The roots of rock and soul
1950s Sample Sources
The 1950s laid the harmonic and rhythmic foundations that producers would mine for decades. Early rock and roll, jump blues, doo-wop, and gospel recordings from this era contain raw energy and simple groove patterns that translate surprisingly well under hip-hop beats. Very few 1950s records entered the sample-production canon immediately -- most were discovered by crate-diggers in the 1980s and 1990s.
The 50s sample pool is small but potent. Producers who dig this era prize the lo-fi warmth of the recordings and the unprocessed room sound of early mono tapes.
Top sample sources from the 1950s
The Isley Brothers -- Shout
1959 -- R&B / Gospel
What was sampled
Call and response vocal chant
Sampled in
- 1986Beastie Boys -- Rhymin and Stealin
- 2002Missy Elliott -- Work It
- 2013Kanye West -- Bound 2
Key producers
Little Richard -- Good Golly, Miss Molly
1958 -- Rock and Roll
What was sampled
Piano groove and drum pattern
Sampled in
- 1986Beastie Boys -- She's Crafty
- 1985LL Cool J -- Rock the Bells
Key producers
Bo Diddley -- Bo Diddley
1955 -- R&B / Rock
What was sampled
Shave-and-a-haircut drum rhythm
Sampled in
- 1987Public Enemy -- Sophisticated Bitch
- 1984Run DMC -- Rock Box
Key producers
The Olympics -- Big Boy Pete
1960 -- Doo-Wop
What was sampled
Vocal group harmony
Sampled in
- 1989De La Soul -- Potholes in My Lawn
- 1988Jungle Brothers -- I'll House You
Key producers
Ray Charles -- What'd I Say
1959 -- R&B / Soul
What was sampled
Call-and-response piano and vocal
Sampled in
- 1990Brand Nubian -- Slow Down
- 1989De La Soul -- Say No Go
Key producers
Explore other decades
See the sample relationships in action
Goat Music builds Sample Tree videos -- source and derivative, played side by side -- so you can hear exactly how each flip transformed the original.