Now this is not an indictment of what we like to call Golden Age Hip-Hop because of the use (and sometimes overuse) of samples; not at all. Sampling used to be an artform in that it creatively constructed genuine sounds from either well-known or obscure rhythms and such; the best of which gave renewed attention to their source. What I do object to is the rcycling of that and using it for the same purpose.

I admit to being somewhat conflicted though when it comes to electronica as a appreciable form of music. While I love groups like Daft Punk and Kraftwerk for creating a soundscape type of music that stands on its own, I feel the synthesizing drums, strings, horns, etc comes with a big price: technique and appreciation of other forms that involve the physical craft work; i.e. practice and learning notes, timing, etc. If you find it easy to replicate the sounds of R&B or garage rock with your keyboard or Mac Pro, then there might be a large disconnect from the talent and craft, and therefore the appreciation for that it takes to create it when you don’t have access to electricity, or for exploration of sound on the fly, or a million other possibilities.