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I'm the Man (EP)

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I'm the Man
EP by
Anthrax
ReleasedDecember 8, 1987
Recorded1987
Genre
Length28:01
LabelMegaforce, Island
ProducerAnthrax, Eddie Kramer, Paul Hammingson
Anthrax EP chronology
Armed and Dangerous
(1985) 		I'm the Man
(1987) 		Penikufesin
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[2]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

I'm the Man is the second EP by American metal band Anthrax, released in 1987 by Megaforce Worldwide/Island Records (although the song was supposedly written three years before).[4] The band, along with Eddie Kramer and Paul Hammingson, produced the EP, which includes the single "I'm the Man". The single is considered among the first rap metal songs.

The title track is a comedy/novelty song that parodies the style of the Beastie Boys, and its main guitar riff is based on the melody of the Jewish folk song "Hava Nagila"[5] (guitarists Scott Ian and Dan Spitz, as well as all the members of the Beastie Boys, are Jewish); according to Charlie Benante, the song was meant to have the Beastie Boys as the MCs on the song, but scheduling conflicts prevented it, so the band performed the vocals themselves.[6]

For live performances, Joey Belladonna and Benante would switch places, Benante performing some of the raps and Belladonna drumming. A 7" single was also released, containing only the second and fifth tracks.

A new version titled "I'm the Man '91" would appear on the 1991 b-sides collection Attack of the Killer B's

Samples and borrowed material

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The beginning of "I'm the Man" features an electric guitar riff of the Jewish folk song "Hava Nagila", which can also be heard in the chorus. The chorus' lyrics are borrowed from one of Taylor Negron's lines in the Rodney Dangerfield film Easy Money. Rather than using a sample, the song's lines are performed by Frank Bello. Anthrax also used one of Sam Kinison's famous primal screams for the song. At about 1:55, a sample of the Metallica song "Master of Puppets" from the 1986 album Master of Puppets can be heard. A few times after "I'm The Man" is said, a sample of "shut up" from Run-DMC's "You Talk Too Much" from the 1985 album King of Rock can be heard. Additionally, the "yeah" that begins the song "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" by the Beastie Boys on their 1986 debut, Licensed to Ill, is sampled.

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I'm the Man" (Censored Radio version)Joey Belladonna, Dan Spitz, Scott Ian, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, John Rooney3:03
2."I'm the Man" (Def Uncensored version)Belladonna, Spitz, Ian, Bello, Benante, Rooney3:04
3."Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (Black Sabbath cover)Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward5:48
4."I'm the Man" (Live)Belladonna, Spitz, Ian, Bello, Benante, Rooney4:39
5."Caught in a Mosh" (Live)Anthrax5:34
6."I Am the Law" (Live)Anthrax, Danny Lilker5:48
Total length:27:56

Personnel

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Additional personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[12] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[13] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ DaRonco, Mike. "Anthrax: I'm the Man". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "A". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 20. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  4. ^ "MetroLyrics Anthrax – I'm the Man '91". Metrolyrics. February 2015. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  5. ^ Krueger, Alyson (June 24, 2023). "Is That 'Hava Nagila' I'm Hearing at the Club?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Anthrax Interviewed by Chuck D: 40 Years of Thrash, Part 1". July 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  8. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Anthrax – I'm the Man". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "Anthrax Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Anthrax - I'm The Man". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  11. ^ "Anthrax | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  12. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Anthrax – I'm the Man". Music Canada.
  13. ^ "American album certifications – Anthrax – I'm the Man". Recording Industry Association of America.
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