Sampling

Definition

Sampling is the process of taking a portion of a sound recording, usually from a song or track, and reusing it in a new composition. This technique is central to hip-hop and R&B music, as it allows artists to draw from existing music, create new sounds, and pay homage to their influences. Sampling has played a vital role in shaping the evolution of these genres, connecting new works with the rich history of African American music.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sampling emerged in hip-hop during the late 1970s and early 1980s as DJs began using turntables to loop breakbeats and snippets of songs.
2. Famous hip-hop producers like DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash were pioneers in the art of sampling, laying the groundwork for future artists.
3. The legal landscape surrounding sampling has changed significantly over time, with cases like Biz Markie's 'Alone Again' highlighting copyright issues in the late 1980s.
4. In R&B, sampling can evoke nostalgia by connecting contemporary sounds with classic hits, bridging generations of listeners.
5. Sampling continues to evolve in the digital age, with software and technology allowing artists to manipulate samples in innovative ways.

Review Questions

• How has sampling influenced the development of hip-hop culture and its key elements?
  • Sampling has been a fundamental aspect of hip-hop culture, contributing to its four main elements: rapping, DJing, graffiti art, and breakdancing. By allowing DJs to mix and manipulate existing sounds, sampling enhances DJing and creates a unique sonic landscape for MCs to rap over. It also provides a form of artistic expression by weaving together different musical influences, helping to shape the identity and evolution of hip-hop as a genre.
• Discuss how pioneering hip-hop artists utilized sampling in their early recordings to shape the genre's sound.
  • Pioneering hip-hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa and Run-DMC incorporated sampling into their early recordings by taking elements from funk, soul, and disco tracks. This approach not only created fresh sounds but also paid homage to the musical roots that influenced them. By using recognizable hooks and rhythms from past hits, these artists established a distinctive sound that defined early hip-hop and set the stage for future developments in the genre.
• Evaluate the impact of sampling on the rise of gangsta rap and political hip-hop movements in terms of thematic content and musical style.
  • Sampling played a crucial role in shaping gangsta rap and political hip-hop by providing a rich tapestry of sounds that conveyed powerful messages. Artists like N.W.A. used samples from funk and soul music to create hard-hitting beats that matched their raw lyrical content about life in urban America. Similarly, politically charged tracks by groups like Public Enemy employed samples from speeches and historical recordings to amplify their messages of social justice. This blending of sampled music with compelling narratives not only defined the sound of these movements but also enhanced their cultural significance.

Related terms

Looping: Looping is the repetition of a section of music or sound, often created using sampled material, to create a continuous backing track.

Beat Making: Beat making involves producing instrumental tracks that form the foundation for hip-hop and R&B songs, often incorporating samples from various sources.

Intertextuality: Intertextuality refers to the relationship between different texts and how they influence each other; in music, sampling exemplifies this by blending existing songs into new works.