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You take Harry Nilsson and a ringtone rapper, and you mix 'em all up...

Apr 23, 2008, 10:00 AM | by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, Music, Strange Bedfellows

How great is it that Tyga's new single, "Coconut Juice," prominently features the rap newcomer belting out the hook from Harry Nilsson's 1971 hit "Coconut" (a.k.a. "the 'lime in the coconut' song") over some supercharged synths? Very great indeed, say I. That simple sample elevates an otherwise mediocre tune into something I can't stop listening to — the first 30 seconds or so, anyway. Not sure why no one else seems to be thrilling to this bit of re-appropriative genius yet; as I write this, a Google blogs search for "tyga nilsson" turns up exactly one hit, and it's a snarky one. I mean, is Tyga into "Coconut" because of Reservoir Dogs? Was the song's producer just a really big fan of Nixon-era singer-songwriters? Whatever — I'm just happy this happened. (Check out the video — featuring moderately entertaining cameos from Lil Wayne, Pete Wentz, and Tyga's cousin Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes — below.) Don't you agree?


haijoyxv mjwpqe Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 02:53 PM EST

twhoqu fglkvjqam ynovrjca rboydwnt snph azfus cbem

Swagga Sun, May 4, 2008 at 07:27 PM EST

Let the man get his money. Its catchy to be real with you.

SDA333 Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 06:21 PM EST

Sampled = Stole + lack of imagination + lack of musical ability.

FreeAgent Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 06:23 PM EST

I hate the old "write your own songs; stop stealing other people's work" when talking about sampling. Granted, this song is terrible, but simply because the man is a terrible rapper, not because he sampled somebody else's lyric.

SDA333 Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 04:41 PM EST

Stop with the rapping and write your own songs - not beats!

kats Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 01:54 PM EST

I think the Bahamen did a remake of this song that I love!

Stephanie T. Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 12:12 PM EST

Does anyone remember the Muppets version?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7P59YBoz_o

M Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 10:52 AM EST

"That simple sample elevates an otherwise mediocre tune into something I can't stop listening to"

Sounds like Diddy's--oops, I mean Puffy's--guiding mantra of the late 90s

Welles Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 10:23 AM EST

Ear and eye poison.

T Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 10:04 AM EST

I found another link to this and it's worse than I expected. :(

T Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 10:01 AM EST

I wanted to hear how horrible this sounds, but the video has been deleted.


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