“THROW YA HANDS UP!!!" ROCKWILDER ON THE MAKING OF JAY-Z HIT & GETTING SUED BEHIND SAMPLE

n this past clip from My Expert Opinion Ep. #117, legendary multi-platinum producer Rockwilder (best known for Jay-Z's "Jigga My N***a" and hits for Method Man & Redman) shares one of the most unbelievable stories in production history. Rockwilder recounts the drama surrounding a viral voice sample he used ("Throw Ya Hands Up") that he thought came from a Cypress Hill remix acapella.

The sample, which sounds like Prodigy of Mobb Deep, led to a claim from an unknown man who only realized it was his voice when his girlfriend recognized him on the radio. The story culminates in an absurd, cinematic moment when Rockwilder bumps into the man suing him at the cashier line of the Virgin Records store in Times Square, which he believes was an act of divine intervention. Rockwilder also breaks down his production strategy for Roc-A-Fella, revealing he purposefully used a unique 3-bar loop (inspired by Q-Tip) and dramatic intros (inspired by Swizz Beatz) to stand out to Jay-Z and Dame Dash.