Author
Amir Said
Amir Said (aka Sa’id), is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Art of Sampling and the creator and series editor of the Best Damn Hip Hop Writing book anthology. A writer, publisher, and beatmaker/rapper from New York (now living in Paris, France), Said is also the founder of BeatTips and the co-founder of the publishing company Superchamp Books. He is an author with a number of books to his credit, including ‘The Art of Sampling,’ ‘The BeatTips Manual,’ ‘Ghetto Brother,’ and ‘The Truth About New York.’ He is also a recording artist with a number of music projects, including the albums 'Soul Review' and 'The Best of Times.' Follow him on Twitter at: @amirsaid and @Art_of_Sampling.
“𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 ‘𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬,’ 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 ‘𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬’” (Variety)
If you’ve ever worked in any industry, then you did business in the *music industry*, you know it’s one of the worst…
Main Source – ‘The Science,’ the Follow-Up Album to ‘Breaking Atoms’
Most of the foundational hip hop beatmaking icons belonged to and made their name in groups before they became known separately as top beatmakers (producers). Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest. DJ Premier from Gang Starr. Dr. Dre from N.W.A.…
MusicStudy: Talking Heads – “Once In A Lifetime;” Rhythms In Motion
When I first heard the Talking Heads classic “Once In A Lifetime” (1981), I immediately knew that it would have a profound effect on me musically (and culturally). Although at that time I’d only had some minimal familiarity with African…
The Function of Fair Use: An Excerpt from the Book The Art of Sampling, 3rd Edition
The following is an excerpt from my forthcoming book The Art of Sampling, 3rd Edition.
Copyright law recognizes that creative borrowing is always at work and unavoidable, and that it thrives necessarily on the widespread use of on…
Beat Breakdown: Prodigy – “Keep It Thoro” (Prod. By Alchemist)
When certain names in beatmaking get tossed around with praise, it’s not always easy to pinpoint exactly what all of the acclaim is about. But then, there are some names where it’s not hard to tell. For me, some names are heavy weight…
Sample-Based Beatmaking As Learned Through Soul Music
Sample-based beatmakers (producers) draw inspiration from a variety of music forms and sources. So it should probably go without saying that each of those sources has both a direct and indirect influence on the way in which a beatmaker…
Nottz – “Shine So Brite,” A Demonstration of Rap Music’s Impenetrable Force Field
Here’s a simple truth. Within the beatmaking tradition (of the broader hip hop/rap music tradition), the more beatmakers who make beats, the more fluid the notions about what constitutes a dope beat. But hip hop/rap music, perhaps more than…
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…
The Function of Fair Use: An Excerpt from the Book The Art of Sampling, 3rd Edition
The following is an excerpt from my forthcoming book The Art of Sampling, 3rd Edition, which I’m currently running a Kickstarter campaign for. If after reading you have learned anything from this article and you would like to learn much…
Dope Beat Heads: Simulated Sid
Representing Houston, TX and comprising 1/8 of the Beat Workers Union collective, Simulated Sid is Dope Beat Head whose beats are perfect fits for raps just as much as for score music.…