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Exclusive analysis of and insight to music sampling, copyright law, and more from The Art of Sampling.
Source Material: The Fuzz – “I Love You For All Seasons”
The Fuzz were a soul trio from Washington, D.C. who recorded in the '70s. The trio included Sheila Young, Barbara Gilliam, and Val Williams. In 1970, they started their singing career as The Passionettes. However, in 1971, they signed to…
Sample Flips: Smiff-N-Wessun – “Bucktown” (Prod. By Da Beatminerz)
Smiff-N-Wessun are a hip hop duo from Brooklyn, New York who started rhyming in the '90s. The duo includes Tek from BedStuy, Brooklyn and Steele from Brownsville, Brooklyn. In 1993, they made their recording debut on Black Moon's album…
Source Material: Barbara Jean English – “You’re Gonna Need Somebody To Love…
Barbara Jean English is a soul singer from Sumpter, South Carolina. In the late '50s, she began her career as the lead singer for The Clickettes. The Clickettes were a New Jersey based doo-wop group that featured English, Sylvia Hammond,…
Source Material: Billy Stewart – “Sitting In The Park”
Billy Stewart was a blues and a soul singer from Washington, D.C. At twelve years old, he started singing with his brothers Johnny, James, and Frank, and they became the Four Stewart Brothers. They sang together for five years on a…
Sample Flips: Mic Geronimo – “Shit’s Real” (Prod. By Irv Gotti)
Mic Geronimo is a rapper from Queens, New York who had a strong run in the '90s. Everything started at his high school talent show. At the show, Geronimo met DJ, record producer, and future label magnate Irv Gotti, and they hit the studio…
Source Material: Otis Clay – “Trying To Live My Life Without You”
Otis Clay was a blues and a soul singer from Waxhaw, Mississippi. As a child, he performed with local gospel groups in Mississippi. In 1953, at 11 years old, his family moved to Muncie, Indiana, and he continued to sing gospel music. In…
Sample Flips: Big Herk – “I Call Ya Name”
Big Herk is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan who's been rhyming since the '90s. He started his career as a member of the Detroit rap group Rock Bottom. However, in 2003, he left the group to pursue a solo career. That same year, he…
Source Material: Dean Fraser – “Ethiopian Love Song”
Dean Fraser is a Jamaican saxophonist from Kingston, Jamaica. At 12 years old, Fraser started playing the clarinet. At 15, he switched to the saxophone. In his 20s, he started his first band, The Sonny Bradshaw 7. In 1978, he released…
Source Material: Penny Goodwin – “Too Soon You’re Old”
Penny Goodwin is a soul singer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who recorded in the '70s. Before she started recording music, Goodwin was a popular act in Milwaukee. First, she sang in church with Al Jarreau, a legendary soul and jazz musician…
Sample Flips: One Be Lo – “Enecs Eht No Kcab” (Prod. By Decompoze)
One Be Lo is a rapper from Pontiac, Michigan who started rhyming in the late '90s. In 1998, he created the hip hop duo Binary Star with Senim Silla. One year later, they released their debut album, Waterworld. It was a hit on the…