Artist Features - Selection

Using Tracklib means you can sample a wide variety of artists. Here's a list of a few icons you might come across while digging on Tracklib:

By Tracklib

The Jazz-Funk Keyboardist Who Mentored Hip-Hop Legends

Keyboardist Weldon Irvine was not only frequently sampled (Earl Sweatshirt, Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, Drake), he also fully embraced hip-hop himself. That went as far as mentoring the likes of Q-Tip, Common, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli, and heavily inspiring Madlib who recorded a tribute album after Irvine's untimely passing.

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Sample the Godfather of Afrobeat

The legendary Fela Kuti himself said about his right-hand man Tony Allen that "there would have been no Afrobeat without him." Other pioneers like Brian Eno stated he's "probably the greatest drummer who has ever lived." After the passing of the Nigerian-French drummer in 2020, there is no end to his legacy in Afrobeat and funk-infused drum patterns.

By Tracklib

Sample a Legendary Philly Soul Group

RZA, DJ Premier, The Alchemist, Adrian Younge, Knxwledge, and many more flipped the pioneering Philly Soul of The Delfonics. R&B innovators, backed and arranged by iconic producer Thom Bell.

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Sample Early Blues by Ray Charles Before His Rise to Fame

The late Ray Charles was a true icon. An early pioneer in R&B and soul music, a mentor to iconic producer Quincy Jones, and a "master of sounds" in blues, gospel, pop, and jazz, too.

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Sample the First Band Nominated for a 'Best Score' Oscar since The Beatles

The delicate blend of soul, electronica, hip-hop, and post-rock by Son Lux sounds like the soundtrack of a dystopian future. After their scores for Hollywood hits, collaborations with the likes of Moses Sumney, David Byrne and Sufjan Stevens, and with several modern classics under their belt, the experimental band has at least secured their own future.

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Previously unreleased ‘hot buttered soul’ by Isaac Hayes

There are over 7000 record stores in the world, but none contains 'Caddilactus' - a full album of unreleased tracks (and multi-tracks) from the legendary Isaac Hayes. As an iconic producer, singer, songwriter and musician - Isaac Hayes changed the sound of soul forever. Having previously been sampled for tracks of the Wu-Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, Jay Z, Public Enemy, and 2Pac - these untouched, unreleased tracks are now in your hands to sample.

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70s Roots Reggae by Jamaican masters The Gladiators

Albert Griffiths and his band The Gladiators worked with pioneering reggae producers like Coxsone and Jamaican greats including the late Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.

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The Pianist Who Pioneered 70s Spiritual Jazz with Strata-East

In 1971, jazz pianist Stanley Cowell co-founded Strata-East. To this day, it's one of the most iconic and sought-after spiritual jazz labels out there. No wonder Q-Tip flipped Stanley Cowell's mbira-playing for "One Love" on 'Illmatic.' Tracklib now offers a selection of his records: post-Coltrane spiritual jazz, a song sampled by The Pharcyde, and a deep cut featuring the father of director Spike Lee on bass!

By Tracklib

A Tribute to Indian Singer Lata Mangeshkar with Bollywood Samples & Originals

The Indian legend was sampled by the likes of Madlib, The Alchemist, Kenny Beats, Havoc, Four Tet, and countless other producers.

By Tracklib

5 Hidden Gems from Jazz Greats to Sample

You know their classics. But what about these sample-ready records by Dexter Wansel, Billy Cobham, Weldon Irvine, Bob James, and Maceo Parker?

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Songwriting for The King: Giant-Baum-Kaye

Bill Giant, Bernie Baum & Florence Kaye formed a well-oiled songwriting machine in the 60s. They wrote over 40 songs for Elvis Presley, the soundtrack of Kimba The White Lion, and a number #1 song from the 50s - later covered by jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal.

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Sample the Innovator Who Brought 70s Exotica into Space

"Any good music must be an innovation," composer and musician Les Baxter once said. He pioneered the easy-listening genre of exotica, crafted space-inspired compositions with a theremin in 1947, and made Moog Rock and over 150 soundtracks that would later be sampled by the likes of MF DOOM, Beastie Boys, Ghostface Killah, and Eminem.

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Soul Folk In Action: The Staple Singers

Their funky gospel-fueled R&B earned The Staple Singers the nickname of "God's Greatest Hitmakers," later sampled by Kanye West, Eazy-E, Lord Finesse, Big Daddy Kane, UGK, among others.

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Beats and Breaks by The 45 King

He produced Eminem's 'Stan,' Jay-Z's 'Hard Knock Life,' Queen Latifah's 'Ladies First,' the iconic ‘The 900 Number,’ and was allegedly uncredited for old school hits by Fab Five Freddy and X-Clan. As his Tuff City debut in 1988 implies, DJ Mark the 45 King is a real “Master of the Game.”

By Tracklib

Using Tracklib means you can sample a wide variety of artists. Here's a list of a few icons you might come across while digging on Tracklib:

The Jazz-Funk Keyboardist Who Mentored Hip-Hop Legends

Sample the Godfather of Afrobeat

Sample a Legendary Philly Soul Group

Sample Early Blues by Ray Charles Before His Rise to Fame

Sample the First Band Nominated for a 'Best Score' Oscar since The Beatles

Previously unreleased ‘hot buttered soul’ by Isaac Hayes

70s Roots Reggae by Jamaican masters The Gladiators

The Pianist Who Pioneered 70s Spiritual Jazz with Strata-East

A Tribute to Indian Singer Lata Mangeshkar with Bollywood Samples & Originals

5 Hidden Gems from Jazz Greats to Sample

Songwriting for The King: Giant-Baum-Kaye

Sample the Innovator Who Brought 70s Exotica into Space

Soul Folk In Action: The Staple Singers

Beats and Breaks by The 45 King

The Singer Who Added a Dark Psychedelic Touch to 70s Soul

Rhythm Twins Sly & Robbie

Sample Jazz Musicians of Sun Ra Arkestra & Herbie Hancock's Sextet

Keep digging