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Exclusive analysis of and insight to music sampling, copyright law, and more from The Art of Sampling.
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…
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.…
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…