Browsing Category
Features
Exclusive analysis of and insight to music sampling, copyright law, and more from The Art of Sampling.
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…
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…
Source Material: Johnnie Taylor – “Who’s Making Love”
Johnnie Taylor was a gospel and a soul singer from West Memphis, Arkansas. In the '50s, he started his career as a singer in the gospel group The Highway QC's. In 1957, he replaced Sam Cooke as the lead singer in the gospel group The Soul…
Source Material: Noel Pointer – “We Took The Long Way Home”
Noel Pointer was a violinist from Brooklyn, New York who recorded for several decades. His career started in high school at The High School of Music and Art. He studied classical violin, and after high school, he was a freelance artist for…
Sample Flips: The Click – “Let’s Get Drunk” (Prod. By The Click, Studio Ton,…
The Click was a hip hop group from Vallejo, California who came up in the '90s. The group featured four rappers: E-40, B-Legit, D-Shot, and Suga-T. One thing I think is cool about the group is that they’re all family. B-Legit is E-40’s…