinda funny that the best track on his debut as a solo artist features a prominent sample from Bill Withers’ 1979 hit “Lovely Day.” Despite self-consciously veering from his established formula, the song is still instantly recognizable as a Swizz Beatz production, mainly for the way he fills out the arrangement’s abundant negative space with ecstatic shouts and hollers that pump up the energy level without derailing the mellow, syrupy groove borrowed from the Withers tune. Like most of his best work, the composition feels simultaneously giddy and relaxed, simulating a state of blissful, unworried confidence. Beatz isn’t much of a rapper, but he’s competent, and his words simply elaborate on the feeling of the track while playing up his vanity, and hinting at a concern that his days of glory are numbered. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)

On A Professional Note: My gigs for MTV and the Associated Press are ending soon, and I’m available for freelance and contract work. If any Fluxblog readers have a line on a suitable job – preferably one with benefits – hit the comments or give me a shout at perpetua @ gmail.com. Thanks!