Let Me Clear My Throat

"Let Me Clear My Throat"
Single by DJ Kool
from the album Let Me Clear My Throat
Released	April 1, 1996
Format	CD single, Cassette single, 12" Single
Genre	Hip-hop, Go-go
Label	American Recordings/Warner Bros. Records
Producer	DJ Kool, s/x, Fred Derby, Funkmaster Flex, DJ Mark the 45 King
DJ Kool singles chronology
"Let Me Clear My Throat" (1996) "Ayo!" (2006)

"Let Me Clear My Throat" is a 1996 song by hip-hop artist DJ Kool from his album of the same name Let Me Clear My Throat. It was recorded live at the Bahama Bay club in Philadelphia.

Track listing

1. "Let Me Clear My Throat" (Old-School Reunion Edit) - 4:25
2. "Let Me Clear My Throat" (Klassic Kool Original Version) - 4:51
3. "Let Me Clear My Throat" (Old-School Reunion Remix) - 4:53
4. "Let Me Clear My Throat" (45 King Bass 'N' Funk Remix) - 4:32
5. "Let Me Clear My Throat" (Funkmaster Flex Remix) - 3:48
6. "Let Me Clear My Throat" (No 'Damn' Old-School Reunion Remix) - 4:54
7. "Let Me Clear My Throat" (Tupac Tribute Edit) - 1:22

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (1997)	Peak Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	30
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles	21
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40	28
UK Singles chart	8

End of year charts

End of year chart (1997)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	96

Samples

• The main loop is taken from "The 900 Number" (1987) by DJ Mark the 45 King, a song based on a sample from Marva Whitney's "Unwind Yourself" (1967). This track was an instrumental that was already regarded as a hip-hop classic by the time "Let Me Clear My Throat" was recorded.
• The intro horns were sampled from "Hollywood Swinging" by Kool and the Gang; coincidentally, DJ Kool's name is a reference to the original band.
• In the second version of the song, the sample is taken from "Sing Sing" by Gaz.

Pop culture usage

• The song was featured in the movie Drumline as one of the songs performed by the marching band.
• The song is featured in the film Zack and Miri Make a Porno at the high school reunion.
• Mixed Martial Artist Leonard Garcia used this as his entrance song vs Mike Brown on March 1, 2009
• Beyoncé sampled the song during her worldwide I Am... Tour.
• The song appeared at a house party in series 3 episode 4 of Skins
• This song is parodied in "Let Me Smoke My Pipe" by the British Chap-Hop artist Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer.
• This song appeared in the movie Bring It On in the rival Cheerleaders court early in the film.
• It was featured in Not Another Teen Movie which parodied the above.
• Mixed Martial Artist Gilbert Yvel used this as his entrance music at UFC 115.
• Professional Wrestler The Blue Meanie (Brian Heffron) used this as his entrance music in Extreme Championship Wrestling.
• Mac Miller samples this song for his single Party On Fifth Ave off his debut album Blue Slide Park.