Sound of da Police

"Sound of da Police" is a song by American rapper KRS-One. Released in December 1993 as the second and final single from his debut solo album, Return of the Boom Bap, it reached number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Sound of da Police"
Single by KRS-One
from the album Return of the Boom Bap
B-side"Hip Hop vs. Rap"
ReleasedDecember 6, 1993
FormatCD single
Recorded1993
GenreConscious hip hop, political hip hop
Length4:18
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler, Rodney Lemay, Alan Lomax, Lawrence Parker
Producer(s)Showbiz
KRS-One singles chronology
"Outta Here"
(1993)		 "Sound of da Police"
(1993)		 "MC's Act Like They Don't Know"
(1995)
Audio sample
"Sound of da Police"
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Content

The song criticizes police brutality and systematic oppression.[1][2] It begins with KRS-One whooping twice to evoke a police siren (the "sound of the police"); this recurs several times throughout the song. The heavy bass sample loop was taken from Grand Funk Railroad's cover of "Inside-Looking Out", the final track of their LP Grand Funk.[3] Part of the drum track is taken from "Sing A Simple Song" by Sly & The Family Stone.[4]

Charts
Chart (1994) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 89
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[6] 79

The song was featured in the American films Cop Out, Tag and Black and Blue, and the British film Attack The Block. It was featured as an in-game radio selection in the 2015 video game Battlefield Hardline (by Electronic Arts), and was used for the end credits of the 2016 movie Ride Along 2[7] and in the 2016 published The Angry Birds Movie soundtrack. It has appeared in the TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine[8]. The 'Whoop whoop, sound of da police' hook has been referenced by ska-punk band Sonic Boom Six on their track Piggy In The Middle[9] and in metal band Skindred on the title track of their 2002 debut album Babylon. It was also featured in French movie La Haine.

References
  1. Zaru, Deena. "KRS-One gets political: What's fake and what's real in politics?". CNN.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  2. Nestruck, J. Kelly. "Sound of the Beast is an unusual, disarming display of poetic justice". Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  3. https://www.whosampled.com/sample/6581/KRS-One-Sound-of-Da-Police-Grand-Funk-Railroad-Inside-Looking-Out/
  4. https://www.whosampled.com/sample/20560/KRS-One-Sound-of-Da-Police-Sly-%26-the-Family-Stone-Sing-a-Simple-Song/
  5. "KRS-One Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. "KRS-One Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  7. "IMDB - Ride Along 2 - Soundtracks".
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4c5gqyXQU8
  9. "Piggy In The Middle Lyrics by Sonic Boom Six - Lyrics On Demand". Lyrics On Demand. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
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