In early 1984, if you asked someone in the know who’d be the most affluental lead singer of the Temptations in twenty years, very few people would’ve said Dennis Edwards.
That year, for reasons evident by his jaw in the video above, the psychedelic-era Tempts front man was constantly missing gigs and rehearsal sessions. It eventually became so bad, that, for a second time, long-time group leader Otis Williams was forced to find a stand-in for Edwards. Despite drug problems and past failures as a solo artist however, a Western-minded Motown took a chance on the troubled star and released his first solo album, Don’t Look Any Further.
The gamble paid off as Edwards’ debut achieved more than moderate success. Most of it however was not for the album itself, but for the lead single of the same name. With assistance from Siedah Garrett, and a near perfect bassline, “Don’t Look Any Further” would culminate into one of Edwards’ crowning achievements. On top of temporarily reviving his career, and getting him reinstated with the Tempts, his song would also become the basis of numerous notable songs in hip-hop history.
Of all the artists who’ve flipped the beat into an OG of their own, I’ve taken the liberty to up the ones I could remember below. Some of the redone versions of Edwards’ hit are classics in their own right. So, not surprisingly, the list of artists who’ve redone “Don’t Look…” read like a hip-hop Pro Bowl line-up.
I’m not quite TheBreaks but I don’t think David Ruffin or Eddie Kendricks can say the same.
Eric B and Rakim – Paid In Full
Junior Mafia – Gettin’ Money ‘(The Get Money Remix)’(Feat. Notorious B.I.G.)
2Pac – Hit ‘Em Up (Feat. The Outlawz)
UGK – Like A Pimp (Feat. Three Six Mafia)
Tech-n9ne – Strange
Lil Wayne – Way of Life (Feat. Big Tymers and TQ)

:-) @ this post. Instantly thought of the “Get Money Rmx” but truthfully all these songs are good…even the Tech N9ne one
Sup Family. Hey Gotty….some time ago you posted Lewis Taylor’s first self titled album from 1996. I think in the post it was entitled “S.T.” for self titled….anybody got a link to that joint? Of course the original post has all dead links..
*Cue the chicks* “Get Money!”
Well whatdaya know…….it seems that Questlove and Travis Barker had a little drum off over the weekend.
I think I recall comparing the two when you had that vid posted a few weeks back Gotty? Didn’t I get slammed for comparing the two?
Hmmmmmm……… sure would have liked to have seen that!!!!
head over to okayplayer to read particulars.
What the fuck happened to his jaw? Was he in an accident or something?
Thinkin of a master plan
Cuz ain’t nuthin but sweat inside my hand
So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent
So I dig deeper but still comin up with lint
So I start my mission- leave my residence
Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents
I need money, I used to be a stick-up kid
So I think of all the devious things I did
I used to roll up, this is a hold up, ain’t nuthin funny
Stop smiling, be still, don’t nuthin move but the money
But now I learned to earn cos I’m righteous
I feel great! so maybe I might just
Search for a 9 to 5, if I strive
Then maybe I’ll stay alive
So I walk up the street whistlin this
Feelin out of place cos, man, do I miss
A pen and a paper, a stereo, a tape of
Me and eric b, and a nice big plate of
Fish, which is my favorite dish
But without no money it’s still a wish
Cos I don’t like to dream about gettin paid
So I dig into the books of the rhymes that I made
To now test to see if I got pull
Hit the studio, cos I’m paid in full
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couldn’t resist
@ Flea – hate to say it, but it looks like that familiar “coke-jaw”…u know, Bobby Brown ish
if that song doesn’t make you two-step…then you lack rhythm in your life.
@ Sherm: Ha ha!!! Coke-jaw!!! Damn man TSS should do a post on drugs and the role they’ve played in music. It seems like every artist no matter what the genre is has been or is on something. I wonder how a drug could fuck up one’s life but yet at the same time help them make amazing music. Hmmmmmmmmm???
Ironically, all of the Temptations’ leads of note – Edwards, Williams, Ruffin, Kendricks – dealt with the evils of addiction. And Edwards was a great singer, but for me, he has to stand behind both Ruffin and Kendricks. It’s a shame he couldn’t flip his Temptation success into a decent solo career. Ruffin and Kendricks recorded classic, classic material as solo artists.
TLC also had a remix of “Unpretty” that also used this bassline. This might be the same damn bassline ever. I know I never get tired of hearing it anyway.
@ Ronnie…
Ruffin gets my vote, even if he did murder Tammy Tarrell.
it could have been an accident, but i’m thinking buddy had false fronts and bottoms and he’s just trying to keep those bad boys from falling out… yeah, Ra flipped this something crazy
“Eh yo i’m not kind to weaken, it’s take one gone simple when I rhyme because you will not return from there, And I informed rect-di, my flow at one decade and half, no compet(ition) I am my worst enemy, And I do not doubt that my dark days will not exist, without never promising forthcoming radiant days to me, You have the choice, the caress or the wound, once the mic in ON position, i have like planet under the shoe, The MCs make morals, but stop imposture, where is the (pro)blem if I like to be in a palace with a costume ; pay to when I pass in cabin, I am untouchable like the pope in the papamobile, Dreams of lust and excess, luxury, success, to see the others smell to puff out them return to me more than frustrated, There is danger when I was only ruffled, are wary in spite of my not very muscular bust.”
greumsed!
couldn’t resist!!
greums’d!!!
And I forgot…CRU sampled part of the chorus at the beginning of “Pronto.”
^ yeah, was looking for a link to that.
B, I agree. But Ruffin murdering Tammi Terrell? That’s a pretty big ham hock you’re throwing out there…
The “Get Money (Remix)” and “Hit ‘Em Up” were the ones that I immediately thought of …. that Tech N9ne joint, never heard that one. Nice post.
@ one.eye…
If nobody ups it before I get home, I’ll throw up a link to it later on.
Beware, it’s http://www.the-breaks.com my dude
Damn man TSS should do a post on drugs and the role they’ve played in music. It seems like every artist no matter what the genre is has been or is on something. I wonder how a drug could fuck up one’s life but yet at the same time help them make amazing music. Hmmmmmmmmm???
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I’ve spent the past 20 looking for an old post that analyzed that shit. I know it’s on here so I’ll eventually find it.
Trane. Bob. Miles. all the greats had animal-sized habits & vices.
no doubt my favorite sample of all time. rakim completelt changed the game with that song. hip hop was never the same. that song is my favorite hip hop song of all-time. all the remixes are good, but no one will ever do it like ra did.
@ Ronnie…
Not exactly a murder But I’ve read before, and heard from a older personal friend who would know, that he used to beat her really bad when they were together. One time, he hit with a hammer, and then she was brain damaged for good.
Now, however, after doing some Internet research (http://browneyedhandsomeman.blogspot.com/2006/06/inges-special-request-david-ruffin.html),
it seems as if I may be offbase.
Apparently, though, I;m not the only one.
Interesting stuff. Along with everything else Motown…..
Damn I used to LOVE the Cru back in the day
Rhythm blunt Cru’s album was a banga!! I wonder where Chadeo and Yogi are?
Lol @ ‘evident by his jaw’.
Dude looks real “funny” in the video’s intro
Show me a DJ trying to spin ANY type of party and this track isn’t in the crates (digital or otherwise) and ..
I will show you a DJ with Lego smarts and Fisher-Price ability.
I wish i had said that but I heard it from the mouth of Biz back in ’98 at a club in Long Island.. After I had asked if he had it..
While those tracks listed are classics .. If you play this behind ANY of them, you immediately forget them and want to move.
Classic! in the truest since of the word…this is another one of my favorites to bump in coupe, chopped & screwed on a Sunday afternoon.