Sampling in Hip Hop Part 2

Revealing the Source: Keep it on the Low
A Hip Hop On My Mind 2 Part Series

In Part 1, I left off discussing sampling’s history and legal status. Now we move into sampling today. 

Like I mentioned before, current producers have expressed concerns that sample sets posted on forums 

are hurting the game. Personally, I agree. As a producer myself, I would admit that for the most part I don’t want my samples revealed.

The most recent producer that has spoken out is Madlib. Apparently, ‘Lib found blogger Kevin Nottingham’s sample set from the album Madvilliany and demanded via a myspace message that it be taken down. 

"Pages like this on the internet are no help at all to people like Doom, Madlib, and those that work with them" said Madlib, originally born Otis Jackson Jr. 

Fellow bloggers like Ivan on Hip-Hop is Read defend their counterparts in the matter. He posted, “We're just trying to learn about the art form (of sampling in particular) and spread it forth for everyone who shares our interests in this great music, culture and lifestyle we call Hip-Hop.”

While we have wikipedia, the-breaks.com and other sites dedicated to finding samples, one must consider the legal ramifications that come with disclosing samples. Sure many albums reveal samples in their liner notes. However, producers like Madlib, Dilla, and Doom chop the most obscure records in the smallest of doses for their tracks. 

They fly under the radar and since they’re not “mainstream, commercial” artists, they can 

avoid sample clearances. However, when you make a detailed list of the songs sampled, somehow the original artists come a callin’ through the grape vine looking for owed royalties.

This argument has been thrown through the ringer as of late, and I do not wish to try and restate what many other bloggers have already said. I would just like to dedicate my support to Madlib and other artists that would like to keep their craft special. I know that if and when I make my mark on the business, I will not want half-ass producer wannabees compiling and posting all the samples I’ve made to make hits. 

Honestly, when I am digging, and happen to find a sample I’ve heard before, it’s cool. I might bring it up if someone has the record on and we’re chilling; however to go out of the way and identify the samples really ruins the fun of digging. Get out there and find that Jackson 5 sample that Dilla flipped, or try and get any of the 45’s that Mack the 45 King used in his sample career. But whatever you choose to do, remember that music is a business, and people will always strive to collect their checks. 

Though I will admit that I bought the official Blue Note sample set, Sources For Madlib's Shades Of Blue Untinted, for the Sources of Blue album that Madlib made for them, and the chops are crazy!

Keep sampling people, keep real hip-hop alive.

Featured Artist: Tha Q

Today’s feature artist is DC’s own Tha Q. Educator by day, rapper by night, Q practices his craft for the love of hip hop. He recently opened up a myspace page and has started networking with producers and DJs in order to keep finding new challenges. He’s got some insightful views on the current state of hip hop and how he keeps himself grounded and real without going commercial.

Cicero: So Q, How and when did you first get into rapping?

Tha Q: Haaaa....good question...Honestly, looking back, my entire life has been a prime and prep-session for what I'd eventually end up doing. I'm a kid of the 80s. So, I grew up listening to Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Salt N Pepa, and Run DMC. I've always been into poetry. But, it wasn't until I heard the Late-great Biggie Smalls' album, "Ready to Die", that I truly feel in love with rap. I mean, it was something new and exciting to me, Biggie's music that is. That was back in 1999. I didn't record for the first time until a couple years later. I was still developing my style. I finally grew into my current persona of Tha Q in 2004. The rest is history and the future.

Cicero: You’ve stayed relatively unknown by today’s standards. You have just set up a myspace account and are beginning to reach out to other musicians. Why the sudden change?

Tha Q: Man, are you reading my mind? We're on a psychic wavelength here. That's another good question bro. I have a sense of urgency. I don't want to come across as narcissistic, but I realize that life is fleeting and we all have a purpose. I recently turned 30 years old, which is ancient by many standards. But, I realize that it's the perfect age to launch my music. I'm young enough to still be culturally relevant, yet old enough to have insight and experience. I look at myself as a bridge to future generations. Rap is the vehicle that will carry me there. When I was younger, people said I didn't have a shot in rap. I didn't quit. Now that I'm older, people say the same thing. You see the pattern here? When I eventually achieve my goals in rap, I will be satisfied and not concerned with how it's perceived. I want to be heard. I want my music to be spread all over the world. I want everyone to know my name

Cicero: You talk about being “old” in rap. There's a term "Contemporary Adult Hip Hop" has been circulating around a number of different artists these days. What do you think about that term being applied to artists, as opposed to the young cats that rule the airwaves today?

Tha Q: I haven't heard of that term...I was thinking about this topic and my target audience today. It's interesting. My appeal is very broad. But, something that surprised me was when I found out that I have many rural and suburban white fans. This kid from Iowa of all places made a Myspace page in my honor. It's crazy. On top of that, he and his "rocker" friends have a video on Youtube with a track of mine as the background music. I can assure you that when I made that song, and all my songs, I wasn't thinking Billy-Bob from Idaho would be bangin' my music. Honestly, it's pretty amazing...What it says to me is I have the potential to have a big impact in the game if I stay real, humble, and true to myself.

Cicero: What projects are you working on now?

Tha Q: I'm working on my 4th mixtape called Man Up. It's coming along nicely. It just feels right, because I’m not forcing anything. If I'm not feeling something, I quit it...nix it...I'm not force fitting anything on this joint.

Cicero: Where can people listen to your stuff?

Tha Q: Well...I've been slow to hop on the digital revolution; even though I spread my music mostly online...I do have a myspace, www.myspace.com/thaqraps. I have a new video up on Youtube. Just type in Tha Q and I'm there at the top. It's a song about HIV awareness I did for an MTV contest. I hope to hear from them soon with some good news. Wish me luck! I was also recently featured at lyrickings.com, which is a up and coming rap site. Other than that, you'll have to wait to see me on MTV! haaa...For real though, hit me up on my cell: 301 437 4786 if you want to collab. I'm about the art. I'm not doing this for fame or fortune.

Take a listen to Tha Q's track "Rain I See," produced by Nick Cicero, below.

Nazareth Chosen for Princeton Review's "Best 368 Colleges: 2009 Edition"

My college, Nazareth College is one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. Nazareth is one of only four schools in the nation to be added to the forthcoming edition of The Best 368 Colleges: 2009 Edition (Random House/Princeton Review Books, $21.95 paperback). The book will be available in bookstores in late July 2008.

“We chose Nazareth College as one of our ‘best’ undergraduate colleges for this, our flagship college guide, based on several criteria we consider when reviewing schools for the book. First, we must have a high regard for their academic programs and other offerings. Our selections also take into account institutional data we collect from the schools and the opinions of students attending them whom we survey. We also greatly value the feedback we get about schools from our college-savvy staff across the country as well as from students, educators and parents who use our services and books," said Robert Franek, V.P. & Publisher-The Princeton Review.

“The announcement that our college was selected for this honor has created a buzz of excitement on the Nazareth campus,” said Nazareth President Daan Braveman. “We have been included in Princeton Review’s Best in the Northeast and now are pleased to be included in the national ranking. As one of only four schools to be added to the 2009 edition, Nazareth is extremely proud of its work to earn this distinction.”

Nazareth College is also one of only two institutions in New York State that The Princeton Review is adding to the book this year. The other is City University of New York / Baruch College. They join 40 other schools in New York State in the book.

“The Best 368 Colleges: 2009 Edition presents a wide range of colleges in the book. Only about 10% of the colleges in the nation are in it, and they vary by region, size, selectivity and character,” said Franek. “Each one is an outstanding institution we highly recommend to college applicants and their parents. In our opinion, these are ‘the crème of the crop’ institutions for undergraduates in America. "

What distinguishes The Princeton Review's annual Best Colleges guide from all other college guides is that it is the only one offering both two-page profiles on the schools and student survey-based college ranking lists in over 60 categories. The lists report the book’s top 20 colleges in categories that range from the teaching ability of the faculty (“Profs Get High Marks”) to campus amenities (“Best Campus Food”) to aspects of the campus culture (most liberal / most conservative student bodies).

The Princeton Review itself does not rank the colleges in the book hierarchically - 1 to 368 – either for academics (the company believes all 368 schools are first-rate, academically) or by any other category. The book’s school profiles include dozens of quoted comments from surveyed students at each school.

Nazareth College is an independent, coeducational college with studies in the liberal arts and sciences, and professional programs in health and human services, education, and management at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Nazareth is committed to experiential learning, civic responsibility, and student/faculty engagement. In the past decade, twelve Nazareth students and eight professors have been awarded highly competitive Fulbright scholarships. For updated information on the College and its initiatives and programs, visit www.naz.edu.

Pennywise's New Approach to Digital Music

Received a message from Pennywise today, about their free digital album...thought I'd share

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Here is what you’ve been waiting for…

Here is how to download your copy of Pennywise's Reason To Believe – FOR FREE!

Make sure you're logged into your MySpace account and you are friends with Textango.

Click this link or go to:
http://promos.myspace.com/download.ashx?pid=1&did=

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I'm not a fan, but it's a nice way to market