This fascinating, brilliant 20-minute video narrates the history of the “Amen Break,” a six-second drum sample from the b-side of a chart-topping single from 1969. This sample was used extensively in early hiphop and sample-based music, and became the basis for drum-and-bass and jungle music — a six-second clip that spawned several entire subcultures. Nate Harrison’s 2004 video is a meditation on the ownership of culture, the nature of art and creativity, and the history of a remarkable music clip.
Duration : 0:18:8
[youtube 5SaFTm2bcac]
JUNGLE IS MASSIVE!!!
JUNGLE IS MASSIVE!!!
shit it was even …
it was even played on an SL1200
Very interesting …
Very interesting video. Its amazing to think that an entire sub- culture with millions of followers is largley based around a 6 second drum recording from 1969.
hardcore really …
hardcore really freaks me out.
Interesting video
Interesting video
And the fact that …
And the fact that it’s a sample, yeah sure but anyone that knows HOW to play drums could recreate this beat (or a similar one) with ease…that’s what I would do, rather than actually lifting this recording.
I can understand …
I can understand owning a song, but not a drum beat. So by reading some of these comments, I think “does metallica own the E chord?” no.
The first song I …
The first song I heard using the “Amen,Brother” break was “I Desire” by Salt -N-Pepa in ’86.
I agree with the …
I agree with the recycling part as well, but are you saying there should be no mechanical protection or copyright laws? I mean, where would you draw the line between fairness and greed?
It is.
It is.
ok cool. And thats …
ok cool. And thats how all music should be. i completely agree with the recycling of the old for the use of new expression, and anyone who thinks they deserve money for a certain rhythmic pattern that would have probably inevitably been discovered, is nothing less than greedy.
I bet you would …
I bet you would care if you owned the break, and every time it was played publicly, you were owed a piece of royalty dollars. Surprisingly enough, Richard Spencer doesn’t care. Peace to the Winstons, Amen brother…. 6 Seconds of Funk…
an awesome and …
an awesome and really educational video! Thanks!!
who gives a …
who gives a who owns the beat. They can’t sue
prolly not, so many …
prolly not, so many artists have used that exact same break w/o consent.
I’ve Been …
I’ve Been Sampleing4yrs. This1Break Has Been Used, Chopped, Screwed, Looped,&Abused By Me&All Other Producers From The 6(Columbus OH)If U Ain’t Sliced The Amen,4Urself, Smoke It Like The Winstons. They Don’t Mind!!!{NO DISS RESCEPT}
A very logical …
A very logical synopsis of the history and indeed the mutation of just one 6 second loop.
For music to evolve it must go through mutational periods and the “amen” loop shows this ideal perfectly.
Well done.
and in Pendulum’s …
and in Pendulum’s remember me, there is a very similar break after the intro
one thing that …
one thing that always struck me as unfair about sampling & copyright law is that, when a drum break is sampled, the person holding the WRITING CREDIT for the song gets the royalty, not the musician playing. when you hear “funky drummer” sampled, that’s clyde stubblefield on drums, yet he gets no royalty money from ANY of those samples, James Brown’s estate does, since James alone holds the writing credit (though clyde probably made up that beat on the spot).
yep that about sums …
yep that about sums it up. the first time i heard the original i was blown away. i think it was 1996 at rp smacks apartment. thank god, for the guys keeping track of all this!
i just made a 4 bar …
i just made a 4 bar loop outta those samples..and it sounds nice but am i gonna get sued?
sooo..the amen reak …
sooo..the amen reak was basically what STARTED DNB..??..fucking greatt
music lover..they …
music lover..they love listening to nothing but music with nothingto interfeer..spelling is weird but im sure you got it.. im the sam way though
I really hope the …
I really hope the guy who made this gets all the grant money he needs to continue making docs.
perfect job !
perfect job !