MC Lyte – “Paper Thin”: An Example of Avoiding Overproducing
You’re in the lab making a new beat. You’re nodding your head to it. The beat is dope — almost, you think. You just have to add one more thing.
Hold up,…
SOURCE MATERIAL
Source Material: Gábor Szabó – “Poetry Man”
Gábor Szabó was a Hungarian guitarist who made jazz, pop, and rock music. In 1961, Szabó started his career as a member of Chico Hamilton's quintet. Chico Hamilton was a famous jazz drummer and a bandleader who made his mark in the '50s and the '60s. Szabó was apart of Hamilton's quintet for four years. Then, in 1966, Szabó released his debut…
SAMPLING & COPYRIGHT LAW
The Sample Clearance “Tax” and the Primary Beneficiaries of the Sample Clearance System
The following is an excerpt from 'The Art of Sampling: The Sampling Tradition of Hip Hop/Rap Music and Copyright Law, 3rd Edition' by Amir Said.
When the music industry first took notice of sampling, their burning question had to have been: How can we profit from this? Their answer wasn’t exactly a new practice in the realm of recording…
SOUL CONTROL
Soul Control: Isaac Hayes – “Soulsville”
"Soulsville," from the movie Shaft. This is my favorite Isaac Hayes joint. The scene in Shaft where this song plays is so appropriate. The images — which are certainly no Hollywood props, but instead real glimpses of early 1970s impoverished Harlem — are heartbreaking and encouraging at the same time. And what makes this montage rise and resonate…
FUNK THAT GOES
Funk That Goes: The Meters – “Soul Machine”
Formed in 1967 in New Orleans, The Meters are among the founding architects of funk music. One listen of "Soul Machine" by The Meters, and you will recognize the roots of the hip hop/rap music. Drums and rhythm galore. What also stands out is the arrangement and the way The Meters keep the groove. Around the 0:16 mark, pay careful attention to…
