G. Dep recently opened up about his initial feelings and evolving perspective on Lil Wayne’s 2018 hit “Uproar,” which famously sampled his 2001 track “Special Delivery.”
The conversation took place during the Bad Boy Records alum’s recent visit to Drink Champs, where he detailed his surprise and eventual acceptance of being sampled by producers Swizz Beatz and Avenue. According to the Harlem rapper, the moment he first learned of the sample was when someone told him Wayne jumped on the song, and after hearing it, G. Dep “felt some kind of way.”
He further elaborated on his initial reaction, stating that he was “a little bit bitter” that Wayne picked “Special Delivery” out of all the songs in his catalog. However, G. Dep’s perspective shifted over time as he understood that sampling is a cornerstone of hip-hop.
“You think about like the history of hip-hop like dudes do it all the time like and I just like it dawned on me,” said G. Dep. “How many times have people sampled Big Daddy Kane ‘Ain’t No Half Steppin’?”
This realization brought G. Dep to an understanding and appreciation for Lil Wayne’s artistic choice. He also explained how he now holds a positive view of Wayne rapping over his record, as well as noting his respect for artists like Wayne who maintain the integrity of the original track.
When asked if he’s seen Lil Wayne since being released from prison in 2024, Dep said he hadn’t but expressed interest in a potential collaboration, remarking that “it would sound like something.”
Despite the songs sounding similar, “Uproar” doesn’t directly sample “Special Delivery” but rather uses the same source material, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” by The Moog Machine. The original producer of “Special Delivery,” EZ Elpee, told HipHopDX he was unhappy upon hearing “Uproar” and alleged that he was not credited by either Lil Wayne or Swizz Beatz.
“They stole my shit. I went into the comments or whatever, and [Swizz] is trying to downplay it,” said Elpee. “It’s just like if I took ‘Ruff Ryders Anthem’ and did it over and didn’t give him a credit for it.”
He added, “I know you need a record. I understand that. I know you’re trying to reinvent yourself. That’s dope. There’s nothing wrong with that. But, like, damn, my n***a. You trying to act like you never heard ‘Special Delivery?'”
