"There was four different samples on it we had to clear, and they all wanted 40% or 50%... we were like, 'You can all have 25 ...

Sampling has been a cornerstone of hip-hop since its inception, with producers repurposing existing music to create entirely new sonic landscapes. A standout hip-hop sample is more than just a looped ...

Southern hip-hop’s influence continues shaping modern music through strategic sampling, with artists like Future, GloRilla and Sexyy Red drawing from classic Southern tracks. Recently, Juicy J noted ...

The “Take the Money and Run” singer’s 1977 No. 2 hit “Fly Like an Eagle” has turned up in “It’s Time,” a new track by hip-hop ...

This article has been handpicked from the Okayplayer editorial archives and included in our Hip Hop 50 collection as a noteworthy inclusion to the genre's rich and diverse narrative. The article has ...

This week, the musical world lost an icon when composer, arranger and producer David Axelrod died on Sunday (Feb. 5) at the age of 83 from complications of a brain aneurysm. Although not a well-known ...

The hip-hop world has lost a true pioneer in the game. Legendary rapper Lovebug Starski, whose real name is Kevin Smith, passed away in Las Vegas on Thursday (Feb. 8). According to reports, the rap ...

No shortcuts, no gimmicks. Just a rising star from PG County, Md. is ready to make his story known globally. 2 minutes ago In 2001, Just Blaze, the producer of “Song Cry,” made a soul sample. In 2020, ...

Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Nestled deep into the sonic layers of “Redbone” is ‘70s funkadelics staple “I’d Rather be With You ...

There's nothing quite like nostalgia. Just about anything can trigger a memory of your younger years, whether it's a picture, a fire ’fit or, as often happens, a song. Music, especially hip-hop, is ...

Hip-hoppers are a shameless bunch who will literally rap over anything. The Fugees' Ready or Not borrowed Enya humming, Kanye's Diamonds from Sierra Leone sampled Shirley Bassey, and Cypress Hill's ...

“Just want to take a moment and say, F*ck sample clearence,” he wrote. “F*ck clearing samples. F*ck people taking all a producers money for not doing sh*t and f*ck the companies that say no just cuz.