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