Building From the Past
Sampling—taking portions of existing recordings to create new music—is foundational to hip-hop. It's both an art form and a legal minefield.
The Origins
Hip-hop DJs in the 1970s:
- Extended breaks by switching between two copies
- Isolated drum sections for MCs to rap over
- Created new contexts for old music
Golden Age Sampling (1987-1992)
This era featured:
- Dense layering: Multiple samples per track
- Creative transformation: Making old new
- Obscure sources: Crate-digging culture
Classic sample-heavy albums:
- Paul's Boutique (Beastie Boys)
- 3 Feet High and Rising (De La Soul)
- It Takes a Nation of Millions (Public Enemy)
The Legal Shift
The 1991 lawsuit over Biz Markie's "Alone Again" changed everything:
- Court ruled all samples need clearance
- Sample clearance became expensive
- Dense sampling became financially impossible
Modern Sampling
Today's producers:
- Use fewer, more prominent samples
- Negotiate clearances upfront
- Create "interpolations" (re-recordings) to avoid fees
- Use royalty-free sample packs
The Artistic Debate
Pro-sampling arguments:
- All art builds on previous art
- Transformation creates new meaning
- Preserves and honors musical history
Anti-sampling arguments:
- Artists deserve compensation
- Easy shortcut vs. original creation
- Copyright protection matters
Famous Samples
- "Amen Break" (most sampled drum loop ever)
- James Brown's catalog (foundational to hip-hop)
- "Impeach the President" (classic breakbeat)