Riding the Griselda Wave: Sampling in Rap

Beginning as a clothing brand but later popularized as an independent record label and rap collective from Buffalo, NY, Griselda is known now for its star-studded lineup of artists who go by the names of Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher. The collective has arguably inspired a new subgenre of hip-hop: rapping over grimy, sinister-sounding beats. With the help of featured artists and exceptional producers like Daringer, another member of the Griselda record label, the group has created a new wave of sampling through which they pay homage to all types of artists and various genres. Many of these tracks combine experimental samples, ingenuous lyricism, and gritty instrumentals to create an unfamiliar sound. Cataloged below are five standout tracks written and/or produced by members of the Griselda collective which illustrate how the incorporation of strong, poignant samples has propelled the group to new heights.

1.“Headlines” by Griselda (Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher), prod. DJ Premier

Produced by DJ Premier and featuring Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher, “Headlines” samples five different songs. The drums come from the song “Put Your Hand in the Hand” by Glenn Yarbrough and The Havenstock River Band. Carried throughout the song is an instrumental from the beginning of “Don’t Ask My Neighbors” by Ahmad Jamal. Lastly, the hook and other vocals emerge from the tracks “Motherless Child” by Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon, “Back on Da Block” by Pete Rock ft. C.L. Smooth, and “La Di Da Di” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick. Combining elements of rap, folk, R&B, the beat of “Headlines” is reminiscent of old school New York style rap.

2.“327” by Westside Gunn & Joey Basa$$, Tyler the Creator, and Billie Essco, prod. Camouflage Monk

“327,” a track off Westside Gunn’s Pray for Paris (2020), pulls from Kit Andrée’s “Feelings” by looping the xylophone keys to create a calming, tranquil energy. It also samples the drums from the song “Good to Go (Home)” by Made in M and Smuv. Merging the jazz elements of Kit Andrée and the sharp snare in “Good to Go (Home),” the producer, Camouflage Monk, forms “327” into a track that is so mellow and smooth that the boastful lyrics almost seem to collide with the beat.

3.“Blakk Tape” by Conway the Machine, prod. Daringer 

Conway the Machine’s song, “Blakk Tape,” from his album, Reject 2 (2016), samples “Black Cream” by The Harold Wheeler Consort. Daringer loops the voice listeners hear in the first four or so seconds of “Black Cream” throughout Conway’s track, adding in a bright sounding snare to create a clear yet layered beat. The track contains elements of 70s disco, soul, and funk; as a result, the beat sounds both polished and suave.

4.“Change” by Benny the Butcher and DJ Green Lantern, prod. Daringer

In DJ Green Lantern and Benny the Butcher’s “Change” off his mixtape, Butcher on Steroids (2017), Daringer, the producer, samples the iconic Ruby Andrews’ cover of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.” The beat is simple yet timeless, overlaying 70s soul and funk to highlight Benny the Butcher’s lyrical finesse as the focus of the record.

5.“Hide the Body” by Conway the Machine ft. Benny the Butcher, prod. DJ Skizz

The fourth track, titled “Hide the Body” on Conway the Machine’s album, EIF 2: Eat What U Kill (2018), features Benny the Butcher. The producer, DJ Skizz samples Gloria Ann Taylor’s “World That’s Not Real,” looping the first couple seconds of the track to create an effortless soul instrumental which has listeners grimacing impulsively at the contrast between the smooth sample and grittiness of the layered drums.

Written by Yara Choeb

Photo By Robert LeBlanc