It was the first day of a new school year.

Three boys arrive at class late and the teacher asks the first boy “Why are you tardy,” the boy replies “I’ve been on Blueberry Hill” the teacher said “Take your seat.” She asks the next boy why he was late. “I was on Blueberry Hill also” he replied. Then she asked the third boy, but he replied with the same answer. As the boys we’re sitting down a girl arrives in. “Let me guess”, said the teacher. “You were on Bluberry Hill aslo”

“NO…. I am Blueberry Hill” replied the girl.

This joke has been stuck in my consciousness since the first time I heard it, in third grade, and it sums up how I feel about “Say You Will.” It’s been co-opted and used by so many rappers, that you’d think the beat would be a little worn out by now. But just at the last minute someone comes through and adds another wrinkle to the equation.

Enter Dante Smith.

Instead of spilling his soul to the beat, he covers the original, backed by live instrumentation. Oh yeah, he then extends it out for close to twelve minutes with instrumentation (daily funk worthy) and spits a few bars from “U R The One” for kicks and giggles on the end.  This is from his performance back in January at the Blue Note in NYC and CDQ audio is just now surfacing. Truth of the mattter is this is right on time as spring is finally here and you can sit out in the breeze and let it play.

As happy as I am to hear this, I’m still a little pissed off, because I’ve been waiting for him to do music like this since Black On Both Sides.  And this isn’t even his song.

I’m We’re still waiting Mos, there’s still time.

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Mos Def – “Say You Will” (Kanye West Cover)

Previously Posted — Mos Def – “Flowers” Promo Video | Mos Def – “Words” Promo Video | “You Got Bobby Jindal Down There…”