Surprisingly, one NCIS actor influenced a famous hip-hop song, but it upholds a trend for the NCIS franchise. NCIS has been on the air for over two decades, so it’s no surprise that the franchise has featured several talented musicians over its historic 21-year run. However, this dapper doctor might not be the first character to consider when thinking about hip-hop.
The most direct connection the NCIS franchise has to hip-hop is to James Todd Smith, more commonly referred to by his stage name, LL Cool J. He portrays Special Agent Sam Hanna in NCIS: Hawai’i. However, the franchise has left the character with an uncertain fate, now that NCIS: Hawai’i has been canceled. The actor who influenced this famous song has a hip-hop connection that’s a little more unexpected. Now that the flagship has been renewed for NCIS season 22, the franchise can keep with the trend spearheaded by veteran actor David MacCallum.
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Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard Actor David McCallum’s “The Edge” Was Sampled For Dr. Dre And Snoop Dogg’s “The Next Episode”
David McCallum Recorded A Series Of Albums For Capital Records In The 1960s
The surprising hip-hip connection is that Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard actor David McCallum wrote a song called “The Edge,” and it was sampled for Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s song “The Next Episode.” McCallum’s “The Edge” is responsible for the twangy, 12-note intro for which “The Next Episode” is known. The original track sampled was from David McCallum’s 1967 Capitol Records album “Music: A Bit More Of Me.” McCallum recorded three other albums for Capitol Records in the 1960s: “Music – A Part of Me” (1966), “Music: It’s Happening Now!” (1967), and “McCallum” (1968).
“The Edge” has appeared elsewhere in its original form, like in the 2008 Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack and the 2017 film Baby Driver. According to the database WhoSampled, “The Edge” has been sampled dozens of times. McCallum’s iconic riff even made it to the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show when Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg performed “The Next Episode” in 2022.
NCIS Has A History Of Talented Musicians
Cote de Pablo And Pauley Perrette Showcased Their Musical Skills On NCIS
Although Dr. Mallard’s rap connection comes as a bit of a shock, the actor’s musical background upholds a trend for the franchise. The franchise has featured several talented musicians throughout its 21 seasons, including some key Major Case Response Team members. Ziva David actor Cote de Pablo performed Tom Waits’ “Temptation” in NCIS season 6, episode 1, “Last Man Standing.” Only a portion of her performance appeared in the episode, but her full version of the song is featured on “NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack.”
NCIS season 6 also featured a track by musically talented Pauley Perrette, who portrayed MCRT Chief Forensic Scientist Abby Sciutio in the flagship series. NCIS season 6, episode 5, “Aliyah,” featured a song performed by Perrette, recorded under the name Stop Making Friends. The song was released on the “NCIS: Official TV Soundtrack” alongside de Pablo’s “Temptations.” Before her stint on NCIS, Perrette was the lead singer of an all-female Los Angeles-based band called Lo-Ball. Their song “Can’t Get Me Down” appears in the film Legally Blonde.
Perrette also sang on the 2011 single “Attention Please” by DMC, credited as “Pauley P.” DMC is the stage name for Darryl Matthews McDaniels, a founding member of the hip-hop group Run-DMC, giving the MCRT another unlikely hip-hop connection. Considering McCallum and Perrette’s characters left the NCIS universe, season 22 of NCIS would be the perfect time to revive the franchise’s connection to musicians, bringing on a famous singer as a guest star or even a series regular. The connection added interesting elements to the franchise in the past and would yield exciting opportunities in the future.
NCIS
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NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. Special Agent Alden Parker, a quirky former FBI agent who solves his cases with calm professionalism and sharp, sarcastic charm, leads the NCIS team, which includes NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee, an MIT graduate with a knack for computers who has now graduated to senior field agent; the charismatic, unpredictable and resilient NCIS Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres, who has spent most of his career on solo undercover assignments; and sharp, athletic and tough NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight, a formidable REACT agent who specializes in hostage negotiations and high-risk operations. The naïve Jimmy Palmer is assisting the team, who graduated from assistant to fully licensed medical examiner and now runs the morgue; and forensic scientist Kasie Hines, Ducky’s former graduate assistant. Overseeing operations is NCIS Director Leon Vance, an intelligent, highly trained agent who can always be counted on to shake up the status quo. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.
- Release Date
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September 23, 2003
- Seasons
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22
Source: WhoSampled
