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Inspiration
Tracklib Sampling Awards: The Best Samples from 2023
About the Awards
The Categories
Best Sample Flip
Most Innovative Sample
Biggest Sample Flip
Best Sample-Based Project
Best Sampling Producer
Best Sample Flip of 2023
About the Category
The category Best Sample Flip distills the art from the technique. The nominees are carefully selected based on a myriad of criteria: including their source material, the way the producers intricately repurposed the music, and the impact of the end result after the song was released. Best Sample Flip is all about the art of sampling in its purest form.
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - Kingdom Hearts Key
Produced by JPEGMAFIA
Everybody Loops
Only 3% of producers never loop a sample, while up to 68% regularly loop music and 24% even always loop their samples. So although some might look down on looping, the technique is still an absolute cornerstone of sampling production—and a great way to get a track going.
(source)
Most Innovative Sample of 2023
About the Category
Innovation has always been a key part of sampling, and sampling has always played a key part in innovating music. The category Most Innovative Sample is all about how new-thinking the nominees were with the sample selection, and how creatively it was implemented in their new track — breaking new ground and creating something unique.
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - Garbage Pale Kids
Produced by JPEGMAFIA
The Voice as an Instrument
Reported as a favorite by 69% of the respondent producers, vocals are highly popular to sample. That also explains why vocals are the most common multitrack to filter through on Tracklib.
(source)
Biggest Sample Flip of 2023
About the Category
Sampling plays a vital role in many of today's viral trends and chart-topping hits. From the resurgence of a 90s sound to last Summer's sped-up song craze, samples often are a main ingredient in those hits. This category crowns the sample that had the biggest impact — carving out its place in the sound of 2023.
Drake ft. J. Cole - First Person Shooter
Produced by Vinylz, Boi-1da, OZ, Tay Keith, Coleman, FNZ
AI Stem Research
Using AI is becoming a commonplace even in the studios, with 40% reporting they use an AI stem separator to separate individual instruments from a recording. We know better than anyone, since songs on Tracklib with original stems available are nine times more likely to be sampled. Tracklib Sounds also includes a wide range of multitracks and one-shots.
(source)
Best Sample-Based Project of 2023
About the Category
Since the dawn of sampling in hip-hop, producers have shown that samples play an integral part in an album's overall sound. Even from narratives to entire concept albums, sampling has proven to be a fruitful production technique. The category Best Sample-Based Project highlights the projects that used sampling best to create a soundbed for their creations.
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - SCARING THE HOES
Produced by JPEGMAFIA
In the Clear
A new survey shows that nearly half of producers clear their samples to the best of their ability. A decade ago, this was unthinkable. But technology ushered in a new era for sample clearance, with platforms like Tracklib and Kingsway rethinking licensing. 45% of producers who clear their samples marks a promising trend for the future…
(source)
Best Sampling Producer of 2023
About the Category
This category might as well have been called Sampling Ambassador of the Year, focusing not only on the biggest and best samples — but on having a high consistency and wholesome body of sampling work throughout the year. Best Sampling Producer of 2023 celebrates the producer who have had the most impact on sampling this year.
The Alchemist