The mashed potatoes sample revealed!

The source of a spoken sample used in the song "B-Boys Makin' with the Freak Freak" has been a topic of discussion in the Beastie Boys fan community since the release of Ill Communication, the album on which the song appears, in 1994. Uncredited on the album, the sample -- referred to as "the mashed potatoes sample" by fans -- has been a mystery. Fans have wondered and argued about who the comedian that says, "Shit, if this is gonna be that kind of party, I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes" is. Among the names put forth as the possible source to credit were Red Foxx, Moms Mabley, Richard Pryor, Robin Harris, and Rudy Ray Moore. All of them wrong.

Last week, my friend Rusty had the opportunity to ask Adam Horovitz about the source of the sample. Horovitz kindly obliged him with the answer. I was standing there and heard it too. Stupidly, neither of us wrote down the answer. Later, when we tried to recall the name, we drew a blank.

Thankfully, questions may be asked again, and that's what happened this week. Parkey, a member of the Beastie Boys Message Board, was able to repeat the question when interviewing Horovitz and Mike Diamond for an article to be published in Clash magazine. Unlike Rusty and me, Parkey had paper and pen. He documented the answer.

Drumroll, please!

The source of the mashed potatoes sample -- according to Adam Horovitz and courtesy of Parkey -- is comedian Mantan Moreland from his album That Ain't My Finger.



Although we have been unable to find the specific track from Moreland's album featuring the sample (give us more time!)*, we found audio samples of Moreland's voice that confirms Horovitz' answer. Here's one sample:
Mantan Moreland in Charlie Chan
*TAL uploaded an mp3 of Moreland's skit with the mashed potatoes line. Download it here.

More on Mantan Moreland at:
  • Wikipedia
  • IMDB.com
  • Africanamericans.com
  • 31 comments:

    5:27 PM Hot Sauce said...

    Kudos to Parkey for sharing this with us and to Laver1969 for all his research on the sample!

    5:36 PM Klepto said...

    this has been a mic to mic exclusive, y'all! ;D

    5:49 PM paulbonardelli said...

    OMG, that sounds nothing like Bosley!!!! But you could see where I was coming from right? Now that I see the name, i can remember him saying that...im suprised he Parkey asked the question, and Adrock was probably like, WTF 2 of these questions in the same week? Excellent scoop!

    5:53 PM Hot Sauce said...

    No, I can't see where you got "Bosley" out of "Mantan Moreland." At least I had the first letter right with my "Mumphries" guess! LOL

    6:01 PM Klepto said...

    that was one of the questions i gave to parkey to ask! yay! i'm glad it was finally answered. :)

    and now documented. ;D

    6:10 PM Klepto said...

    mantan moreland was on charlie chan - which is referenced in brass monkey - which paulb seems to have had a lot of. hehe

    6:13 PM Anonymous said...

    On the serious tip. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH PARKEY. I'm gonna scoop up the album and find this sample.

    Pootytang

    6:24 PM Anonymous said...

    Aye - you can thank Klepto for this really. I wouldn't have thought to ask otherwise!

    I always thought it was Richard Prior...

    6:55 PM Klepto said...

    i found a copy on e-bizzle mr. tang.

    7:09 PM Anonymous said...

    hello...I just have an idea for this killer blog...how about when the album comes out or if you have some songs from The Mix-Up now...people can summit songs from the new album with their own lyrics. Like people have done with remixes. What do you guys think?

    7:14 PM Spiffy D said...

    Wow it's taken 13 years and we finally have an answer. That pic of the album cover nearly made me choke coffee all over some important paperwork, but I managed to hit the floor. Note to self: coffee thru the nose in reverse doesn't feel too good.

    ---- Damian in Seattle

    8:02 PM Anonymous said...

    I'm kinda disappointed that we found out. It would've been better left a mystery. And I would've gotten away with it to if it weren't for you pesky kids and that dastardly pootytang!!!!

    8:16 PM Anonymous said...

    I was tired of seeing the question pop up on the BBMB all the time. I'm glad it has been answered.

    8:28 PM Anonymous said...

    Good lord finally, now all the guys stick their dicks in the mashed potatoes and celebrate!

    8:48 PM Klepto said...

    omg i didn't know it was gonna be THAT kind of party! maybe i shouldn't be seeing this! *shields eyes*

    ...is yauch here? *peeks*

    8:57 PM Anonymous said...

    Hey hey hey....thank you Parkey!!! I think we should throw a party. I'll bring the mashed potatoes.

    -Laver

    10:10 PM Anonymous said...

    a babe ruth goes to the first person to supply an mp3!

    10:39 PM Anonymous said...

    I would like to hear the album.

    Thanks for solving the mystery, Scooby gang.

    11:23 PM Anonymous said...

    http://rapidshare.com/files/35494860/Mantan.mp3.html

    There you go, ladies.

    11:39 PM Vinny said...

    Good work young Padawans

    11:57 PM Hot Sauce said...

    Very nice. Thanks, TAL!

    5:19 AM Anonymous said...

    *brilliant*
    I was soo wrong! the long quest has finally ended. thanks for revealling the big potatoe-mystery that kept me up all these years :-)

    1:56 PM huffer1 said...

    Best. Article. Ever. thank you so very much.

    11:11 PM Anonymous said...

    Well done - thanks!

    1:17 AM HostThrify said...

    Eazy-E beat B-Boys in using that as a sample.

    4:33 AM Valisk said...

    Tal, is that just the single clip or is that the whole album? If its the whole album i wont bother with the below, but if it isn't, I found 1 copy of it on e-bay. I plan on bidding on it. If i do win ill record it to mp3 so more people can enjoy it.

    3:11 PM Joey said...

    i can't wait to actually stick my dick in some mashed potatoes

    5:04 PM Unknown said...

    1:40 mark here -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smrJ7459pj0

    9:40 PM Guest05082010 said...

    I can't believe the guy who thought it was richard pryor. No chance in hell. Sounded like something redd fox would say, but didn't sound like him. How did the Beastie Boys ever find a clip from this act? I'm impressed

    12:21 AM SPIKE MARSH said...

    classic! i remember being 13 jammin to this cd for the first time .. i had to rewind it like 5 times i was dying....

    4:42 PM Jared said...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smrJ7459pj0

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