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Exclusive analysis of and insight to music sampling, copyright law, and more from The Art of Sampling.
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.…
Check This: Y.N.X.716 – “Excel”
Y.N.X.716 describes himself as a "Buffalo lyricist embracing the '90s sound...," but if you listen with a careful ear, you'll notice that he's much more that. His sound is timeless. And while is no doubt a student (and master) of the '90s…
Sample Flips: dead prez – “We Want Freedom” (Prod. By Hedrush and dead prez)
dead prez is a hip hop duo from New York that features two rappers: M-1 and stic.man. M-1 is from Brooklyn, and stic.man is from Shadeville, Florida. In the early '90s, they met each other in college at Florida A&M. Later, they…
Was It Fair Use? Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – “Road To The Riches” (prod. by Marley…
Released in 1989 as the title track of the album of the same name, “Road To The Riches,” produced by Marley Marl, features a sample of Billy Joel’s “Stiletto” (1979). Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and Marley Marl were never sued for copyright…
Source Material: Kellee Patterson – “If It Don’t Fit Don’t Force It”
Kellee Patterson was a singer from Gary, Indiana who recorded in the '70s. She got her start in the music industry after winning a series of beauty pageants in her town. In 1971, she became Miss Indiana, and her singing played a unique…
Source Material: Patrice Rushen – “Remind Me”
Patrice Rushen is a singer, pianist, and composer from Los Angeles, California. In 1974, she started her recording career with Prestige Records. She released three albums for Prestige, then in 1978, she started recording for Elektra…
Sample Flips: Diamond D – “The Hiatus” (Prod. By Diamond D)
Diamond D is a producer and a rapper from The Bronx, New York who came up in the '90s. He is one of the original members of the hip hop collective D.I.T.C. The collective featured Lord Finesse, O.C., Big L, Fat Joe, Buckwild, Showbiz and…
Source Material: Johnnie Taylor – “Who’s Making Love”
Johnnie Taylor was a gospel and a soul singer from West Memphis, Arkansas. In the '50s, he started his career as a singer in the gospel group The Highway QC's. In 1957, he replaced Sam Cooke as the lead singer in the gospel group The Soul…
Source Material: Noel Pointer – “We Took The Long Way Home”
Noel Pointer was a violinist from Brooklyn, New York who recorded for several decades. His career started in high school at The High School of Music and Art. He studied classical violin, and after high school, he was a freelance artist for…
Sample Flips: The Click – “Let’s Get Drunk” (Prod. By The Click, Studio Ton,…
The Click was a hip hop group from Vallejo, California who came up in the '90s. The group featured four rappers: E-40, B-Legit, D-Shot, and Suga-T. One thing I think is cool about the group is that they’re all family. B-Legit is E-40’s…