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Exclusive analysis of and insight to music sampling, copyright law, and more from The Art of Sampling.
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…
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…
Sample Flips: Inspectah Deck Ft. La The Darkman “Lovin You” (Prod. By True Master)
Inspectah Deck released his debut album, Uncontrolled Substance, in 1999. The album was originally supposed to be released in 1995, but two floods at RZA's home studio postponed the album indefinitely. RZA lost upwards of 500 beats…
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: 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.…