BILLy Squire - The Big Beat

In 1990, American rocker Billy Squire released his solo debut album Tale Of The Tape, featuring The Big Beat - which was once the most sampled beat used in hip-hop history. Squire had previously been a member of other successful bands including Piper, who famously opened for KISS on their 1977 tour. Piper's self-tited debut album was called "the greatest debut ever produced by a US rock band" by popular monthly Circus Magazine. After Piper's second album, Squire signed with Capitol Records to release his solo debut, enlisting KISS lead guitarist Bruce Kulick to the recording studio. The Big Beat has been sampled over 200 times on songs including on Jay-Z's 99 Problems, and on Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys.