| Hip-hop is a genre of music that comprises of a | | | | However, most of these samples are created from |
| fusion of several styles mostly rap accompanied by | | | | recording studios using instrumentals that have been |
| backing beats. Hip-hop is termed as a culture | | | | played by world's best instrumentalists . |
| especially among the African Americans and it started | | | | Use of unconventional (non-musical) sounds is also a |
| back in the 70s in New York. Track sampling is the | | | | form of sampling in hip-hop. Most sounds used include |
| act of taking a portion of a sound recording and | | | | gunshots, sirens, locomotive whistles and natural |
| using it as a different sound in recording of another | | | | sounds. These sounds create a sound effect that |
| song. Most of the current hip-hop releases have part | | | | may be difficult to portray using musical instruments |
| of their beats or lyrics borrowed from some of the | | | | in making beats. |
| old-school music. Adding a whole different dimension | | | | However, legal issues have arisen over the violation |
| to making beats. | | | | of intellectual property rights by the hip-hop artists |
| Despite the fact that hip-hop is a relatively newer | | | | who do sampled tracks. But there is fundamental law |
| genre of music, (in comparison with the others), its | | | | that governs how the art of sampling should be done |
| one of the most dynamic. The main reason why | | | | and the extent to which borrowed lyrics can be |
| hip-hop sampling is widespread is the notion that it | | | | incorporated in a track. Usually prior authorization has |
| brings old back to life. Most beats and lyrics used in | | | | to be obtained before sampling a track. Producers |
| the old-school songs are simply genius and thus | | | | have mainly been blamed for abusing the art of |
| making them sound new-school and hip makes the | | | | sampling especially when they simply lay new drums |
| younger generation identify more with the music. | | | | over loops that have been previously used, mix, then |
| There are various ways in which hip-hop tracks can | | | | release as a brand new track. |
| be sampled. When making beats the one commonly | | | | Some of the famous hip-hop producers who use |
| used by producers is loops. This is a fusion of short | | | | sampled tracks include Kanye West although his |
| samples of beats from previously done tracks. Thus | | | | musical integrity has sometimes been questioned due |
| a non-keen listener may not clearly hear the beats as | | | | to his continued use of old-school beats and lyrics. |
| the fusion sounds are completely different from the | | | | However, this is not necessary true seeing the |
| individual beats. This was the original idea behind | | | | success stories from the tracks he produces. |
| sampling because it enhances the creativity of | | | | Instances of hip-hop artists and producers being sued |
| producers as the end product is a completely new | | | | for violation of music copyrights started rising from |
| innovation. | | | | the year 2000. The recent one was between the |
| Another form of hip-hop track sampling in the | | | | Cash Money Records and artist Juvenile who were |
| process of making beats is using samples of musical | | | | sued by a local performer DJ Jubilee for using one of |
| instruments. The instruments act as basis of new | | | | his lines in their track. |
| sounds and can be played back at different pitches. | | | | |