The practice of sampling one’s artist’s music for use by other artists has long had its critics and proponents. Some feel it is paying the music forward by an act of tribute. Others feel that it is intentional copyright rip off. Let’s look at a lineage of music and an example of we will call a third generation sample.
Jazz fusion keyboardist and producer Jeff Lorber released Rain Dance from his 1979 album Water Signs. The song is well known for the signature beginning riff.
In 2013, pop princess Adriana Grande collaborated with Big Sean on the track Right There. While the riff is slower and demonstrates more production elements, the roots of the music still shine through as sourced from Crush On You, by way of Rain Dance.
So, how far can and will music sampling take us? Is this the modern equivalent of changing an arrangement or is this just musical recycling? Put your thoughts in the comment section below.