{"id":4231,"date":"2010-06-05T10:12:22","date_gmt":"2010-06-05T14:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ethanhein.com\/wp\/?p=4231"},"modified":"2011-11-21T11:55:08","modified_gmt":"2011-11-21T16:55:08","slug":"one-for-the-treble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ethanhein.com\/wp\/2010\/one-for-the-treble\/","title":{"rendered":"One for the treble, two for the bass"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve been hearing this line in a lot of hip-hop songs: “One for the treble, two for the time” or “One for the treble, two for the bass” or some variation. I wanted to find out what everybody’s quoting. After some internet detective work, here’s what I’ve got.<\/p>\n

The phrase is a play on the opening of Carl Perkins’ Blue Suede Shoes<\/a>, as made famous by Elvis<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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One for the money, two for the show
\nThree to get ready, now go, cat, go<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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For the hip-hop world, the main reference point seems to be Spoonie G’s<\/a> “Spoonin’ Rap<\/a>” from 1979. Old school! Spoonie’s line is enigmatic in its meaning.<\/p>\n

You say one for the treble, two for the time
\nCome on y’all, let’s rock the [whistle]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Spoonie’s Rap inspired some other early hip-hop artists. Two years later, Grandmaster Flash<\/a> opened “The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel” with a scratch of Spoonie G. West Street Mob starts “Break Dance Electric Boogie<\/a>” with Spoonie too, though they interject a word of their own — “You say a-one for the treble, two for the time, come on y’all, let’s BREAK DANCE” (said in vocoded robot voice.)<\/p>\n

Other songs that quote or reference “Spoonie’s Rap:”<\/p>\n