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Exclusive analysis of and insight to music sampling, copyright law, and more from The Art of Sampling.
Source Material: Rupa – “Aaj Shanibar”
Rupa is a singer from Malda Town, West Bengal, India who recorded in the early '80s. She struggled to find success early in her career, but a trip to Canada changed everything. In 1981, Rupa and her family went on vacation to Canada. …
Sample Flips: Big L – “Street Struck” (Prod. By Lord Finesse)
Big L was a rapper from Harlem, New York who rose to prominence in the '90s. He was known for freestyling, and he battled MC's throughout the city. He also founded two groups, Three The Hard Way and Children of the Corn. Children of the…
Source Material: Mai Yamane – “Tasogare”
Mai Yamane is a Japanese city pop singer from Izumo, Shimane, Japan. City pop was a genre of music that originated in Japan in the '70s and it peaked during the '80s. In 1979, Yamane released her debut single, "Gozen Reiji." In 1980, she…
Source Material: Junior Wells – “Messin’ With The Kid”
Junior Wells was a blues musician and a harmonica player from Chicago, Illinois. As a child, he grew up in Memphis, and he learned how to play the harmonica from his cousin Junior Parker, a blues musician from Mississippi. As a teenager,…
Sample Flips: Screwball – “Seen It All” (Prod. By DJ Premier)
Screwball is a hip hop group from Queensbridge, Queens. The group was comprised of Blaq Poet, Hostyle, KL, and Solo. They were one of the illest groups from Queensbridge, and they made their mark early. In 2000, Screwball released their…
Source Material: France Gall – “Laisse Tomber Les Filles”
France Gall is a French yé-yé singer from Paris, France. Yé-yé was a style of music that originated in Southern Europe during the early '60s. The inspiration for the genre was British and American rock 'n' roll. In 1963, when France Gall…
Sample Flips: Freeway – “What We Do” Ft. Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel (Prod. by Just Blaze)
Freeway is a rapper from North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He's a member of State Property, and he was on Roc-A-Fella records in the early 2000s. In 2003, Freeway released his debut album, Philadelphia Freeway. "What We Do" Ft. Jay-Z and…
Source Material: Camilo Sesto – “Fuego”
Camilo Sesto is a singer and songwriter from Alcoy, Spain who started recording in the mid '60s. In 1965, Sesto started recording with his band Los Dayson. One year later, he started recording with another band called Los Bostines. …
Source Material: Gloria Barnes – “Home”
Gloria Barnes is a singer from Harlem, New York who recorded in the late '60s and the early '70s. In 1966, under the name Towanda Barnes, she released her debut single, "Oh Darling"/"If I'm Guilty." In 1971, she changed her name to Gloria…
Sample Flips: Nikki D – “Lettin’ Off Steam” (Prod. By Sam Sever)
When it comes to women in hip hop from the 1980s, I've primarily listened to MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Roxanne Shante. When I discovered Nikki D, I couldn't believe I wasn't listening to her sooner. Nikki D is a rapper from Los Angeles,…