Myths About Sampling & Sample Clearance Debunked

A 70s Psychedelic Jazz Trip by Italian Singer & Film Composer Nora Orlandi

Nora Orlandi's Italian film music inspired Quentin Tarantino in 'Kill Bill' and was later flipped by The Neptunes on The Clipse's 'Hell Hath No Fury.' In 1970, she released 'Sfere Luminose' together with jazz drummer Franco Tonani.

African Rhythms: Mid-70s Jazz, Funk, and Spiritual Sounds from the iconic Black Fire label

The spirit of Black Fire is still burning. Up to this day, producers including J Dilla, Diamond D, Madlib, and J. Cole all sampled Black Fire's music, which is a testament to the longevity of their spiritual jazz, funk, and Afrocentric grooves. That timelessness is also evident through the contagious enthusiasm James "Plunky" Branch evokes in this interview with Tracklib.

Sample 700+ Vintage Latin Records & Afro-Caribbean Rhythms by Ansonia Records

The Voice of Pliers: Reggae/Dancehall Meets 70s Soul Influences

With hits like "Murder She Wrote," "Tease Me," and "Bam Bam," Jamaican singer Pliers is one of the most celebrated reggae/dancehall singers of the mid-80s to early 90s. His smooth, high voice was sampled for music by Kanye West, Beyoncé, and 50 Cent, who all loved his infectious dancehall.

Fake Features: Is There a Way to Legally Use AI-Generated Vocals in Music? (+ FAQ)

"Savages" by AllttA—produced with a Tracklib sample—opened up a conversation about the ethics of using generative AI in music. Producers including Pete Rock, 9th Wonder, Lord Finesse, and Young Guru all weighed in. But what do these rapid-paced, groundbreaking developments hold for the future? And can you actually legally use or sample AI-generated voices?

Myths & Misconceptions About Sampling Music Debunked

Myths about sampling are as old as the art of sampling itself. Especially in today's ever-changing music industry, it tends to be hard to differentiate facts from fiction, and truth from misconceptions. Let's debunk the biggest, oldest, and silliest myths and misinterpretations about sampling commercially released music once and for all.

Sample Jazz Keyboardist Don Grusin's Early Records, Latin Influences & an Iconic Bassline

Spanning four-plus decades, the catalog of keyboardist and composer Don Grusin is nothing short of iconic. He has worked with Gilberto Gil, Joe Pass, Zoot Sims, Leon Ware, Patti Austin, Sergio Mendes, and his brother Dave Grusin, among countless others. He’s also a founding member of jazz fusion outfit Friendship—the band behind a bassline etched in our collective memory…

Hottest Flips: Dave East Competition Winner, Yeat, Tom Misch's alias Supershy & More

This month featuring Dave East placement competition winner Westtopher, Justin Caruso, Kiinjo & Oliver, and Yeat produced by BNYX & beautifulmvn.

Sample Gianni Brezzo's Colorful Palette of Jazz, Soul, Guitar & Baroque Sounds

Producer and multi-instrumentalist Gianni Brezzo impressed us with his jazz opus 'The Awakening' two years ago. Now, he brings more music to Tracklib with all multitracks for 'Soundscapes Vol. 1,' a sonic exploration of jazz, flute melodies, thematic moods, his 12-string guitar, baroque textures—and, metal?

Breakdowns of Daft Punk's Samples on "One More Time" & 'Discovery'

These videos show Daft Punk's sampling techniques with records by Eddie Johns, The Alan Parsons Project, Sister Sledge, Electric Light Orchestra, and more.

Artificial Digging: How Google's AI Now Reveals What Producers Sampled

The days of hidden samples are over. Using Google Assistant's song recognition, a community of sample hunters is discovering samples that were unknown for decades. 20-plus-year-old samples by Daft Punk, Mobb Deep, Nujabes, and Madlib, among others, were found this way for the very first time.

All the Sample Breakdowns by Tracklib + Songs to Sample Yourself

Tracklib's Sample Breakdown series celebrates the art of sampling in music. The videos dissect hip-hop classics and the biggest hits, and visualize the sampling techniques behind them. This way, you can learn how to sample songs like iconic producers.

Watch: Breaking Down the 8-Second Loop Sampled on Yung Lean's 'Ginseng Strip 2002'

With hundreds of millions of streams, the viral breakthrough hit "Ginseng Strip 2002" by Swedish rapper Yung Lean was hard to miss. But the short loop producer Yung Gud sampled, was full of mystery upon its release. Watch Tracklib’s Sample Breakdown and read the story to get down to the nitty-gritty of the Asian sample on the cloud rap anthem "Ginseng Strip 2002."

A 70s Psychedelic Record by 'The New Chubby Checker’

1971's 'Chequered!' by rock 'n roll singer and 'The Twist' icon Chubby Checker is a psychedelic record heavily influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton’s Cream and Joe Cocker, rooted in gritty rock and rhythm-and-blues.

The Spirit of 60s Psychedelic Music by Subliminal Sounds

With a catalog spanning three-plus decades, Swedish record label Subliminal Sounds is sitting on a goldmine. Founder Stéfan Kery highlights three artists who create mind-bending psychedelic music with influences ranging from jazz to exotica.