SampleThisPoster_8

Quality documentary about what could be considered the musical flashpoint to hip-hop’s rhythmic beginnings.  Narrated by Gene Simmons, Sample This is the story of how Michael Viner, a music industry insider in the late ’60’s/early ’70’s, gathered studio musicians for a soundtrack project (“The Incredible Bongo Band”), released a quickly-forgotten album and wound up creating the foundation for hip-hop via one track.  The album’s version of “Apache” has been sampled by countless hip-hop/rap musicians over the decades, starting in the mid-’70’s and has become the most revered of pieces in the community.  A fascinating look into the background of the creation of the project and how it became this vital cornerstone.

About the Author

Rob Ross

Rob Ross has been, for good, bad or indifferent, involved in the music industry for over 30 years - first as guitarist/singer/songwriter with The Punch Line, then as freelance journalist, producer and manager to working for independent and major record labels. He resides in Staten Island, New York with his wife and cats; he works out a lot, reads voraciously, loves Big Star and his orange Gretsch. Doesn't that make him neat?

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