With the issue of sampling and the legal ramifications behind it becoming more and more prevalent in Hip Hop, a new documentary produced by Benjamin Franzen and Kembrew McLeod seeks to answer the question of who truly owns music created through samples.
Titled Copyright Criminals, the documentary features over a dozen interviews with some of Hip Hop’s most recognizable figures, including Pete Rock, El-P, Chuck D of Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Bobbito Garcia.
Along with artists who have sampled during their careers, Copyright Criminals also highlights a handful of artists who themselves have been sampled. One musician in particular is drummer Clyde Stubblefield, who played in James Brown’s band during recording sessions. “I didn’t know anything about sampling until people came up and said some other artist is using your drum pattern…So many groups have sampled my stuff,” explains Stubblefield in the documentary. “They say I’m the world’s number one sampled drummer; I haven’t got a penny for it yet though.”
Copyright Criminals will be available January 26 via Amazon.com and iTunes, as well as in select local retail DVD stores. View the trailer below.
(January 21)
UPDATE: PBS has announced that Copyright Criminals will appear on their award-winning program, Independent Lens on the week of November 29. Local listings vary.
WHY SHOULD THE DRUMMER GET SOME OF THAT MONEY? HE WAS A PART OF JAMES BROWNS BAND. AND A HIRED HAND AT THAT, EVRYTHING HE DID UNDER THE AUSPICES OF JAMES BROWN, BELONGS TO JAMES BROWN AND NO ONE ELSE. NOW IF JAMES DIDNT BREAK ANY OF THOSE GUYS OFF, IS ANOTHER ISSUE. BUT BLAME THAT ON HIM, NOT THOSE WHO SAMPLED WHO DONT LEGALLY OWE HIM A DIME. THEY OWE AND PAID JAMES BROWN FOR THE MUSIC USED. THE DRUMMER WAS NOT A SOLO ACT.
Nah I got to disagree there, for all Stubblefield has contributed -unknowingly- to the music, he definitely deserves some recompense.
A said sample actually was a solo moment; all Clyde anyway.
If we don’t give respect to those artists who in their own way helped pioneer hip-hop, the culture’s finished.
At A.S, sorry but you are wrong. Whoever owns the publishing rights for songs are who gets the money. Giving respect to an artist is one thing, covering legalities is another. If he felt he deserved so much credit, he should have had a lawyer look at his contracts with James Browns people.
In the compensation principle doesn’t make sense. One of them said, “You pay for whatever you use, like a piano.” Well, if someone bought your album on vinyl, then they essential paid for your sound. You don’t pay the piano every time you press a key, and it’s not like your single note or drum line makes the entire song…in most cases.
Raw Business
I was just saying that the drum break itself was, literally, Clyde’s solo. I’m aware that he wouldn’t get full publishing off that fact alone, I’m just stating how it was his art shining there.
Looks like a great show! I’ll be watching monday.
plz somone try post this on youtube
should be a good program. i’m going to try and record it to dvd… might get it up online.
sampling’s fun