Trap, EDM flips, and bedroom rap
2010s Sample Sources
The 2010s saw hip-hop splinter into dozens of regional sub-genres, each with its own sample palette. Trap production drew from Atlanta crunk and Southern soul, while bedroom rap and lo-fi producers mined jazz and 70s soul. The rise of streaming changed how producers discovered samples -- YouTube and Spotify replaced the record store.
2010s sample culture is defined by two poles: the metro-trap school (sparse, aggressive, 808-heavy) and the lo-fi/chillhop school (warm, jazzy, dusty). Both treat vinyl samples as texture rather than structure.
Top sample sources from the 2010s
Young Jeezy -- Soul Survivor
2005 -- Southern Hip-Hop
What was sampled
Al Green flip and 808 bassline template
Sampled in
- 2015Future -- March Madness
- 2014Young Thug -- Lifestyle
- 2013Gucci Mane -- First Day Out Tha Feds
Key producers
Nujabes -- Feather
2004 -- Jazz Hip-Hop
What was sampled
Jazz piano and vinyl texture
Sampled in
- 2014Sango -- Em Costa
- 2014Mndsgn -- Camelblues
- 2015Knxwledge -- Hud Dreems
Key producers
James Blake -- Limit to Your Love
2010 -- Post-Dubstep
What was sampled
Sub-bass and minimalist piano approach
Sampled in
- 2012Frank Ocean -- Bad Religion
- 2011The Weeknd -- The Morning
Key producers
Drake -- Marvin's Room
2011 -- Hip-Hop / R&B
What was sampled
Moody piano atmosphere and vocal cadence
Sampled in
- 2014PartyNextDoor -- Recognize
- 2015Roy Woods -- Get You Good
Key producers
Kendrick Lamar -- Backseat Freestyle
2012 -- Hip-Hop
What was sampled
Hard-hitting drum programming and energy
Sampled in
- 2014ScHoolboy Q -- Gangsta
- 2013Jay Rock -- Money Trees (Remix)
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.