This article has been handpicked from the Okayplayer editorial archives and included in our Hip Hop 50 collection as a noteworthy inclusion to the genre's rich and diverse narrative. The article has ...

Southern hip-hop’s influence continues shaping modern music through strategic sampling, with artists like Future, GloRilla and Sexyy Red drawing from classic Southern tracks. Recently, Juicy J noted ...

There was a lot of politics, a lot of emotions and even more music as stars like Tyler, The Creator and Raphael Saadiq took the stage on music’s biggest night. 3 hours ago Although newer artists and ...

I usually write this column based on whatever music I’m listening to during the week. Along with this column, my radio show on Wednesday nights follows the same idea, an hour of what I’ve been ...

ST. LOUIS - AUGUST 1989: Rappers Posdnuos, Maseo and Dave from De La Soul poses for photos backstage at The Arena in St. Louis, Missouri in August 1989. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) This ...

Sampling has become a huge part of music production. However, you must choose a sample that matches other aspects of your song. Sampling has become one of the most influential strategies in modern ...

As an art form, sampling has been evolving for 35 years now. That's about how long ago it's been since the legendary producer Marley Marl revolutionized hip-hop production when, almost by accident, he ...

Some samples breathe new life into forgotten classics, while others recontextualize a song's place in contemporary music more ...

Albums like To Pimp a Butterfly and 1999 blend jazz harmonies with sharp lyricism, proving the genre’s deep connection. Hip-hop may keep evolving, but funk and jazz remain its heartbeat, fueling its ...

Hip-hoppers are a shameless bunch who will literally rap over anything. The Fugees' Ready or Not borrowed Enya humming, Kanye's Diamonds from Sierra Leone sampled Shirley Bassey, and Cypress Hill's ...