The smartest theory yet, and I've been agreeing 100% with this since day 1. Observe:

You talk about the creative environment in hip-hop and equate the musical decline of the East Coast to global warming. In your opinion, what factor has contributed most to this decline?

Well first of all, it's not even a decline anymore, it's a demise. That east coast sound is dead man. And you know what, it ain't got shit to do with east coast artists falling off or getting lazy like most people want to believe. I'll tell you what killed east coast rap music, it's all the sampling laws..simple as that. And it's not like these laws are new, they've been around from day one, but the moment rap music became a billion dollar industry, almost every artist that's ever been sampled wanted their cut, so these laws are strictly enforced now and most labels won't even touch sample-based production because it doesn't make sense to them financially. I don't think people realize how essential the art of sampling was to that classic east coast sound. They hear an album like "De La Soul Is Dead" and ask why people don't make albums like that anymore. I'll tell you why, because that album was almost exclusively sample-based. Dave and I must have used over 100 samples on that album. Do you have any idea how much that album would cost in sample clearance today? Point is, that album would never get made today. Tommy Boy would laugh at us today if we tried to get that distributed. Who the hell is going to produce an album when half the profits would be going elsewhere? In fact, if it weren't for the statute of limitations the major labels finessed the courts into establishing on lawsuits, we'd all be broke today. I still get cease and desist orders to this day from lawyers representing artists we sampled in the past, to where I can't even play certain songs at major shows anymore. It's like a strangle hold on our sound man. Like, I can't play De La's "Ring Ring Ring" because The Whatnauts' publishing firm finally realized what their music is worth.

Do you think it's a case of these artists not wanting their music used at all or that they just want to be compensated for it?

They want their cut. And I can respect that, but back in the day, you had artists that just wanted to be credited for their work. We sampled The Coasters and they just wanted their name in print. But like I said, once the music starting making money, the love was gone. Fact is, they don't love our music...it's not their music. I think rap fans would be real disappointed to know how many of those old school artists they worship can't stand rap music. I understand the need to make money, but this is black culture too. Wouldn't you want to foster this culture so that the younger generation could be exposed to the same quality we had? Now kids have to listen to the same synth chords over and over, the sound is dumbed down man, some of these kids probably don't know what an alto sax sounds like. You know, I got to meet Al Hirt at a Jazz festival back in '97, couple years before he passed actually, and here's this 70-something year old white man that we sampled on "Ego-Trippin" telling me how he loved the song, and how happy he was that his music would live on through us. It was a trip man. Al Hirt didn't charge us a nickel to use that sample. Meanwhile, you got black artists not much older than our father's telling us they don't want us touching their music for free. I understand everything's a business, but damn man, think of it as charity.


And to all those whack producers who say fuck sampling, Fuck Y'all!

Keep in mind, this theory is coming from a producer that often samples entire songs, altering almost nothing.
It's a decent theory, but it's definitely not true. On the other argument, Good producers with musical talent can make good beats without sampling anything, except Acapellas. DJ Premier hasn't sampled another song in his beats since forever. Almost every classic beat was made with no samples, except Acapellas.

Almost every classic beat was made with no samples, except Acapellas.


Well that's really subjective. Cuz one of my favourite beats is "Millie Pulled A Pistol on Santa", which is on the De La record that Prince Paul is talking about. Sampling isn't the only thing that needs to come back in order to push Hip Hop into another golden era, but it's definately a step in the right direction.

And you can't deny that sampling is, or at least was, the pure essence of Hip Hop.

Thanks for your reply homie.


Oh, and either I'm not understanding what you're talking about with Premo, or it isn't true. I'm sure he used samples on "The Ownerz"

It's the damn kids who get hold of Fruity Loops and shit and think they're producers when they don't know shit! A real Hip Hop producer uses every element of sound, every genre, and captures it. These dudes just be clicking buttons for drums and looping pre-made melodies, or be 'playing' a keyboard untill something sounds 'good'. Where's the creavivity? Where's the countless hours searching for that perfect record to sample or looking for that perfect sound on that old vintage Moog? Where's the MPC? That is why I hate this shit, for real. People don't know anything and think they're the shit in it.

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/4305/blackmarioapproves2ai.jpg

=)) =)) lmao =)) =))

It's the damn kids who get hold of Fruity Loops and shit and think they're producers when they don't know shit! A real Hip Hop producer uses every element of sound, every genre, and captures it. These dudes just be clicking buttons for drums and looping pre-made melodies, or be 'playing' a keyboard untill something sounds 'good'. Where's the creavivity? Where's the countless hours searching for that perfect record to sample or looking for that perfect sound on that old vintage Moog? Where's the MPC? That is why I hate this shit, for real. People don't know anything and think they're the shit in it.


omg, I love you. I couldn't have said it better.

Thanks for the reply

I have to admit, I just don't like the idea that Hip-Hop is the recycle box of other genres. I don't like the idea of searching your record collection for a sample, then developing your entire beat around it.
I personally, would rather people create songs entirely by themselves.
I guess it's all a matter of opinion.

It's the damn kids who get hold of Fruity Loops and shit and think they're producers when they don't know shit! A real Hip Hop producer uses every element of sound, every genre, and captures it. These dudes just be clicking buttons for drums and looping pre-made melodies, or be 'playing' a keyboard untill something sounds 'good'. Where's the creavivity? Where's the countless hours searching for that perfect record to sample or looking for that perfect sound on that old vintage Moog? Where's the MPC? That is why I hate this shit, for real. People don't know anything and think they're the shit in it.

So 9th Wonder is a dumbshit for using fruity loops then???

check it out. That dude is talking about bringing the eastside back. That maybe true to bringing back the eastside but all hip-hop needs is to bring back the lyrics. Lupe, Nas, and Papoose are gonna do it. Jigga could help too.

I have to admit, I just don't like the idea that Hip-Hop is the recycle box of other genres. I don't like the idea of searching your record collection for a sample, then developing your entire beat around it.
I personally, would rather people create songs entirely by themselves.
I guess it's all a matter of opinion.

definitely... definitely a matter of opinion

So 9th Wonder is a dumbshit for using fruity loops then???

in my opinion, yes

Aite *Steps into convo*, first off I dissagree with some of this shit, and call me a fuckhead if ya want cuz I dont care but this whole article, WHO GIVES A FUCK? When did producing have to be just a dude using an MPC to be considered 'real'? You know what, fuck 'real producing' as you all will call it, its just a beat, I could give LESS a fuck about what a producer uses, cuz that doesnt MEAN shit to me...SO? ANYONE can fuck with an MPC, but that dont mean youre the G.O.A.T. producer of all time....Its not about what you have its about HOW you use it.......Anyone with a MPC can make the most repetitive wack ass beats in the world, same with Fruity Loops, anyone can fuck with that shit as well and make some wack beats on there, while imo 9th Wonder uses that shit and makes good as use of the program as some dudes fuckin with MPC'......And this is all coming from me, a person that uses FL Studio on the go, I dont care what anyone thinks, a beat is just a beat, good or bad......And sure theres ppl like Pete Rock and GZA that fuck with the MPC, I appreciate their work too, but what makes 9th Wonder wack for even using Fruity Loops? He did MURS album with that shit and that shit sounded good, quality wise and he's not ashamed of using it even if he does get slammed on for it......I dont understand folks on this board sometimes

It ain't about Fruity Loops, son. 9th is a hell of a producer who happens to use Fruity Loops, but that is not his whole setup. He SAMPLES. He just sequences in Fruity Loops from getting shit off of his turntables. What I am saying is that when people get a crappy ass software, mess around on it, and think they are master producers who then post beats online, saying, "HOT SHIT, MY BEST BEAT, GOOD AS DR. DRE!!! '' . It is also not about a MPC, I just said Fruity Loops becuase that is what 90% of whack ass button-pushers who make 'beats' use. I really don't think some 14 year old kid is actually gonna go buy a MPC 2000 for $1400 8-) . Don't get mad me becuase you use Fruity Loops. But come on man, just read the name lol. Fruity = feminine, gay; Loops = The laziness of not chopping samples.

Oh, and by the way, GZA and RZA are said to use the Roland MV-8000...

Sorry to bring up an old topic, couldn't let this one go.

It ain't about Fruity Loops, son. 9th is a hell of a producer who happens to use Fruity Loops, but that is not his whole setup. He SAMPLES. He just sequences in Fruity Loops from getting shit off of his turntables. What I am saying is that when people get a crappy ass software, mess around on it, and think they are master producers who then post beats online, saying, "HOT SHIT, MY BEST BEAT, GOOD AS DR. DRE!!! '' . It is also not about a MPC, I just said Fruity Loops becuase that is what 90% of whack ass button-pushers who make 'beats' use. I really don't think some 14 year old kid is actually gonna go buy a MPC 2000 for $1400 8-) . Don't get mad me becuase you use Fruity Loops. But come on man, just read the name lol. Fruity = feminine, gay; Loops = The laziness of not chopping samples.

Oh, and by the way, GZA and RZA are said to use the Roland MV-8000...

Sorry to bring up an old topic, couldn't let this one go.
aite I feel ya my bad son lol....

I didnt know where u waz takin this, but thx for clearin it up.....

But Yea I feel what you mean

But dogg, On fruity loops, you can programm your own beat on it, fuck usin pre made drum loops tho
But I sample alot for that program tho

But yea I feel what u mean

Btw I did do some beats for DRAS album on fl if you didnt know

The number 1 argument you get in a Rock vs. Rap argument is "Well Rap producers don't even make there music, they steal it from other people"
I don't mind if your scratching an Accapella, but to steal an entire song and alter almost nothing (I.E. Just Blaze - Touch The Sky, Kanye West - Get By) is talentless is my mind. It's like bitting if your a rapper, your just stealing peoples work.
"Hip-Hop" by Mos Def was made with no Samples at all, all with synthesizers and sequencers, and right off you can tell whoever produced that has talent.
"Shook Ones pt. 2" by Mobb Deep is a classic beat, made by a genius producer without stealing a riff.
You can make great beats without using other peoples work.

hey I just ordered away for Frutie Loops. How am I gonna get samples for that. I wanna be able to dig through some old Blues records and then put a sample of that on Frutie Loops. Is that gonna be a problem? Am I gonna have to get turntables to do that?

Im not sure what you were planning ta play tha records on yo

hey I just ordered away for Frutie Loops. How am I gonna get samples for that. I wanna be able to dig through some old Blues records and then put a sample of that on Frutie Loops. Is that gonna be a problem? Am I gonna have to get turntables to do that?

well, ya. What else are you gonna play the records on? Get some turntables, there's probably a way to hook them to a computer. Some attachment or something... :confused:

It ain't about Fruity Loops, son. 9th is a hell of a producer who happens to use Fruity Loops, but that is not his whole setup. He SAMPLES. He just sequences in Fruity Loops from getting shit off of his turntables. What I am saying is that when people get a crappy ass software, mess around on it, and think they are master producers who then post beats online, saying, "HOT SHIT, MY BEST BEAT, GOOD AS DR. DRE!!! '' . It is also not about a MPC, I just said Fruity Loops becuase that is what 90% of whack ass button-pushers who make 'beats' use. I really don't think some 14 year old kid is actually gonna go buy a MPC 2000 for $1400 8-) . Don't get mad me becuase you use Fruity Loops. But come on man, just read the name lol. Fruity = feminine, gay; Loops = The laziness of not chopping samples.

Oh, and by the way, GZA and RZA are said to use the Roland MV-8000...

Sorry to bring up an old topic, couldn't let this one go.

Meh, it's called Fruity Loops because of the mixture of patterns you can create, bowl up, and produce...like a fruit salad =/. It was later changed to FL Studio, considering Kelloggs has had Fruit Loops cereal on the market for a long ass time.

But yeah, I agree with you with the fools who use it because it's popular and they think they know what they're doing. I, personally, use it. But I ALWAYS start from scratch. I'm also not a fan of going out and buying an FPC, simply because I can control it all on my keyboard PLUS by using a vst plugins. It saves a lot of money and time on my side.

So I gotta find a way to hookup a Mic, and turntables to a 1999 Gateway desktop? Oh shit. I need to talk to someone.

Meh, it's called Fruity Loops because of the mixture of patterns you can create, bowl up, and produce...like a fruit salad =/. It was later changed to FL Studio, considering Kelloggs has had Fruit Loops cereal on the market for a long ass time.

But yeah, I agree with you with the fools who use it because it's popular and they think they know what they're doing. I, personally, use it. But I ALWAYS start from scratch. I'm also not a fan of going out and buying an FPC, simply because I can control it all on my keyboard PLUS by using a vst plugins. It saves a lot of money and time on my side.


lemme hear your beats man