The Best Music to Sample for Hip Hop

If you’re looking for the best music to sample for your hip hop tracks, look no further! In this blog post, we’ll run down some of the best tunes to sample, from classic tracks to modern hits. So whether you’re looking for a vintage sound or something fresh, you’ll find it here.

Defining Sampling

Sampling is the use of a piece of music, often from a record, in another recording. A sample can be used in a hip hop song to give the track a different feel, or to make a point about the original artist.

What is sampling?

In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a sound recording in a different song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically manipulated tape loops or vinyl records on a phonograph. By the late 1960s, the use of tape loop sampling influenced the development of minimalist music and the production of psychedelic rock and jazz fusion. Hip hop music was the first popular music based on the art of sampling – being born from 1970s DJs who experimented with manipulating vinyl on two turntables and an audio mixer. Historically, sampling was most often done with a sampler — a specialized piece of hardware that was used to create a new recording by sequencing portions of an existing recording. However, today, sampling is done with software that can be played on a computer or other digital audio workstation (DAW).

The history of sampling

Sampling is a music production technique that involves the incorporation of previously recorded sounds or snippets into new recordings. Samples can be Club Music, Jazz, Funk, soul, R&B, Rock, or classical music. Sampled sounds can be found in Hip Hop, Electronic Dance Music (EDM), and many other genres.

Sampling first gained popularity in the late 1970s with the advent of Hip Hop music. DJs would use turntables to play records and manipulate the sound by speeding up or slowing down the record, or by adding sound effects. These manipulated sounds were then mixed with other tracks to create new songs.

The first Hip Hop song to achieve mainstream success was “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang, which incorporated a sample from the 1971 hit song “Good Times” by Chic. In 1981, Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force released the song “Planet Rock”, which sampled Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express”. These and other early Hip Hop tracks helped to establish sampling as an important element of the genre.

Since the 1980s, sampling has been used in a variety of genres including Pop, R&B, Rock, and Electronic music. In some cases, samples are used to create entirely new pieces of music (e.g., Girl Talk’s 2006 album Night Ripper), while in others they are incorporated into existing tracks to create remixes or mashups (e.g., DJ Earworm’s “United State of Pop”). With the advent of digital technology and software such as Pro Tools and Reason, it has become easier than ever for producers to create samples and incorporate them into their songs.

Best Music to Sample

Music sampling is a key element in the hip hop genre, and finding the right song to sample can make or break a track. With so much music out there, it can be tough to know where to start. We’ve compiled a list of the best songs to sample for hip hop, so you can spend less time searching and more time creating.

Jazz

Jazz is a great genre to sample for hip hop. It has a rich history and there are many great artists to choose from. You can sample tracks from classic jazz musicians like Miles Davis or John Coltrane, or more modern artists like Herbie Hancock or Wynton Marsalis. Jazz samples can add a lot of depth and texture to your hip hop tracks, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Funk

One of the most popular genres to sample for hip hop is funk. Funk is a style of music that originated in the mid-1960s and has a signature groove that is often based on interlocking rhythms. For hip hop producers, funk provides a wide range of sounds and textures that can be used to create new beats.

Some of the most famous funk songs that have been sampled by hip hop artists include “Super Bad” by James Brown, “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)” by Parliament-Funkadelic, and “Atomic Dog” by George Clinton. These songs have been sampled hundreds of times and have helped to shape the sound of hip hop.

If you’re looking for some good funk songs to sample, check out the list below. These are some of the best funk songs of all time and they are sure to provide you with plenty of material to work with.

Soul

When it comes to sampling music for hip hop beats, soul is always a great place to start. Soul music is filled with emotion and passion, two elements that are essential in creating a great hip hop song. The soulful sounds of classic artists like Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and Smokey Robinson can add a touch of class and sophistication to any hip hop track.

In addition to the wealth of emotion and feeling that soul music provides, it also offers a wide variety of sounds and textures that can be sampled to create unique hip hop beats. From the funky basslines of James Brown to the gorgeous vocal arrangements of Aretha Franklin, there is a vast sonic landscape to explore when sampling soul music.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out our list of the best soul songs to sample for hip hop.

Rock

Rock music has been sampled in hip hop since the 1980s, particularly by artists like Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, and LL Cool J. More recently, rock samples have been used by a new generation of hip hop artists, including Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and A$AP Rocky.

There are a few reasons why rock samples are so popular in hip hop. First of all, rock music has always been about rebellion and individualism, which fits well with the DIY ethic of hip hop. Secondly, rock samples often have a raw energy that can add a lot of power to a hip hop track. Finally, many rock songs have already been sampled extensively in other genres, so there is a rich history to draw from.

Whether you’re looking for an energeticSample beat or something a little more mellow, here are some of the best rock songs to sample for hip hop.

1) “Come Together” by The Beatles
2) “Sabotage” by Beastie Boys
3) “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
4) “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses
5) “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith
6) “Can’t Truss It” by Public Enemy
7) “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce ft. Jay-Z
8) “99 Problems” by Jay-Z

How to Sample

Sampling is one of the most important aspects of hip hop production, but it can be difficult to find the right samples to use. In this article, we’ll give you a few tips on how to find the best music to sample for your hip hop tracks.

Clearing the sample

In order to use a sample without the risk of copyright infringement, you must clear the sample with the copyright holder. This usually involves getting permission and/or paying a fee. The process can be complex, but here are the basics:

1. Find the copyright owner of the original song. This is usually the record label or publishing company.

2. Get in touch with the copyright owner and request permission to use the sample. Be prepared to pay a fee.

3. If permission is granted, you must credit the original artist in your new song.

4. Make sure to register your new song with a performing rights organization such as ASCAP or BMI.

Digging for the sample

The sampling process can be divided into two distinct stages: finding the sample, and then manipulating it to fit the desired sound and feel of the track.

Finding the perfect sample can be a daunting task, but there are a few methods that can help make the search a little easier. First, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for. Make a list of adjectives that describe the mood and feel of the track, and then use those keywords to search for potential samples.

You can also try scouring online sample databases like looperman.com or Samples From Mars. These sites are great resources for high-quality samples, but they can be expensive to use if you’re not careful.

Once you’ve found a few potential samples, it’s time to start digging. Load the samples into your DAW and begin manipulating them to see if they fit your track. If you’re working with an acoustic instrument, try reversing the sample or playing it at different speeds. With electronic samples, try pitch-shifting or adding effects like reverb or delay.

And finally, don’t forget that some of the best samples are hidden in plain sight. If you’re having trouble finding what you’re looking for, try looking for tracks that share similar genre characteristics or production techniques. With enough digging, you’re bound to find something special.

Flipping the sample

To flip a sample, you will need to first identify the chord progression in the original track. You can do this by ear, or if you have a MIDI keyboard or access to piano roll in your DAW, you can also transcribe the chord progression. Once you have identified the chord progression, it’s time to find a new track that has a similar chord progression.

It is important to note that the new track does not have to be in the same key as the original track, but it should have the same type of feel. For example, if the original track is a major key, then the new track should also be in a major key.

Once you have found a new track with a similar chord progression, it’s time to start chopping up the sample. Start by finding the section of the new track that has the same chord progression as the original track. Then, using your DAW or sampler, start chopping up this section of the new track and rearranging it so that it sounds like a new song.

You can add your own drums and bassline to make it sound more like hip hop, or you can leave it as is and let the chords and melodies speak for themselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best music to sample for hip hop is music that has a good groove and is recognizable. Music that has been sampled a lot can be a good choice, but you should also consider music that is not as popular. You want to find a balance between what is popular and what is not so that you can create a unique sound.

The art of sampling

In hip hop, sampling is the art of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a sound recording in a different song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically manipulated tape loops or vinyl records on a phonograph. By the late 1960s, the use of tape loop sampling influenced the development of minimalist music and the production of psychedelic rock and jazz fusion. Hip hop music was the first popular music based on the art of sampling – being born from 1970s DJs who experimented with manipulating vinyl on two turntables and an audio mixer. Historically, hip hop arose from block parties in New York City in the 1970s.[1][2] Block parties were outdoor concerts where often times two DJ’s played per block.[3] These DJs played popular genres such as soul music, funk, disco, Latin music (especially Boogaloo),[4][5] and African American History Music (a type of street vernacular that includes chanted rhyming verses over a rhythmic speech).[5][6][7] At these parties, DJ Kool Herc played hard funk records that he could spun with his hand to extend their breaks,[8][9] which pilots to giving birth to break beat deejading/DJing.[10][11]

One of hippop’s pioneers Afrika Bambaataa is credited with first using the term hip hop,[12] although it is also suggested that Keith Cowboy of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five coined the term.[13][14] Common belief suggests that hip hop was originally used to describe a new style of African American History Music (street vernacular that includes chanted rhyming verses over a rhythmic beat),[15], however some historians believe that “hip hop” was originally a term used by New York City’s African American community during the 1970s to mean “acting energetically” or “being enthusiastic”.[16][17][18] The word is often used today to refer rap specifically rather than to hip hop as a whole.

The future of sampling

Now that we know the building blocks of a great hip hop sample, where do we go from here? In the past, producers would spend hours digging through crates of records to find that perfect sound. Today, with technology at our fingertips, that process has been streamlined, but it’s still an art form. The best producers know how to find those special sounds that make a track stand out.

As we move into the future, it will be interesting to see how sampling evolves. With the advent of artificial intelligence and machine learning, will we see more tracks made entirely by computers? Or will human creativity still be the driving force behind the best music? Only time will tell.