Producer sample breakdown
Just Blaze Samples
Paterson, NJ -- Active 1999-present -- Born Justin Smith
Just Blaze is one of Jay-Z's primary producers during the Blueprint era and a pioneer of the soul-sample flip approach that defined early 2000s hip-hop. His work on The Blueprint (2001) alongside Kanye West essentially created the chipmunk soul template.
Just Blaze pitches soul and gospel samples up, layers them with his own live keys, and builds dramatically -- his beats have cinematic arcs that build tension before the drum drop.
Primary sample sources
Notable albums produced
- Jay-Z -- The Blueprint (2001)
- Jay-Z -- The Blueprint 2 (2002)
Detailed sample breakdowns coming soon
We are building out the full sample database for Just Blaze. Check back soon, or explore other producers below.
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See Just Blaze samples in action
Goat Music's Sample Tree videos show the source and derivative side by side so you can hear exactly how each producer transformed the original.