T.R.O.Y.

Rhinestone Cowboy - The Long Awaited Sample

Posted: 30 May 2009 09:20 PM PDT

After months and months of digging and speculating, interacting on different forums and with different people, it finally surfaces. Much to the chagrin of another producer who used the same sample for an unused instrumental, a kid who rarely posts at Philaflava dropped the name of the record just a little while ago. The poster fittingly goes by the name of Midnight Marauder and tonight he truly marauded for our ears and I would just like to extend a thorough thank you to the man who we don't know much about.

Now, for the last few months, this subject has brought about a bit of controversy. The main argument being about producers unveiling their sample sources. Of course, this phenomena goes way back to the late 70's, early 80's, when DJ's used to use different means to hide the names of records they spun. It was usually to make sure another DJ didn't bite and use the same record or to just stay being the only DJ with that record, rendering his material exclusive. Understandable, completely.

But nowadays, things done changed. The internet is a wonderful thing. You got blogs like Kevin Nottingham and Hip Hop Is Read releasing entire album sample sets. You got people over at The-Breaks listing samples for your favorite songs every day, in an easily navigable presentation. You got guys like myself and Roy Johnson doing their own unique sample sets, breakdowns, and challenges. It's a new world. Bask in it! You never know when things can change for the worse.

Some might say that asking what someone sampled is lazy and wack and against what this culture used to represent. Some people say that sharing and building on the information can only lead to good things. The one thing I can add here is that insulting and trying to belittle someone for requesting sample information is an uncalled for, wack move.

There really is no reason for me to get into the argument, I mean, to each his own. If someone doesn't want to give up a sample source, they don't have to. Especially if they are a pretty big name, they can face litigation. And if your name is recognized on a much, much smaller scale, you still don't owe anybody a sample source revelation. But it might help your career out by getting your name out there a little more. In these days, fans want that interactivity with artists.

There's nothing to debate. The credit goes to the writers, performers, producers, musicians, and engineers of the original record. Credit also goes to the hip hop producers for doing that magic that they do so well at turning a little old sample into a beautiful new hip hop joint.

Preview:

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Thanks to leftright and everyone else from The-Breaks and Philaflava message boards. All you guys are some diggin'

fanatics. And your non stop work on uncovering this was and is appreciated.

--Verge