Sampling in hip-hop has been going on since the genre’s inception, but in 2023, it’s been more prevalent than ever. If everything sounds familiar, it’s because it definitely is. Words: Grant Rindner ...

As we continue to celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, here’s how A Tribe Called Quest helped me appreciate one of the most important aspects of the genre. As a Queens native, my 15-year-old self was ...

Sometimes you hear a new hip-hop song and think, “I know this song — I’ve heard these sounds before.” You’re probably right, because hip-hop music is built on sampling, the process of using existing ...

Sampling originated from DJ Kool Herc's Merry-Go-Round technique. Over time, the technique evolved and has created hip-hop songs with ties that go back decades. The legal battles with clearing samples ...

Hip-hop beat-makers are usually unseen. Not all sample-based producers are as reclusive as the torch-bearing loop artist Madlib, but even the most prominent among them are part of the backdrop. After ...