I feel like it’s paying homage to the older artists. “You turn on the radio and you can immediately hear something from the old school. “It’s amazing how the music of yesterday is still carrying the music of today,” he said. One of Beatz’s earliest – and favorite – videos shows him explaining the mutation of Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.” into the sample of the song used in Kanye West’s 2007 hit, “Good Life.” His first TikTok video showing the breakdown of a sample was prompted by his dad as well – Goodie Mob’s 1995 song “Cell Therapy” whittled into a piece of Travis Scott’s 2018 “Astroworld” track, “5% Tint.” “I’d play new songs around him and he’d say, ‘Hey, I know part of that – that came out in my day,” Beatz said.Įlton collaborates: The veteran records with Young Thug, Nicki Minaj on new album His attraction to sampling was piqued by his father. The college senior, born Jeremiah Dozier, bought his equipment in December 2019 and started developing his interest after a member of the campus activity board approached him about DJing a school event. His creations are admired by Rayymon Beatz, a 21-year-old student at Clark Atlanta University who has amassed nearly half a million TikTok followers, who track his dissections of beats behind his DJ turntables. The Memphis, Tennessee-born, Atlanta-based Drumma Boy born Christopher Gholson has “chopped and slipped” songs from Queen, Earth, Wind & Fire and Luther Vandross in his studio work until 'it just feels seasoned.' Whether it’s a bass line, strings, horns, guitars – a lot of music back then was rehearsed over and over before it was captured on tape, so there was a professionalism to the musical sound.”Ī bigger room: The Weeknd is moving his tour from arenas to stadiums “You can never get what someone else captured. ('What Up, What's Haapnin''), Future ('Usual') and Gucci Mane ('All My Children'). It’s not the genre you’re looking for, but just a vibe,” says producer-songwriter Drumma Boy, who has worked with hip-hop megastars including 2 Chainz ('Spend It (No DJ)'), T.I. It’s widely accepted that Sugarhill Gang’s indelible “Rapper’s Delight” – often credited as the first commercial rap song in 1979 – shared some DNA with The Fatback Band’s “Kim Tim III.” The song also swiped the bass line from Chic’s “Good Times” and interpolated “Here Comes That Sound Again” from British disco band Love DeLuxe, in 'Rapper's' intro.

Of course, sampling is hardly a contemporary trend. Doja Cat and Drake rewind to ’80s and ’90s favorites, while Moneybagg Yo and Fat Joe dip into the well of soul-pop. From Donny Hathaway to DeBarge, everything old is new again – at least in some current hip-hop songs.Ī glance at the Billboard charts finds a slew of artists borrowing snippets from classic R&B and pop songs to highlight their own work.

Old school sample beats