Welcome to the much anticipated Sunday edition of TSAD. I’d like to give a shout out to Nate, Stew and Keefe for some high quality selections. On a personal note, Happy Birthday to my gal Michelle.
Our issue this Sunday is sampling in hip-hop production. Yeah, that’s right, prepare for widespread controversy. Sampling is both a gift and a curse. If overused, it can preclude originality, allowing a lazy beat-maker to loop another person's art and pass it off as creation. Legal issues aside, cannibalizing the body and soul of another artist’s music can be upsetting to music purists. That being said, let’s face it, not just anybody can compose organically like Hi-Tek. At it’s best, sampling brings to hip-hop a soulfulness and melody that cannot be created by sound effects on a computer. An understanding of what samples go into a tune will enhance your appreciation, enjoyment, and possibly even make you sound intelligent when discussing "hot trakz" with your "boyz". Hell, it will probably turn you on to some old-school funkiness that you were enjoying before you even knew what it was.
For an example of what I’m talking about, check out this classic track by Mos Def.
Lyrically, mighty Mos has a story to tell and the skills to deliver. The atmosphere and emotional resonance of the song flow from the considerable vocal skills of one Aretha Franklin (no link necessary). Applause goes to producer Ayatollah, who demonstrates a high level of both mixing prowess and appreciation for the fine R&B of his father's generation. I didn’t know the origin of the sample until I stumbled upon TheBreaks.com, a rough-around-the-edges but content rich site detailing origins of some truly underappreciated music. A nice YouTube series on the subject is posted by the corny-yet-knowledgeable DJ Funktual.
Now check out the original by Aretha...
So now you've seen some of the good. What about the bad?
This is an example of what NOT to do. Good Lord.
GREAT post Gabe.
ReplyDeleteThis is something many people (myself included) know little to nothing about and take for granted when they hear music like this.
It is definitely a polarizing subject as you mentioned. I remember being pissed at the blatant and uncreative "theft" by the likes of Puff Daddy in the 90s. On the other hand, an album like the Beastie Boys' "Paul's Boutique" which is saturated with other people's work remains one of the beacons of creative and conscious use of sampling.
"GREAT post Gabe."
ReplyDelete(I just sampled Klehfoth)
Seriously though, Ms Fat Booty is an all-time track. Got any examples offhand of terrible uses of sampling?
Indeed, I do. I had to think about it, because I like most of the music I listen to. Posted above is a "notoriously" bad example....
ReplyDeleteNice work Gabe. Klay, the reference to Paul's Boutique is most appropriate. That album is probably the pinnacle of sampling in its original form. Paul's Boutique debuted before powerful music-industry types realized what was going on and deployed the lawyers. Biz Markie and others ruined it for everyone by losing lawsuits for sampling other people's tracks on god-awful songs in the early '90s. Nowadays, producers who use samples are legally required to adhere to "parody" law which allows an artist to use another artist's work as long as the original artist's work is obvious and attributable (or at least producers are supposed to do this). This is why Puff Daddy and Weird Al Yankovic don't get sued.
ReplyDeleteThe average pop rap listener probably doesn't recognize a blatant sample, or just doesn't care. However, all is not lost. Girl Talk's Mark Grillis is pretty much flaunting his sampling, creating entire songs out of mashed-up samples with no original music whatsoever while referencing "fair use" law in his own defense. I have no idea if Grillis is standing on solid legal ground, but if a lawsuit against him ever materializes, it could be a turning point in sampling; either condemning us to the current situation or sending us back in time to a musical place where any sample is fair game, even if you have no idea you just heard one.
I haven't listened to Paul's Boutique in years. Here's to giving that a listen this week. nicccce.
ReplyDeleteI swear to God, a coworker and I go back and forth on Paul's Boutique lines 9 out of ten days we work together.
ReplyDeleteThat album is always on my mind.
Yo, good post. I had a "Who did it better" on my blog. Here's da link: http://treesgrowleaves.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-fever.html
ReplyDelete