Words By David D.

Picture this: Kobe invites you over to his house. While there, he shows you the mechanics of his jumpshot. Every aspect of his shot is explained. The set feet. The bended elbow. The amount of elevation.

What do you think happens after he shows you this? Are you suddenly understanding of Kobe’s secrets and capable of dropping 81 against an NBA team? Or do you have an even greater appreciation for the idiosyncrasies involved in making just one shot?

Madlib

Apparently Madlib, one of my favorite producers, has a problem with such disclosure. A couple of weeks ago, the good folks over at This Is HipHop posted all of the samples used in Madlib’s Madvillainy masterpiece. Almost as soon as the post went up, Lib requested that the link be shut down. I simply don’t understand the logic behind such a request.

TIHH and Hip-Hop Is Read are both great places to download samples used in Hip-Hop albums. Just a few months ago, they posted the American Gangster samples, allowing us all to jam to the original “Party Life” just as much as Jay’s version. Not only do sites like this allow us to expand our own musical tastes, they give us a deeper appreciation for the producer’s process. (And it’s not like they’re revealing any secrets; all albums have to site the samples they use anyway.)

Look, any type of production takes a hell of a lot of talent. Personally, I’m fascinated with how a producer can find the ability to flip a sample into a hip-hop song. I’m even impressed with songs in which the producer barely alters the beat. Just having an ear to realize a potential banger takes a keen music sense. For example, “Meat Grinder” is essentially Lew Howard & The All-Stars’ “Hula Rock” instrumental with no adjustment. But, damn, who the hell are Lew Howard & The All-Stars and how does one listen to one of their songs and figure it would be hot to have MF DOOM rap over it? I mean, Madvillainy isn’t composed of your usual suspects of James Brown, Curtis Mayfield and co. These are some obscure artists and random clips like Steve Reich’s “Come Out” in which the same phrase is repeated for about ten minutes. It’s just impressive that an artist has the vision to create Hip-Hop out of such seemingly incompatible songs.

Then there are songs like Gentle Giant’s “Funny Ways” that Madlib absolutely turns on its head to create “Strange Ways.” These songs are what make listening to the original fascinating for me. Some times I can’t even figure out how Madlib included a few songs because he has manipulated them so masterfully.

After listening to the Madlib samples, I am even more impressed with the production on an album that was already in my top five. By so vehemently resisting the distribution of these samples, Madlib is doing the equivalent of erasing a director’s commentary from a DVD. He is trying to exclude the listener from an experience that allows us to gain more appreciation for his craft and finished product, which is obviously a good look for Madlib. Most importantly, though, he kind of looks like a mean guy as I personally am turned off from him after this controversy. Hopefully, he’ll be too busy working on that Madvillainy 2 to worry about who gets to hear his samples from now on.

“All Samples Not Cleared” [This Is HipHop]

“Sample Sets Hurting Hip-Hop?” [HipHop Is Read]

Can Ya Dig It?…No, Seriously: Can You? [HipHop Is Read]

Previously Posted — “Swiped”