Watch the Sound: Sampling

Watch the Sound: Sampling

by Mark Ronson

In hip-hop music, sampling is a foundational technique in which an artist reuses a sample of recorded sound and layers it into their track to make it their own. Musician, songwriter, and producer Mark Ronson traces the history of sampling in this episode of his documentary series Watch the Sound. During the 1970s, New York City cut funding for arts programs in schools. Without access to music education, young artists had to use the music that was already available and recreate it.

Sampling has been a vital part of hip-hop music since, and artists in other genres have also taken on the use of the technique. Throughout the episode, Ronson explores the line between using sampling to reimagine work and stealing from another artist.