Flipping a sample, finding a sample, and digging for a sample is a art and craftmanship. Back in the day and to a certain extent now it always has and always been about skills and skills. Hip Hop was founded by DJs and each dj had to show and prove his skills, knowledge, and technique. Shit they have beat competiitions in NYC all the time were producers are using the same grooves, drums, and flipping this crazy to see who`s the man with creativity.
Check it out most pros send out 20 to 30 beats on a CD or whatever to an artist the artist may pick five or less out of that. If L.E.S the producer of the classic "Life a ****" from the Illmatic LP used that sample it was for a reason cuz NAS pick it or wanted to use it to maybe show his lyricial skills over Roc crew or to catch that Kanye Vibe too.
But whatever the reason there are rules in this game cuz if you do the same shit and its wack people will talk about your ass and in the hood, in the game, in the joint, on the street your rep is all you got. If word of mouth on the street says you biting the next man with some weak effort you are through.
It really doesn`t matter what a internet board says cuz the guys on the street buying it are the ones feeling it anyway. I like both versions of the song one for the beat with Kanye and the other with NAS with the lyrics. But as far as a producer making a beat I would have picked the Kanye version in a beat contest for more originality fu*k the radio play and some suit talking record sales for a light single.
L.E.S is soulful just flip it more to show his talent.
And yeah sampling is an intricate part of modern music since the early 80s. Sampling is music in it highest form of djing. Sampling has change music forever why go back to a traditional instrument when I have the future in my hands.
Soul Sonic Force said it best about sampling/hip hop "We are the future, you are the past so beat this"
