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Exclusive analysis of and insight to music sampling, copyright law, and more from The Art of Sampling.
Source Material: Joe Willie Wilkins – “It’s Too Bad”
Joe Willie Wilkins was a blues musician from the Mississippi Delta. He was born in Davenport, Coahoma County, Mississippi, and he grew up on a plantation near Bobo, Mississippi. As he got older, Wilkins learned how to play the guitar,…
Sample Flips: Showbiz and A.G. – “Next Level” (Prod. By Showbiz)
Showbiz and A.G. are a hip hop duo from The Bronx who came up in the '90s. Showbiz mainly produced and A.G. rhymed. They made their recording debut on "Back to Back Rhyming," a deep cut featured on Lord Finesse's Funky Technician (1990)…
Source Material: Melvin Bliss – “Synthetic Substitution”
Melvin Bliss was a soul singer from Chicago, Illinois. His music career started in the Navy where he sang in a few naval bands throughout the '50s. When he returned home, he continued performing in local clubs. By the '70s, Bliss was…
Source Material: Howard Tate – “Stop”
Howard Tate was a singer and songwriter from Elberton, Georgia. As a teenager, Tate sang in a gospel group called The Gainors. They recorded a string of songs during the late '50s, but they didn't find much success. After his stint with…
Sample Flips: Rappin’ 4-Tay – “Playaz Club” (Prod. By Cyrus Esteban and Franky J)
Rappin' 4-Tay is a rapper from San Francisco, California who started rhyming in the late '80s. After high school, 4-Tay made his recording debut on "Don't Fight The Feelin," a song from Too Short's album Life Is Too Short. Shortly after,…
Source Material: Jeanette – “Porque Te Vas”
Jeanette is a Spanish singer who was originally from London, England. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois and La Habra, California, but she moved to Barcelona, Spain as a teenager. While in Barcelona, Jeanette learned how to play the guitar,…
Sample Flips: Michie Mee and L.A. Luv – “On This Mic” (Prod. By Beat Factory)
Michie Mee is considered a pioneer in Canadian hip hop. She is an artist of many cultures; she was originally born in Jamaica, raised in Toronto, Canada, and she spent a lot of her teenage years in New York. At fourteen, she started…
Source Material: William S. Fischer – “Patience Is A Virtue”
William S. Fischer is a keyboardist, saxophonist, arranger, and composer from Shelby, Mississippi. In the '50s, he performed with artists like Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner, and Muddy Waters. In the '60s, Fischer was primarily an arranger…
Source Material: Freddie McGregor – “Big Ship”
Freddie McGregor is a Jamaican singer and producer from Clarendon, Jamaica. At seven years old, McGregor performed as a backup singer with the ska duo The Clarendonians. The Clarendonians included Fitzroy "Ernest" Wilson and Peter Wilson.…
Sample Flips: Rich Boy – “Throw Some D’s” Ft. Polow Da Don (Prod. By Polow Da Don)
Rich Boy is a rapper from Mobile, Alabama who came up in the mid 2000s. His most well-known song is his debut single, "Throw Some D's." I remember when I was in elementary school, "Throw Some D's" was one of the hardest songs out. The…