Producer sample breakdown
Rick Rubin Samples
Long Beach, NY -- Active 1984-present -- Born Frederick Jay Rubin
Rick Rubin co-founded Def Jam Records and is the producer who stripped hip-hop production down to its essential elements: hard drums and minimal samples. His work with Run DMC, LL Cool J, and the Beastie Boys defined the hard rap aesthetic of the mid-1980s.
Rubin's approach to sampling is minimalist -- he prefers a single, defining loop over complex layering. His use of rock guitar samples alongside hip-hop drums was revolutionary in 1984-1986.
Primary sample sources
Notable albums produced
- Beastie Boys -- Licensed to Ill (1986)
- LL Cool J -- Radio (1985)
- Run DMC -- Raising Hell (1986)
Detailed sample breakdowns coming soon
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See Rick Rubin samples in action
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