5 hip hop sampling techniques that lasted for decades

Over the last 50 years, hip hop has continuously pushed sonic boundaries.

Whether it’s remixing samples, incorporating synthesizers, or blending genres, hip hop seems to always find a way to breed creativity. Above, veteran producer and beat maker Isaac Duarte shares five sampling techniques from the ’90s and early ’00s that you can use in your own productions, while also discussing how they were initially used by some of the greatest innovators in hip hop. From chopping breaks to emulating drum machines and more, these timeless sampling techniques are sure to spark new inspiration for your next track.

“Truthfully, these techniques are still widely being used today,” Duarte says. “And I’m sure even 20 or 30 years from now, or maybe even longer than that, they’re still going to be used in whatever genres or styles that come along as well.”

What’s your favorite sampling technique that Duarte covered? What other topics would you like to see us explore next? Let us know in the comments section of the video, and subscribe to the Splice YouTube channel for more tips, tutorials, and insights.


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May 1, 2024

Harrison Shimazu

Harrison Shimazu is a composer, content strategist, and writer who’s passionate about democratizing music creation and education. He leads the Splice blog and produces vocaloid music as Namaboku.