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Exclusive analysis of and insight to music sampling, copyright law, and more from The Art of Sampling.
Sample Flips: Canibus – “How We Roll” (Prod. By Clark Kent)
Canibus is a rapper from New York who came up in the '90s. At the beginning of his career, he was known for freestyling. Later, he formed a short-lived hip hop duo called T.H.E.M. (The Heralds of Extreme Metaphors) with Atlanta rapper…
Source Material: Meiko Kaji – “Urami Bushi”
Meiko Kaji is a Japanese actress and singer who starred in several films and television shows during the '60s and the '70s. She also recorded theme songs for some of her projects, and she released her own music outside of film. In 1972,…
Sample Flips: Jeru the Damaja – “Come Clean” (Prod. By DJ Premier)
Jeru the Damaja is a rapper from East New York, Brooklyn who came up in the '90s. He made his recording debut on Gangstarr's song "I'm The Man." "I'm The Man" was featured on Gangstarr's third album, Daily Operation (1992). In 1993, Jeru…
Source Material: Bola Johnson – “Lagos Sisi”
Bola Johnson was a Nigerian bandleader and trumpeter who recorded in the '60s and the '70s. He started his career as a maraca player in Eric Akaeze's band. Eric Akaeze was a highlife musician who led a house band at a local Nigerian…
Source Material: Gene Redding – “This Heart”
Gene Redding was a soul singer from Anderson, Indiana who recorded in the '70s. He was discovered by Etta James at a USO Club event in Anchorage, Alaska. The United Service Organization (USO) is an organization that provides entertainment…
Sample Flips: Rah Digga – “What They Call Me” (Prod. By Pete Rock)
Rah Digga is a rapper from Newark, New Jersey who came up in the '90s and the 2000s. She started her ascension when she joined the New Jersey based group The Outsidaz. Their first big appearance was on "Cowboys," a record from The Fugees…
Source Material: William Stuckey – “The First Time”
William Stuckey was a soul singer from Arkansas who recorded in the '70s. His musical journey started with the trumpet. He studied the trumpet at the Arkansas School for the Blind. Later, he switched to the clarinet and the alto…
Sample Flips: The Beatnuts – “Watch Out Now” (Prod. By The Beatnuts)
The Beatnuts are a hip hop production duo from NYC that features rappers and producers Juju and Psycho Les. They started recording in the '90s, and they performed well into the 2000s. In 1994, they released their debut album, The Beatnuts:…
Source Material: The Funkees – “Akula Owu Onyeara”
The Funkees were a Nigerian band that recorded in the '60s and the '70s. Their sound was a mix of afrobeat, funk, rock, and soul. In the late '60s, the band was formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Harry Mosco. Initially, the band played…
Source Material: Don Covay – “I Was Checkin’ Out, She Was Checkin’ In”
Don Covay was a singer and a songwriter from Orangeburg, South Carolina. His career started in the early '50s. He sang alongside his family in their gospel quartet called the Cherry Keys. In 1956, Covay transitioned to secular music. …