A very, VERY touchy subject: Sampling. What we do on KevinNottingham.com is compile samples from classic albums or even modern classics, and put all the old joints out there for people to enjoy. Frankly, the question is raised on many occasions: “is it right?” Everyone will have their two cents. Here, Nicolay and Phonte drop their opinions on the situation and what sites like a KevinNottingham.com or a HipHopIsRead.com do. While the challenge should be raised to “find it yourself,” both artists seem to understand the meaning of what we are trying to do. Moreover, Phonte talks about a favourite sample of his, “Light My Fire” by the Free Design, and how a producer flipped the hell out of it. Nic further talks about using live instrumentation verses using a sample, and how a good sample really can’t be ignored. Indeed, a very critical part in this series. What up Keezy!
Check out parts 1 & 2 if you missed them!
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
love the fuck out of these dudes kinda wish they would have kept the formula from connected on the new album but growth is growth and i cant knock it i just hope they remember how fresh that record was
Deez u did your thing on this right hear..mayne I know the year ain’t over yet but you get the interviewer of the year… I can’t wit til the next episode.
I appreciate the fact of how they went indepth on their feelings on sampling..much respect for them catz for discussing such a touchy sybject and also you for askin’ the question ..alot of interviewers would stay away from askin’ such questions…
Much Respect Deez !!!
It’s always a tough subject to tackle. It’s even tougher because I think Tay might be slightly against it, even though respecting our grizzly. IT’s funny because I say this topic is 50/50 wherever we go.. it was 50/50 in this room too.
Nic put out the challenge to all you homies though!!
And “Interviewer of the year” hahahah that would be dope.
Even I’m 50/50 on this topic. On one hand, I feel PHONTE’s argument. HIP HOP is the one music genre that really embodies the concept that good art comes from taking the best parts of other good art to create something new. That’s how HIP HOP was born and that’s how it stays alive. Unfortunately, in this day and age, people are getting more and more trigger happy when it comes to suing people. Sampling now is the equivalent to walking on thin ice, so putting samples on blast is edgy. On the other hand, it’s not like sites like HHIR and KN don’t take stuff down upon request, and these sample sets and remix contests are really for the original gatekeepers of HIP HOP: the DJs, so I definitely don’t want to see that come to an end. I myself say f**k the laws and just do what’s good for music, but I got warrants, so don’t listen to me. Ya’ll definitely gave my brain a workout this morning. Good ish ya’ll!
I see you K sid… good looks on that blog homie
It ain’t nuthin’ but love famo. I’m just supporting good ish. Can’t wait for that next installment!
I think out of all subjects regarding the “music” of Hip Hop this is the ONE. I have been listening to Hip Hop for 3/4 of my life (I am over 30 ) and I remember as a kid I was watching a video on Yo.MTVRaps and my dad came in the room and said “that’s not real music, they stolid that song.” My dad was /is a big Jazz head and from that point on whenever I got a new album or tape I needed to read all the liner notes.
Now I don’t really care about Hip Hop music all that much, but I do care about the source music they sampled form. More often than not, the some they sampled form is better than the Hip Hop song. The sad fact is that hip hop is not evolving; it’s not growing up coupled with the fact that sampling has become too easy. As a graphic designer I feel the same way about design. In addition the people creating these instrumental tacks have no skills.
I will end with a question that I asked on this blog before about artiest from the past if they coming out today.
If a group like the ROOTS (a band) came out today in 2000, would they be successful
I don’t get that last question, but good post.
The roots are successful though
Interesting, I flipped some obscure version of “Light My Fire” before, there are so many covers of that song it’s unreal…
I am sorry for the typos*
If a group like the ROOTS (a band) came out today in 2009, would they be successful?
Is the Hip Hop community “collectively” ready for live music?
I just sat down and watched this whole interview series. GREAT joint Deez.
Congrats, you made it halfway through pt3 without bringing up Primo!
I’m just fucking with u Deez, you can’t talk production, and ESPECIALLY not sampling, without bringing up Premier.
)
(That’s the universal ‘you,’ everyone knows YOU can’t talk production without bringing up Premier
Great interview on the whole. Good job Deez.
lol halfway.. yeah right.
I really can’t bring up popcorn without mentioning Preemo
Need to know the song he was talking about Deez. Send email right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol
zipp
I said send an email not broadcast it in the comment section.
well.. zipp isn’t the name of a producer or anything. Its more me saying zippppppo
as in.. maybe I don’t even know
Sean, as with the “Nas Is Like” sample, I think “You Know My Steez” is another great example. That’s textbook chopping right there, if you search for the sample, you ask yourself what the hell he saw in that little break he flipped.
Deez I’m starting to question are friendship man!!! LOL.
“You Know My Steez” tell fans/producers to listen to the whole song and not just the first 5 to 60 seconds of the song. Lots of songs contain dope ish throughout that can be flipped…not sure the intro and break of the song.
I’m starting to question your spelling
are= our
hahahahaha sorry, I couldn’t resist…
but seriously, he didn’t tell me. I actually forgot about it after the interview was done and they had to run to get back into sound check
Word Thomas…I agree with you, it’s just that Preem filpped that part at the beginning. I don’t know what the hell he saw in it, but if you try to re-create the beat, that’s like a $1000 chopping lesson for you there…
Yeah…Deez whatever….you know what it is….just don’t want to share. LOL. Spelling and grammar were never my best. I had the girls in college proof read my papers for me.
“You Know My Steez” isn’t the song I’m thinking about…its the joint that uses the Manhattans song…….that Premo uses like a 3 second part towards the end of the song.
hahaha i really don’t know.
great watch, always a touchy but interesting subject.
man, not sure why I forgot to watch this one when we posted it. But damn, Phonte seemed HEATED! wow!
Look out for Part 4 coming real soon!
nahhh he wasn’t heated.. even he seemed divided. It’s a divided issue.
Maybe heated wasn’t the right word. let’s just say he had a very strong opinion on the topic. I mean the way he hope in on his answer before you even finished the question in the beginning… lmao!