Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)

Gerard Presencer, Rahsaan, Us3

About Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)

"Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" is a song by English jazz-rap group Us3. It was originally released in October 1992 as the lead single from their debut album Hand on the Torch. The song was recorded as a demo a year before the group's first release and features a sample of Herbie Hancock's song "Cantaloupe Island". It did not chart in their native UK, but in the US, "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's only top 40 single. It was subsequently re-released in UK where it peaked at No. 23."Cantaloop" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 25, 1994 for selling over 500,000 copies. 


Year:
1994
4:38
67 
#1

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Groovy groovy jazzy funky pounce bounce dance
As we dip in the melodic sea
Rhythm keeps flowin', an' Drip's the M.C.
Sweet sugar pop sugar pop rocks
Pop you don't stop til the sweet beat drops
I show an' prove as I stick an' move
Every poem's recited on top of the groove
Smooth, my, floatin' like a butterfly
Notes that I float sung like a lullaby
Brace yourself as the beat hits ya
Dip trip flip fantasia

Feel the beat drop jazz and hip-hop
Drippin' in your dome makes you zone and bop
Funk and fusion a fly illusion
Keeps ya coastin' on the rhythm ya cruisin'
Up down round and round, rhymes profound
But nevertheless you've got to get down
Fantasy freak through the beat so unique
You move your feet and sweat from the beat
Back to the fact I'm the mack and I know that
The way I kick the rhyme some will call me a poet
Poem steady flowin', growin' showin' sights and sounds
Caught in the groove in the tale I found
Many tripped the tour upon the rhymes they saw
To an infinite height to the realm of the hardcore
Here we go off I take ya
Dip trip flip fantasia

Jump to the jam boogie woogie jam slam
Bust the dialect I'm the man in command
Come flow with the sound of th mighty mic master
Rhymin' on the mic I'll bring the suckers to disaster
Bookout ducks but I still rock Nike
With the razzle dazzle, a star I might be
Scribble drabble scrabble on the microphone I babble
As I fix the funky words into a puzzle
Yes yes yes on and on I flex
Get with the flow verbs manifest
Feel the vibe from here to Asia
Dip trip flip fantasia

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Us3

Us3 is a jazz-rap group founded in London in 1991. Their name was inspired by a Horace Parlan recording produced by Alfred Lion, the founder of Blue Note Records. On their debut album, Hand on the Torch, Us3 used samples from the Blue Note Records catalogue, all originally produced by Lion. more »

1 fan

Written by: Herbie Hancock, Jerry Wilkenson, Mal Simpson, Rahsaan Kelly

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Origins
"Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" is not by Herbie Hancock directly but is heavily sampled from his 1964 song, "Cantaloupe Island." The song is actually created by the British jazz-rap group Us3.
Year of Release
"Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" was released in 1993 as a single from Us3's debut album "Hand on the Torch."
Commercial Success
The track was a global hit, topping the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play in 1993, reaching no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994, and attained the top spot on the Hot Rap Singles chart.
Genre Fusion
It is known for its fusion of jazz and hip-hop elements. This unique blend helped popularize jazz-rap style in the '90s.
Movie Features
"Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" has appeared in several movies, such as "Super Mario Bros," "Relish," "Dead Presidents," and "Space Jam."
Music Video
The music video of the song contains snippets of old black and white cartoons, mixed with images of the band playing, dancing, and rapping.
Billboard Chart History
Before "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" only two jazz influenced songs had ever reached Billboard’s top ten, making it a significant contributor in introducing jazz to a new generation of listeners.
Sample Approval
Before releasing, Us3 sought and gained approval from Herbie Hancock to sample "Cantaloupe Island." This openness to sampling helped set a precedent in the music industry.
Lyrics
The lyrics are performed by rapper Rahsaan Kelly, not Herbie Hancock. They reference many jazz legends, highlighting the deep influence of jazz on hip-hop.
Crossover Success
Because of its crossover appeal, this song was even included in the Pure Moods compilation series, usually associated with New Age music, demonstrating that it reached a very broad audience across different genres.
Song Title
The title of the song is a play on the song it sampled, "Cantaloupe Island". "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" refers both to the song itself and the improvisational and interpretive nature of jazz music.
Grammy Nomination
The track was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Rap Solo Performance" in 1995 but did not win.
Contributions
The song features instrumental contributions from Mel Simpson on keyboards and Geoff Wilkinson on programming and scratches.
Legacy
"Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" has remained Us3's signature song throughout the years and continues to be popular on streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.

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    Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)

    11.6M
    94,325     2,404

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1994

    Billboard #9


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