Finding the best samples for your Hip Hop beats can be challenging. In this quick video, I reveal my top five ‘go to’ sample genres when crate digging records for your sample-based production.

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I receive questions regularly from aspiring beat makers and producers on my YouTube videos about what samples I use to make my beats.

I’m going back through my core sample folder today – looking at the exact samples I’ve used over the past six to seven years – and extrapolating some information on my favorite genres, hopefully to offer some insight on some various genres of music you may consider exploring for your own production.

Crate Digging Tips: Top 5 ‘Go-To’ Sample Genres

 

1. Soul / R&B

For those of you who have followed me for any considerable amount of time, my number one on this list will probably come as no surprise.

Soul and R&B. Typically the sounds I’m looking for span the decades of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and even more contemporary and modern styles of rhythm and blues.

The sweet spot for me is the 1970s decade. Motown era was going strong, and the live recordings sound unlike any other period sonically. Not to mention the abundance of super talented musicians and recording artists.  That’s why this era is so commonly sampled. Plus, you’ll also find a lot of similar music in the late 60s and early 80s.

Sampling Tip #1

If you are doing traditional crate digging – going to the record shop and actually shopping vinyl, or even if you’re doing online e-digging…

I would highly encourage you to make sure that you’re reading the credits on the albums that you like – in particular the production credits.  If you have access to this information either on the album cover or by doing a quick Google search, it will most definitely help to educate you on your individual musical palette, as well as prepare you with what labels, producers, musicians, and artists to keep an eye out for the next time you’re digging.

 

2. International / Foreign Records

This isn’t necessarily one particular genre, but international records in general are another go-to of mine and I find myself sampling time and time again. Historically I’ve found a lot of really great foreign samples in soul and rock genres. From Germany… Russia. Spain has that really distinct sound – there are a lot of dope melodies and instrumentation in Spanish samples.

I’ve discovered numerous excellent Asian samples as well – a number of Japanese records that I’ve flipped, many of which are coming from the 1970s.

Sampling Tip #2

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Especially when you come across an album that looks a little unusual or different. There’ve been countless occasions when I’ve stumbled on some abstract looking records and found some really amazing sounds in them.

 

3. Library Music / T.V. & Movie Soundtracks

Another great resource for crate digging  is library music, television and movie soundtracks.  Library music is essentially a pool of various songs that musicians and instrumentalists had created specifically for the use to be featured in various movies and film. Depending on where you dig, these samples may be a little more rare to come. But if you do come across them, they will be less likely to have been sampled and typically more unique.  Producer The Alchemist has frequently sampled library records in his past production catalog.

And movie soundtracks in general – they can span multiple genres and multiple decades as well.

 

4. Progressive Rock

One of the other genres that I find myself going to a lot is progressive rock. There are so many different variations of rock, coming from different places across the world.  Many times for me it boils down to countless hours of digging to find that one little gem. With progressive rock in particular, the song may transition into different “movements” as a track progresses along. In other words, the beginning may sound very different from the middle, and the middle sound very different from the end, etc. This genre you have to really pay close attention to. So if you do dig into Progressive Rock, make sure that you spend the time to thoroughly listen to and comb through the records. Otherwise, you may miss out on some hidden dopeness!

 

5. Classical Music

I think this is a really underrated genre as far as sampling is concerned. Within classical there’s so many different time periods.

• Medieval music
• Baroque period (Bach – harpsichord prominent)
• Classical period (Beethoven, Mozart)
• Romantic
• Orchestral music
• And the list goes on…

There’s mass amount of classical music out there that’s been completely untouched.

 

Bonus Genres

And, of course, there are many other great styles of music to dig including:

Crossover / Experimental music – something that doesn’t necessarily fit within a set genre. Fusion. Jazz. Blues. And the list goes on and on.

You’ve ultimately got to figure out what sounds are going to work best for your preference and the style beats you’re working on. But if you’re struggling with where to start or need some additional suggestions, hopefully this list can help you.

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