Released 1974 Length 5:08 Writer(s) Bob James | Genre Smooth jazz Label CTI Records Producer(s) Creed Taylor | |
"Nautilus" is the sixth and final track on the 1974 album, One, by the jazz musician Bob James.
Contents
Background and recording
The title comes from producer Creed Taylor remarking that the tones were reminiscent of the sounds of a submerging submarine.
Sampling
"Nautilus" is famous as being one of the most sampled songs in hip hop history. Some of the hip hop songs that have sampled or interpolated this song include "Beats To The Rhyme" by RUN-DMC, "409" By Ice-T, "Children's Story" by Slick Rick, "Follow The Leader" and "Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em" by Eric B. & Rakim, "Sun Won't Come Out" by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, "Clap Your Hands" by A Tribe Called Quest, "Daytona 500" by Ghostface Killah, "Delta Force One" by Ultramagnetic MCs, "Around My Way" by Lupe Fiasco, "My Mind Spray" by Jeru The Damaja, "Job Song" by Consequence, "Murray's Revenge" by Murs, "Take It Back" by the Wu-Tang Clan, "Extradite" by Freddie Gibbs and Black Thought, and "Big Shots" by King Sun. Nas referenced its ubiquity in his 2006 song "Carry on Tradition," saying "I coulda made my double LP just by sampling different parts of "Nautilus"."
Additionally, the music video for the Mary J. Blige track "Deep Inside" contains an interlude which samples the song. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince interpolate the song in "Jazzy's Groove." The song is in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the radio station Master Sounds 98.3.