Little Beaver - Party Down

Year Released: 1974
Genre: Soul / Funk / Southern Groove

Description:
Miami soul legend Little Beaver (born Willie Hale) released Party Down in 1974 on Cat Records, a subsidiary of TK Productions, the powerhouse behind the Miami Sound that also fostered artists like Betty Wright, Clarence Reid, and KC & The Sunshine Band.
The title track, “Party Down,” embodies Beaver’s unmistakable blend of buttery smooth guitar licks, deep pocket grooves, and unhurried soulfulness. His rhythmic playing, laid-back vocals, and the subtle horn arrangements by Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke make this one of the most relaxed yet deeply funky cuts of the era.

The Party Down LP as a whole moves between playful, romantic, and introspective moods — a reflection of the easygoing Miami vibe that would later influence both modern R&B and hip-hop’s soulful production style.

Sampling / Influence:
Little Beaver’s smooth, expressive guitar tone made him a quiet cornerstone of hip-hop sampling culture. “Party Down” has been sampled and reinterpreted across several decades, including:

Jay-Z – “Party Life” (from American Gangster, 2007), which flips Beaver’s mellow groove into a luxurious modern rap backdrop.

Slum Village – “Get Dis Money” (produced by J Dilla, 2000), where Dilla channels Beaver’s Miami warmth through chopped soul textures.

People Under the Stairs – “Acid Raindrops” (2002), capturing the same relaxed, melodic sensibility that defines Beaver’s work.

Though not always directly credited, Beaver’s influence runs deep through neo-soul, G-funk, and chill-hop production — his tone and phrasing often serving as shorthand for “real” soul authenticity.

Party Down remains one of the crown jewels of the TK label, a perfect blend of Southern heat and coastal cool — endlessly loopable, effortlessly soulful.