Hottest Flips: Hot Buttered Soul, Hawaiian Disco & a Detroit Gem

After sampling a psychedelic soundscape for 2019’s “Dearly Departed,” this time producer Romil Hemnani turned to a more hot buttered piece of music for BROCKHAMPTON’s new album. That piece of pure gold, part of previously unreleased soul by Isaac Hayes.

The original version of BROCKHAMPTON’s “Chain On” was part of their Technical Difficulties Radio lockdown sessions, featuring vocal samples of Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.’ and KRS-One’s “Sound of da Police,” and the touching “We Almost Lost Detroit” by Gil-Scott Heron & Brian Jackson. “Working with Peggy [JPEGMAFIA] was awesome,” says BROCKHAMPTON producer Romil Hemnani. “It felt like being a kid and just making beats for the love and joy of it - no pressure or expectations. Peggy is an incredible artist.”

“Isaac Hayes is one of those artists whose music reaches further than just his discography due to how often he's sampled," he adds. "It feels good to be able to add to that lineage. I didn't realize how prevalent his music was in my life until I learned about how some of my favorite music has sampled him.”

Backed by none other than Kenny Beats and Dreamville/Soulection producer Monte Booker, L.A.-based, Houston-raised rapper reggie continues his recent winning streak.

“Ain’t Gon Stop Me” is his first release of 2021, and follows a feature in Pigeons & Planes’ The Best New and Rising Artists to Watch Out For in 2021. The track features a sample of “Reflections” by Albert Jones, the soul singer whose song “Mother Nature” is known from that euphoric horn sample in Common’s “Be (Intro)” as sampled by Kanye West.

Short and sweet: a two-minute interlude from the debut album of R&B singer Joyce Wrice.Overgrown boasts a stellar line-up of guests: Freddie Gibbs, Mndsgn, KAYTRANADA, and Griselda emcee Westside Gunn, among others.

Soulection producer and Play Nice affiliate ESTA. (heads up: twenty of his own tracks are also available on Tracklib) sampled Hawaiian disco band Phase 7 from the Aloha Got Soul vaults. “It was one of those times where I just hopped on Tracklib to look for samples,” ESTA. says. “‘You and Me’ happened to be the first one I clicked on in the Soul category. Love when that happens."

"I heard the loop I used and said to myself, ‘Yup!’ I don’t like chopping the sample too much if the loop bangs already, so I let the loop shine. I’m very big on respecting and appreciating samples.”

When we highlighted library music as a true sampling treasure chest recently, we meant it. Jasiah and producer Toby Wincorn show that as well on “In N Out” featuring TheHxliday and Rico Nasty, using screeching violins from an obscure piece of brass-heavy library music from the Cavendish Archive. The track is part of his new War album, which also features "Break Shit" built around a Latin Jazz sample.