sampling ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Slum Village Shares New Details About Making Get Dis Money

A quarter-century ago, Slum Village was in the process of following up their Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) debut. That underground album became a calling card for a new sound coming out of Detroit, Michigan — and three artists bringing the change. T3, J Dilla, and Baatin were in the process of following up and... Read more

February 15, 2024 Exclusive, Throwback, Trending Stories

Music Legend Tina Turner Has Passed Away At Age 83

Music legend Tina Turner has died at the age of 83. No cause of death was provided, but The New York Times reports that Turner passed at her home outside of Zurich, Switzerland. She was said to be battling kidney disease and other illnesses, following an extensive music and film... Read more

May 24, 2023 News

Method Man Uses One Mic To Rework A Nas Classic

Almost 30 years ago, Method Man joined his Wu-Tang Clan cohorts for a special remix of SWV's "Anything." The song featured multiple samples, ranging from Funk-Disco group Freedom to freshly released hits by the two groups on the track. "Anything" became a pivot point for Sisters With Voices, taking their opening song from the debut album and setting up... Read more

April 25, 2023 Audio

Heavily Sampled Jazz Legend Ahmad Jamal Has Passed Away

Ahmad Jamal, the Grammy Award-winning Jazz pianist, band leader, and composer, has died. He was 92 when he passed earlier today (April 16) at his Massachusetts home. Jamal, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has over 70 years of recordings in his discography—which also includes the Ahmad Jamal Trio, and collaborative... Read more

April 16, 2023 News

DJ Quik Is Releasing His 10th Album. Here’s The First Song

For over 30 years, DJ Quik has enjoyed an incredible career. The Compton, California MC/producer/DJ has released great albums including Safe + Sound and Balance & Options, while producing for Tupac, JAY-Z, Suga Free, and Snoop Dogg. However, it has been nearly six years since Quik released a full-length project.... Read more

March 31, 2023 Audio

JAY-Z’s “U Don’t Know” Was Originally Offered To Busta Rhymes & Prodigy

Hip-Hop history is filled with what-ifs, especially concerning beats and production. Tupac's diamond-certified All Eyez On Me once featured verses from Inspectah Deck and The Lady Of Rage. Moreover, Disc 2's Dr. Dre-produced "Can't C Me" was rumored to be created for a shelved Ice Cube collaboration before another iteration had Tha Dogg Pound rapping. Jadakiss'... Read more

March 19, 2023 Video

Heavily Sampled Artist Bobby Caldwell Has Passed Away

For more than 45 years, singer, songwriter, and musician Bobby Caldwell blurred the lines of genre with a celebrated, multi-platinum catalog of music that wove together Jazz, R&B, and Soul. Much of that music was inspired by the complexities of romantic relationships. Bobby passed away this week at age 71,... Read more

March 15, 2023 News

Pete Rock Says He Was Never Paid For His Work On Illmatic

Nas' Illmatic is widely revered as one of the best albums ever recorded. In 2016, the readers of Ambrosia For Heads deemed it the greatest Hip-Hop album in a comprehensive poll. The 1994 LP is the subject of an acclaimed documentary film, Time Is Illmatic. The double-platinum release is in... Read more

January 18, 2022 News

The LOX Break Down How To Make A Classic Album (Video)

Three weeks ago, The LOX released their fourth album, Living Off Xperience. The D-Block/Roc Nation release includes contributions from DMX, Benny The Butcher, Westside Gunn, Large Professor, T-Pain, Oswin Benjamin, Nottz, Statik Selektah, and their artist, Dyce Payne. Less than a month since its release, the LP from one of... Read more

September 22, 2020 Exclusive, Fresh, Video

This Mix Tunes Through De La Soul’s 3 Feet High And Rising, Sample By Sample

More than 30 years ago, De La Soul released its debut album, 3 Feet High And Rising. Produced by then-Stetsasonic member Prince Paul, the Tommy Boy Records LP became a benchmark of Hip-Hop music. While Posdnuos (aka Plug 1) and Trugoy (aka Plug 2) waxed poetic about life in Long... Read more

January 2, 2020 Audio, Mixes, Video

Daringer & Beat Butcha Detail Producing Griselda’s Album Without Samples (Video)

Last Friday (November 29), Griselda released their Shady Records debut, WWCD. The collaboration between the Buffalo, New York independent imprint and Eminem's veteran powerhouse is the first group album between Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Benny The Butcher. It involves 50 Cent, Raekwon, singer Novel, and a new, expanded... Read more

December 4, 2019 Video

Pete Rock Is Dropping An Album Of Unreleased Beats From The ’90s

Legendary producer, rapper, and DJ Pete Rock helped cement a culture of Instrumental Hip-Hop releases. Since the first volume of Petestrumentals, the Mount Vernon, New Yorker helped shine a light on cohesive album-making without MCs on the track. The first Petestrumentals, released in 2001, followed the 1990s where Pete Rock... Read more

January 4, 2019 News

Early Hip-Hop Records Sampled James Brown. His 1st Funk Record Sampled Miles Davis.

If the debate for the King of R&B is up for grabs, followers of the late great James Brown can rest easy, as his position among the greatest to ever do it, is secure as a Master padlock. Known indelibly as the “Godfather of Soul Music,” Brown’s career covered successive... Read more

December 31, 2018 Throwback

One Of The Most Sampled Songs In Hip-Hop Now Has A Sequel (Audio)

Since the early 1970s, pioneering Hip-Hop DJs played records with specific instrumental breakdown sections that could make B-boys and B-girls dance. As the culture grew, one of the artists who created breaks that DJs—and later, producers, gravitated towards was Bob James. The keyboardist, arranger, and record producer has since become... Read more

July 24, 2018 Audio

Prince Paul Explains Why He’s Bothered By 1 Important Gravediggaz Credit (Video)

Prince Paul was a founding member of The Gravediggaz. At a time when he was still very active in producing De La Soul records, the Long Island, New Yorker assembled a quartet with Stetsasonic band-mate Frukwan (aka "The Gatekeeper"), as well as onetime Tommy Boy Records label-mate Poetic (aka "The... Read more

July 6, 2018 Throwback, Video

Delicious Vinyl Co-Founder & Hit Producer Matt Dike Has Passed Away At Age 55

UPDATE: While the news of Matt Dike's death was revealed to the public yesterday (March 13), the music executive, producer, and DJ is confirmed to have died in mid-January. A report in The Los Angeles Times, which claims Dike was 56 (other sources, including Delicious Vinyl's obituary, suggest he was... Read more

March 13, 2018 News

The Secrets To J Dilla’s Production Style Are Revealed In A Fantastic New Video

For anyone wanting to understand why Detroit producer J Dilla is so revered more than one decade after his untimely death, a new video by journalist Estelle Caswell in the Vox "Earworm" series offers the perfect starting-point. This mini-documentary takes a close look at Dilla’s radical re-invention of drums, his... Read more

December 6, 2017 Video

DJ Premier Credits Nas With Helping Choose 2 Very Illmatic Samples (Video)

Production is more than just making beats and shopping them to artists. By 1994, DJ Premier had produced three Gang Starr albums, in addition to important records for KRS-One, Heavy D & The Boyz, and Lord Finesse. Nas and his team would seek out the Works Of Mart for three... Read more

October 18, 2017 Video

A New Video Shows Why Kanye Was Hip-Hop’s Most Promising Student Upon His Graduation

Marking a dramatic shift in his career from successful producer to stadium star, Kanye West’s third album Graduation celebrates its 10th anniversary this coming Monday (September 11). Proven with time, the Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records LP with the upcoming birthday ushered in a new era in Hip-Hop. With Graduation, 'Ye positioned... Read more

September 5, 2017 Video

Action Bronson Samples Food AND Music & He’s Not Stopping (Audio)

Just days ago (August 25), Action Bronson released Blue Chips 7000. The third and now-confirmed final installment of the mixtape series closes out an important chapter in the Queens, New Yorker MC's career. In 2012, when his first Party Supplies-produced tape launched, Action was an emerging Hip-Hop voice. In mid-'17,... Read more

August 28, 2017 Audio, Fresh

Google Is Throwing A Party For Hip-Hop’s Birthday And Billions Are Invited

Today (August 11), Google has unveiled its first ever Hip-Hop "Doodle." Perhaps better known as the dynamic logo at the top of the search engine, the doodle often changes to celebrate holidays, milestones, and cultural events. For 48 hours, the digital giant will pay homage to Hip-Hop's birthday. That date is celebrated on August 11... Read more

August 10, 2017 Fresh

Dr. Dre Reveals He & Eminem Started Making Their 1st Hit Within Seconds Of Meeting (Video)

Musicians can potentially require an extensive amount of days, weeks, months, or even years to produce a hit record, especially if it is their first. When Dr. Dre met Eminem for the first time in Dre's Los Angeles home studio, their creative process only needed a matter of seconds to... Read more

July 12, 2017 TV/Film, Video

Cold 187um Claims Dr. Dre Jacked His G-Funk & Names Songs To Prove It (Audio)

This week, The Defiant Ones docu-series is telling Dr. Dre's story. Twenty-five years ago, the N.W.A. co-founder released his solo debut, The Chronic. The first album on Death Row Records is credited for galvanizing G-Funk, a type of sample-based sound in Gangsta Rap that propelled the sub-genre into the MTV/Top... Read more

July 12, 2017 Audio, Throwback

J. Cole Reveals The Beat For “Neighbors” Is 1 Of His Other Songs Played Backwards (Video)

Sometimes the best place to hide something is in the most obvious place. A prime example of that adage occurred during J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only Tour stop in Anaheim, California last night (July 9) when the Dreamville founder revealed a gem for that particular crowd’s ears only regarding... Read more

July 10, 2017 Video

Producers Rejoice: Legal Sampling Is Now As Easy As Online Shopping (Video)

A potentially game-changing new service is about to hit the digital streets, one that could theoretically help usher in a new golden age for sample-based Hip-Hop. Swedish startup Tracklib has created a one-stop online “crate-digging” marketplace, on which producers can find, buy (at $1.99 a track) and eventually license existing... Read more

July 7, 2017 Exclusive, News, Video

“The Funky Drummer” Clyde Stubblefield Has Passed Away

If James Brown is the architect of Hip-Hop, then drummer Clyde Stubblefield may very be his builder. The man Questlove calls "The Funkiest Drummer of All Time" has died today (February 18). He was 73 years old, and passed away from kidney failure. Clyde was an integral part of James... Read more

February 18, 2017 News

Ice Cube Announces 25th Anniversary Edition of ‘Death Certificate’ With New Songs (Video)

Ice Cube was a recent guest in Sway's Universe, where the legendary MC and celebrated actor discussed his many careers: silver-screen star, Hip-Hop icon, and basketball executive. Currently promoting his upcoming comedy film Fist Fight, Cube also shared some insider information about one of the classic LPs in his discography... Read more

February 9, 2017 Video

EPMD Knew They Had Customers In ’88. In 2016, People Are Still Buying In (Audio)

In the ears of many, EPMD's debut Strictly Business is a 1980s Hip-Hop masterpiece. Erick Sermon and Parrish "PMD" Smith merged to exude a style, sound, and attitude in the genre that has withstood nearly 28 years since. Released on Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records, the independent album from the Long Island, New... Read more

September 15, 2016 Do Remember

De La Soul Describe Their Million Dollar Album With Priceless Jewels

In two days (August 26), De La Soul will release its eighth album, and the Anonymous Nobody. Released through the trio's own AOI (Art Official Intelligence) imprint, the album follows up on 2004's The Grind Date with an assortment of features, and at least one theme. While the Long Island, New... Read more

August 24, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought

De La Soul Have Hope Their Classics Will Finally Be Available Online

De La Soul's music can be found in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, alongside such historic works as John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Miles Davis' Kind of Blue, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Prince's Purple Rain, and Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet. The Long... Read more

August 10, 2016 Fresh

45 King Gives His Rhythm Roulette Records A Truly Hard Knock (Video)

45 King is one of the most active Hip-Hop producers of 2016 who can say he was making hit records in the 1980s. He joins Dr. Dre, EPMD, Marley Marl, Prince Paul, Large Professor, and a very select few in that elite class. The New Jersey native has always had... Read more

August 1, 2016 Video

Robert Glasper & Bilal Re-Interpret Miles Davis’ “The Ghetto Walk” (Video)

Last month, Robert Glasper unveiled the first audio glimpse of his Everything’s Beautiful album (May 27). The Jazz musician is bridging the generations on an album inspired by and featuring some works by the late Miles Davis. In a season that looks at the trumpeter's life and times, courtesy of Don... Read more

April 13, 2016 Video

Robert Glasper & Bilal Rhythmically Glide Over A Miles Davis Horn Sample (Audio)

Always creating, Robert Glasper's upcoming project connects his music to that of late Jazz icon, Miles Davis. Both men have injected a sense of soul, pain, and pride into the music—while reminding the world of Jazz' Black heritage and medium to express the culture. Everything's Beautiful (May 27), Glasper's seventh... Read more

March 9, 2016 Audio

Earth Wind & Fire Front Man Maurice White Passes Away

One of Soul, Jazz, and Funk music's most beloved voices and producers has died. Maurice White, co-founder and longtime front man of Earth Wind And Fire passed away last night (February 3), according to his brother (and fellow EWF member) Verdine. The 74 year-old singer died in his sleep. A... Read more

February 4, 2016 News

Q-Tip Gives His Cuz Consequence One Of His Best Sample Beat Creations (Audio)

It has been more than six years since video surfaced (posted below) of Q-Tip, Kanye West, and Consequence kicking it together in the studio. In those days, It's-The-Cons' was a G.O.O.D. Music artist, carefully crafting his Don't Quit Your Day Job follow-up. Cons' cousin and musical mentor Q-Tip was in... Read more

January 29, 2016 Audio

There May Be a Path to De La Soul’s Catalog Going Digital. One Exec Explains.

Sampling and interpolating has been a part of Hip-Hop since Rap's first mainstream hit. Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" relied heavily on replayed elements of Chic's "Good Times" to start a music revolution. However, after late '80s and early '90s lawsuits involving acts like Vanilla Ice, Biz Markie, and De La... Read more

October 25, 2015 News

Hip-Hop Gave Syl Johnson’s Career New Life. A Film Featuring RZA Shows It (Video)

From Wu-Tang Clan, to De La Soul, to Kanye West, Syl Johnson's music has permeated the Hip-Hop consciousness through sampling. However, many audiences—new and old—are not hip to the 79 year-old Holy Springs, Mississippi native. A onetime label-mate of Reverend Al Green at Hi Records, Syl's churned out R&B, Soul,... Read more

October 17, 2015 TV/Film, Video

Pete Rock Reminisces Over “T.R.O.Y.” & Getting Emotional Hearing Tom Scott’s Sample (Audio)

One year ago, Pete Rock appeared on NPR's "Microphone Check" to discuss his catalog, remixes, and James Brown influence. At the midpoint of 2015, the Chocolate Boy Wonder (as he's been deemed) has a fresh batch of Petestrumentals available, care of Tucson, Arizona-based Mello Music Group. An MC/producer who got... Read more

July 22, 2015 Audio

RZA Has Some Controversial Views On Sample Lawsuits In 2015. Do You Agree?

Since even before 1993's Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), RZA has been a producer who liked to sample. From Janet Jackson to Al Green, Mary Poppins to The Electric Prunes, The Abbott's crates go deep, and unpredictable. However, after nearly 25 years of writing and composing music sold at retail,... Read more

March 22, 2015 News

The P-Funk Godfather George Clinton Flashes Back On Some Of His Finest Grooves (Video)

Front man for Parliament, Funkadelic, and his own amazing solo career, George Clinton just published his memoir, Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard on You?. The Plainfield, New Jersey native has been anything but plain in his six decades of making music. The barber-turned-Doo Wop singer-turned... Read more

November 7, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Domino Breaks Down Where He Gets His Sounds & His Father’s Punk Roots In Crate Diggers (Video)

Hieroglyphics fans are up on Domino. Not to be confused with the Los Angeles rapper of the same name, San Francisco's Dom produced early joints for Del Tha Funkee Homosapien (when it was still spelled as such), as well as Souls Of Mischief and Casual. Dom, who has been a... Read more

March 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Need to Explain Sampling To Somebody In 3 Ear-Bending Minutes? Watch This (Video)

Heads love samples, from Kraftwerk's "Trans Europe Express" in Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force's "Planet Rock" to Twin Sister's "Meet The Frownies" in Kendrick Lamar's "The Recipe." The folks at Eclectic Method made a three-minute reel that traces the chronology of sampling through the years, stopping in some pretty... Read more

January 29, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

The art of sampling is nearly as fundamental to hip-hop as MCing. Check out this documentary on the history of sampling and its impact.

In the early days of sampling, it was done liberally and, at its finest, was used to create completely new sonic landscapes. Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us back was groundbreaking in its sound and was one of the most sample-heavy albums of all time.... Read more

January 20, 2011 Food for Thought, Video