Hip Hop Samples, Beats & Loops: A Simple (But Complete) Guide + Free Samples You Can Use Right Now

Education

Hip Hop Samples, Beats & Loops: A Simple (But Complete) Guide + Free Samples You Can Use Right Now

Hip-hop has become a giant of the modern music industry. But for aspiring beatmakers, it’s vital to understand the key facets of the genre. Thus, we at Tracklib have outlined the three crucial tenets and have explored the various places to find samples, beats, and loops online.

Tracklib

December 28, 2022

Back in 2018, the Nielsen end-of-year music report found that hip-hop had become the most dominant genre in America. Five years later, the statistic seems pretty obvious. Artists like Drake, Cardi B, and Kendrick Lamar dominate the charts, collectively raising hip-hop to its status as a billion-dollar global industry. But what are the central tenets of this wildly popular art form? Well, from its birth in the Bronx in the 1980s, hip-hop has broadly consisted of three facets: a sample, a beat, and a loop of those elements combined.

To briefly explain, a sample is usually a snippet of an already-released track that is recontextualized, manipulated, and looped by a producer or beatmaker. For a more detailed explanation, you can read our Beginner's Guide to Sampling.

Historically, samples were sourced through a process known as crate-digging, in which a producer flicks through records and finds the perfect sample. But in the age of the internet, aspiring producers now have an endless library of beats, samples, and loops to explore. So where are the best places to find your hip-hop samples?

Our free trial is a good place to start: it comes with 15 track downloads

Where can I get samples for hip-hop beats?

Long past the era of crate-digging, producers now have access to an unprecedented wealth of resources to sample from. But where you look will often depend on the type of music you’re producing. Many classic hip-hop producers have flipped samples from old funk and soul records, movie soundtracks, and obscure European jazz albums.

As with anything else in life, there's no one "right" way to find hip-hop samples—it's all about experimenting until you find something that works for you. Finding samples is easier than ever but how do you find the best samples for your particular sound?

1. Online Sample Libraries
A sample library is simply an online resource for finding samples and clearing them. We at Tracklib are a widely-used example of an online sample library. We provide a vast catalog of easily clearable samples for you to use. The likes of Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Brockhampton, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, and Mary J. Blige have all used the service before.

2. Sample-sharing websites
Some sample-sharing websites provide a vast supply of royalty-free samples for free. These are great resources for young producers looking for samples of all sorts. These can be one-shots (snares, kicks, etc.), melodic samples, or SFX. Examples of these sites include Looperman and Cymatics.

3. SoundCloud and other streaming services
There’s no better way to find your sound and pick your samples than to listen to a lot of music. Exploring the unexplored depths of streaming services like Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and Tidal can often yield some amazing samples and new ideas.

However, it’s worth noting that this should only serve as inspiration! To sample music, you need to chase down the rightsholders of the song as it's always required to clear your samples.

4. YouTube and other video sites
YouTube and other video sites are another goldmine for rare, high-quality samples. In addition, some of the lesser-known, obscure gems are easily clearable. However, only use this as inspiration! Make sure to properly clear samples before you release your music.

5. Record labels and artist websites
It’s always worth digging through the catalogs of lesser-known artists and record labels. If you particularly like their work and negotiate clearance agreements, you could even develop a deeper relationship when it comes to sampling or even collaborating.

The Best Free Hip Hop Loops, Samples & Sounds (The Best Samples Won’t be Free)

Samples provide the backbone of much classic hip-hop music. Without them, the genre would sound drastically different. There are a variety of places to find samples, both online and offline. For example, though many producers use sample-sharing sites and other online resources to search for new music, some producers remain fond of the traditional crate-digging method. For iconic producers like Madlib and The Alchemist, the vintage aesthetic of vinyl can’t be substituted.

Sample music inspired by:

What are some of the most sampled songs in hip hop?

Over the years, hip-hop artists have sampled drum breaks and melodic lines from a wide range of songs. These have ranged from pop hits to obscure gems. Here are five of the most sampled songs in hip-hop:

"Funky Drummer" by James Brown - This iconic drum break has been used on tracks by everyone from Public Enemy to Beastie Boys to A Tribe Called Quest.

"The Payback" by James Brown - Another classic James Brown track that has been used by rappers like Ice Cube and Jay-Z.

"I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5 - This Motown classic has been sampled on tracks by the likes of Aaliyah and Eminem.

"Ain't No Half Steppin'" by Big Daddy Kane - This track has been sampled by hip-hop legends like Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., and Nas.

"The Bridge is Over" by Boogie Down Productions - An iconic golden-age hip-hop track that has been sampled by artists like Rihanna, Pusha T, and 50 Cent.

Who has the best samples in music?

Though there are countless hip-hop sample libraries available online, few sample packs and premade loops match the real, original music Tracklib offers for sampling.

What is the best sound pack?

Ultimately, like all music, your taste in sound packs is subjective, so there’s no "best" sound pack as such. However, often producers will release hip-hop sound packs full of drum hits and samples that emulate their style. These might be a good starting point for young beatmakers. A selection can be found in our recent guide Drum Samples: The Best Free & Premium Libraries.

Where can I find good sound packs?

Given the countless sound packs available online, searching for the right bundle of samples can be a tiresome task. To make it easier, we at Tracklib have compiled some of our recent favorites in this section.

Where can I find free loops and samples?

Finding free hip-hop samples can be a difficult process, especially considering the lesser quality of much of the free content. That being said, there are a few well-respected free sample-sharing sites. Producers can check out websites like Looperman, FiftySounds, and Loopmasters.

Where can I find beat samples?

Aside from melodic loops, SFX, and other samples, it can also be worth sourcing your drums from a beat loop or a drum break.

How to Find Hip Hop Samples & Loops

Where can I get loops and samples?

We’ve covered where to find free loops and samples. But what if you’re willing to spend some cash on higher-quality stuff? In this case, there is no better place to look than Tracklib’s own library of real music for sampling. Clearly organized, easily clearable, and full of rare gems, this serves as a vital resource for high-quality, affordable, and accessible sampling.

Making Hip-Hop Samples Your Own

What to look for in a hip-hop melody?

Making a melodic sample on your own will always depend on your style of hip-hop. For example, old-school boom-bap, like Mos Def or Nas, often used minimalistic, soulful samples. Alternatively, modern trap often thrives with simple, catchy synth loops. Jazz rap, on the other hand, pioneered the use of jazz samples, opting for a cool, laid-back tone. Thus, what to look for in a hip-hop melody will vary across subgenres.

What instruments and sounds are used in hip-hop?

This is similar to the last question in that it varies across the myriad subgenres. That being said, drum, piano, vocal, and bass samples have been key facets of many classic beats. Whether it’s the iconic breakbeat of NWA's "Straight Outta Compton," the eerie, warped piano of Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones PT. II," or the buzzing bass of A Tribe Called Quest's “Buggin’ Out”, hip-hop has often been associated with these instrumental palettes.

Experiment with different sounds and styles to create something new and unique

Despite the established styles of popular subgenres, it’s vital to take risks as a producer, forever exploring new sounds and tones. It’s this impulse that has led iconic producers to sample from obscure, virtually unknown records. Legends like Madlib, J Dilla, The Alchemist, RZA, and many more have cast a wide, diverse net for their sampling.

How to Make Money with Hip-Hop Samples

There are two ways to go about money through samples. One way is to find samples, clear them, and then use them within beats. These beats can then generate income through beat sales, streaming revenue, etc.

Alternatively, producers can make money by creating and selling their own hip-hop samples, loops, and one-shots. These are totally original pieces of music or audio that can be sold to producers. Tracklib hosts the work of many terrific sample makers. Check out their work below.

Is Sampling Illegal?

Sampling—when done and cleared right—is a perfectly legitimate and legal art form. That being said, it’s vital for producers to attain licensing from the master rightsholder, writer, and publisher of the music. These people or organizations have ownership of the song and are entitled to take legal action if there is unlicensed usage. Tracklib offers services to avoid the usual hassle of sample clearance.

Conclusion

Thus, finding the right beats, loops, and samples remains a key skill for hip-hop producers. But rather than the time-consuming and expensive habit of crate digging, beatmakers can now use the infinite musical resources of the internet. But this creates new problems. The newly online process of finding samples, beats, and loops has become a balancing act between finding affordable, easily-clearable samples and trying not to sink into the aesthetic anonymity of many sample-sharing forums and marketplaces. Thankfully, producers now have a resource that deals with both concerns.