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Exclusive analysis of and insight to music sampling, copyright law, and more from The Art of Sampling.
Sample Flips: M.O.P. – “How About Some Hardcore” (Prod. by DR Period)
M.O.P. (Mash Out Posse) is a legendary hip hop duo from Brownsville, Brooklyn. Billy Danze and Lil Fame were two friends from Brownsville who represented not only in their music but in the streets where they came from. In 1994, they…
Source Material: Janko Nilović – “Drug Song”
Janko Nilović is a Montenegrin pianist, composer, and arranger who was born in Istanbul, Turkey. Since 1960, he's lived in Paris, France. During his early years in Paris, Nilović enjoyed a successful career as a performer in Jazz…
Source Material: Ralfi Pagan – “Just One of Your Kisses”
Ralfi Pagan was a latin soul and salsa singer from Bronx, New York. He was beloved on the New York and Los Angeles latin soul circuit. In 1969, Pagan released his debut album, Ralfi Pagan, on Fania Records. The success of his album led…
Sample Flips: Mobb Deep – “Survival of the Fittest” (Prod. By Havoc)
Mobb Deep is one of the illest hip hop duos of all-time. Hailing from Queensbridge, Queens, the duo included Prodigy and Havoc. In 1993, they released their debut album, Juvenile Hell. It was a solid debut, but it was their second album,…
Source Material: Jo Armstead – “A Stone Good Lover”
Jo Armstead is a singer and songwriter from Yazoo City, Mississippi. She began her career as a backing vocalist for Bobby "Blue" Bland. After her stint as a backing vocalist, she became an Ikette. The Ikettes were a group of singers for…
Sample Flips: G Herbo – “Fight Or Flight” (Prod. By Brian Miller)
G Herbo (formerly Lil Herb) is a rapper from Chicago, Illinois who has been rapping since 2012. That year, alongside close friend and fellow Chicago native, Lil Bibby, they released "Kill Shit." The success of "Kill Shit" led to an…
Source Material: Don Bryant – “Can I Change My Mind”
Don Bryant is a rhythm and blues singer and songwriter from Memphis, Tennessee. In 1969, he released his debut album, Precious Soul, on Hi Records. The album featured songs like "Try Me," "Funky Broadway," and "Can I Change My Mind." …
Source Material: Robert Knight – “Everlasting Love”
Robert Knight was a singer from Franklin, Tennessee who released a handful of singles in the '60s and '70s. In 1967, he released his first single, "Everlasting Love," on Rising Sons, a label owned by singer/songwriters Buzz Cason and Mac…
Sample Flips: Special Ed – “I Got It Made” (Prod. By Howie Tee)
Special Ed is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York who rose to prominence in the early '90s. He was raised in Flatbush before he moved to Canarsie, and he always represented Brooklyn in his music. In 1989, he released his debut album,…
Source Material: Smoked Sugar – “Keeping Up My Front”
Smoked Sugar was a soul group from Los Angeles, California who enjoyed a short-lived career in the late '70s. Jimmy Conwell (aka James Conwell, aka Richard Temple) was a singer-songwriter based in LA and the lead singer for Smoked Sugar. …