"Joy and Pain" by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

Song#:  3910

Date:  05/27/1989

Debut:  90

Peak:  58

Weeks:  13

Genre:  Hip-Hop

Pop Bits:  This hip-hop duo scored a platinum single in '88 with the memorable "It Takes Two" (#36 Pop/#17 R&B/#3 Dance). The track was taken from their debut album of the same name, which got to #31 Pop/#4 R&B and would turn gold in November '88. Their follow-up single "Get on the Dance Floor," would actually top the Dance chart while getting to #11 R&B and #6 Rap. However, it would fail to make the Pop chart. Next up from the duo was this third single. Once again, it would do well at Dance (#6), R&B (#11), and Rap (#5), but this time around the song was able to get a little action on the Pop chart where it peaked just outside the Top 50. That extra boost helped the album reach the platinum sales level.

ReduxReview:  As it was with "It Takes Two," it was the sampled parts of this song that were the most memorable, although less so with this track. The beats were fairly basic and the rap just wasn't all that engaging. However, what it did do was drive me back to the original silky and sleek Maze track. A bit o' Maze is always a good thing in your musical diet.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) This song is not only titled after one by the soul/funk group Maze, but it also samples the chorus of it as well. "Joy and Pain" was written by Frankie Beverly and recorded by his group Maze for their 1980 album of the same name. It would be released as the third single from the LP, but it failed to chart. The album would reach #5 R&B/#31 Pop and become the band's fourth gold-seller in a row. The main hit from it was the #9 R&B "Southern Girl." Maze's "Joy and Pain" would get covered by dance-pop/R&B singer Donna Allen. It would be released as a single early in '89 and hit #3 on the R&B chart, not long before Base and Rock's hip-hop sampled version of the tune was issued out.  2) Instead of working with DJ E-Z Rock on a follow-up album, Rob Base chose to go solo for his next effort. Late in '89 he would release The Incredible Base. It's first single "Turn It Out (Go Base)" would only get to #23 on the Dance chart while missing both the R&B and Pop charts. Still, the album sold well and after peaking at #20 R&B/#50 Pop, it would go gold. The duo would reunite for '94's Break of Dawn, but it failed to make an impression. It seems neither recorded together or separately again. DJ E-Z Rock, aka Rodney Brice, would die from a diabetic seizure in 2014.

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