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7NEWS
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
The most sampled song in history is one you've never heard of
You've heard it in everything from N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton to UK rave anthems and video game soundtracks. But chances are, you've never heard the original song. In 1969, a now-obscure American soul group called The Winstons released a B-side titled Amen, Brother. Buried within it — at around the 1.26 mark — is a six-second drum solo that would become the most sampled audio clip in music history. Known as Amen Break, the beat has appeared in more than 6,000 tracks — and continues to be sampled more than five decades later. From hip hop to jungle, drum and bass and breakcore, Amen Break has not only formed the rhythmic backbone of entire genres, but also traced the evolution of sampling and the blurred lines of musical ownership. A beat born from turntables For artist and producer Alexander Burnett — the frontman of Sparkadia and the creative force behind records by Thelma Plum, Hayden James and Flight Facilities — Amen Break's appeal goes beyond nostalgia. 'In the early '80s, DJs started to use two turntables to loop the same drum sections from records — which created a groove for MCs to rap over,' he told 'These drum loops or 'breaks' were used as a tool to create a new musical work with new lyrics and melody over the top.' Amen Break — played by the late drummer Gregory Coleman — became a go-to for crate-digging producers thanks to its explosive snap and gritty texture. 'It has the right swing, energy and grit,' Burnett said. 'If you drop it into a session sped up, the song already sounds like UK jungle or drum and bass. If slowed down, it becomes '90s hip hop.' From underground to global chart domination The break's earliest high-profile use came in the 1980s, with inclusion in tracks by pioneers such as Mantronix and N.W.A. N.W.A's title track Straight Outta Compton is renowned for heralding the arrival of West Coast hip hop and Dr Dre's signature sound; a blueprint still emulated today. From there, the sample exploded across the UK rave scene of the '90s. Producers like Goldie, Roni Size and Shy FX chopped and flipped the beat into high-energy soundscapes that defined jungle and drum and bass. It has since popped up in everything from Mantronix's King Of The Beat to David Bowie 's Little Wonder and Oasis 's D'You Know What I Mean?. It's also featured in TV shows Futurama and Top Gear and the the video game Grand Theft Auto. Originality, ownership and the sampling debate Despite its ubiquity, Amen, Brother's creators saw almost no financial return. Neither frontman and copyright holder Richard L. Spencer nor drummer Gregory C. Coleman received royalties or sample clearance fees during their lifetimes. Coleman died in 2006, never seeing compensation for the solo that would define entire genres. Spencer, who called the sample's use 'plagiarism', chose not to pursue legal action; but fans didn't forget. In 2015, British DJ Martyn Webster launched a crowdfunding campaign titled The Winstons Amen Breakbeat Gesture, urging fans to give back. It raised more than £24,000 ($45,600), which was presented to Spencer in a public show of thanks. 'Copyright has historically been about melody and lyrics rather than rhythm,' Burnett said. 'That being said, the drum break has created so many incredible new works, so there should be compensation.' 'On the other hand, many of the original artists who sampled it may not have had the means to use the break if they had to pay compensation up front. I'd like to think we have the technology to address this issue moving forward in 2025.' A legacy beyond one track While Amen Break is the most famous, it's not the only revered loop. The Incredible Bongo Band's Apache (1973) delivered a tribal, bongo-heavy groove that became a hip hop staple, sampled by everyone from Sugarhill Gang to Missy Elliott, Nas and M.I.A. James Brown's Funky Drummer (1970), featuring Clyde Stubblefield's solo, has been looped in classics like Public Enemy's Fight The Power, Dr Dre's Let Me Ride and George Michael's Freedom! '90. But Amen Break stands alone: a six-second mistake-turned-masterpiece from a forgotten B-side, now the most sampled piece of music ever recorded.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Snoop Dogg biopic gets its director, Coming 2 America, Dolemite Is My Name-fame Craig Brewer to helm film
Craig Brewer, known for helming such films as Hustle & Flow and Dolemite Is My Name, is set to direct the biopic of Snoop Dogg. Universal Pictures has set Craig Brewer to film the definitive biography of Snoop Dogg's rise from hip-hop artist to renowned entertainment magnate. Brewer will contribute revisions to a script previously written by Joe Robert Cole. The film will be produced by Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. SVP Production Development Ryan Jones will oversee the project for the studio, reported Deadline. The Snoop Dogg film marks the first movie under Death Row Pictures' overall contract with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. It is an offshoot of Death Row Records, the label that established Snoop Dogg's career and is now embarking on an ambitious new chapter with the expansion. The strategic shift strengthens the brand's reach beyond music, ushering in a new era of imaginative on-screen storytelling. Universal has found success in the historical hip hop space with the F. Gary Gray-directed Straight Outta Compton, the story of the seminal rap group N.W.A film that was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and grossed more than USD 200 million. Before that came 8 Mile, which starred Eminem in a drama based on his life and rise. Grazer produced that film, which grossed USD 250 million and won an Original Song Oscar for "Lose Yourself." Death Row's upcoming slate of projects starts with the Snoop Dogg biopic. Beyond film, Snoop will return to NBC's musical competition series The Voice this fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28. On top of that, he will continue to partner with NBCUniversal on cross-portfolio opportunities; he was a breakout star on NBC and Peacock's coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, reported Deadline.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Snoop Dogg film to be helmed by Craig Brewer
Craig Brewer, known for helming such films as 'Hustle & Flow' and 'Dolemite Is My Name', is set to direct the biopic of Snoop Dogg. Universal Pictures has set Craig Brewer to film the definitive biography of Snoop Dogg's rise from hip-hop artist to renowned entertainment magnate. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Brewer will contribute revisions to a script previously written by Joe Robert Cole. The film will be produced by Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. SVP Production Development Ryan Jones will oversee the project for the studio, reported Deadline. The Snoop Dogg film marks the first movie under Death Row Pictures' overall contract with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. It is an offshoot of Death Row Records, the label that established Snoop Dogg's career and is now embarking on an ambitious new chapter with the expansion. The strategic shift strengthens the brand's reach beyond music, ushering in a new era of imaginative on-screen storytelling. Universal has found success in the historical hip hop space with the F. Gary Gray-directed Straight Outta Compton, the story of the seminal rap group N.W.A film that was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and grossed more than USD 200 million. Before that came 8 Mile, which starred Eminem in a drama based on his life and rise. Grazer produced that film, which grossed USD 250 million and won an Original Song Oscar for "Lose Yourself. " Death Row's upcoming slate of projects starts with the Snoop Dogg biopic. Beyond film, Snoop will return to NBC's musical competition series The Voice this fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28. On top of that, he will continue to partner with NBCUniversal on cross-portfolio opportunities; he was a breakout star on NBC and Peacock's coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, reported Deadline.
Mint
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Snoop Dogg film to be directed by Craig Brewer
ANI Published 7 Jun 2025, 09:20 AM IST Washington DC [US], June 7 (ANI): Craig Brewer, known for helming such films as 'Hustle & Flow' and 'Dolemite Is My Name', is set to direct the biopic of Snoop Dogg. Universal Pictures has set Craig Brewer to film the definitive biography of Snoop Dogg's rise from hip-hop artist to renowned entertainment magnate. Brewer will contribute revisions to a script previously written by Joe Robert Cole. The film will be produced by Snoop Dogg, Brian Grazer and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. SVP Production Development Ryan Jones will oversee the project for the studio, reported Deadline. The Snoop Dogg film marks the first movie under Death Row Pictures' overall contract with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. It is an offshoot of Death Row Records, the label that established Snoop Dogg's career and is now embarking on an ambitious new chapter with the expansion. The strategic shift strengthens the brand's reach beyond music, ushering in a new era of imaginative on-screen storytelling. Universal has found success in the historical hip hop space with the F. Gary Gray-directed Straight Outta Compton, the story of the seminal rap group N.W.A film that was nominated for a Best Screenplay Oscar and grossed more than USD 200 million. Before that came 8 Mile, which starred Eminem in a drama based on his life and rise. Grazer produced that film, which grossed USD 250 million and won an Original Song Oscar for "Lose Yourself." Death Row's upcoming slate of projects starts with the Snoop Dogg biopic. Beyond film, Snoop will return to NBC's musical competition series The Voice this fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28. On top of that, he will continue to partner with NBCUniversal on cross-portfolio opportunities; he was a breakout star on NBC and Peacock's coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, reported Deadline. (ANI)
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FAMU President, DeSantis' Choice
Lee Hall on the Florida A&M University campus. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Florida A&M University has weathered its share of storms, the most recent being a deeply embarrassing debacle when a Texas donor conned former FAMU President Larry Robinson and a close circle of school officials into believing that the hallowed institution was the recipient of a $237.75 million gift. After discovering the gift was a hoax, Robinson resigned, which led to the uproar over the past several weeks surrounding the choice of Robinson's successor. During a presidential search process shrouded in secrecy, the Ron DeSantis-dominated FAMU Board of Trustees voted 8-4 for Marva Johnson, a last-minute addition to the presidential finalist list. 'The late entry of Marva Johnson into the pool of candidates to become FAMU's president has sparked concern about her allegiances, the selection process and her apparent lack of qualifications, MSNBC said. 'Johnson, who has been appointed to boards by Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Gov. Rick Scott, has no college administrative experience and has remained an ally of DeSantis as his GOP administration has undermined Black history lessons in the state.' The likelihood that Johnson might be chosen provoked in a multipronged campaign of resistance, including a petition against her candidacy that gathered more than 10,000 signatures. Florida's state NAACP president threatened legal action over the selection process. Popular film director Will Packer, a FAMU graduate who has produced films like 'Takers,' 'Straight Outta Compton,' and 'Think Like a Man,' warned that 'a group of activist Republicans are trying to put in the highest position of power someone who is solidly and objectively unqualified for it. A range of Black media personalities online also sounded the alarm on Johnson. There have been calls for boycotts and other punitive measures to express displeasure over how all this has played out. The primary objections involve Jonhson's connections to DeSantis, who throughout his time as governor has exhibited barefaced hostility towards Black Floridians while implementing a raft of racist ideological MAGA policies aimed at institutions of higher learning. A WFSU story in the days following last Friday's selection captures the temperature. 'Florida A&M University is ablaze following the appointment of Marva Johnson to the school's presidency. Alumni, students and other FAMU stakeholders are weighing how best to move forward,' the story said. 'Johnson is a controversial candidate for her ties to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, as he works to remake higher education in the state. Now, the school's interim president is urging calm amid backlash and boycott threats in response to Johnson's appointment by the FAMU Board of Trustees,' the story continues. 'I urge you to stay engaged and remain connected,' Interim President Tim Beard wrote in a statement. 'Your advocacy, your feedback and your financial support are crucial to ensuring that our institution continues to thrive.' To describe DeSantis' assault on higher education as a remaking is a grave understatement. Since 2023, he has taken a wrecking ball to Florida's higher educational system in his misguided effort to stamp out liberalism and 'woke' ideology and install university presidents, educators, board members, and others who embrace the governor's conservative agenda. A 2024 report by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), details the 'the various manifestations of political and legislative interference in Florida's higher education system under the DeSantis administration and that of his predecessor, Rick Scott.' 'These include attacks on faculty academic freedom and tenure; the assault on the curriculum; the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; the development of a patronage system marked by politically connected administrative appointments; the stacking of the statewide board of governors with Republican former political officeholders and professional political operatives beholden to the governor and the legislature; the passage of legislation making confidential identifying information of applicants for presidential positions at state universities or Florida College System institutions; political and legislative attacks on the higher education accreditation system; legal challenges to public employee unions; and the broader assault on the rights and social gains of LGBTQ+ communities.' In short order, DeSantis – term-limited from running again for governor – has enacted hostile takeovers of the New College, the University of Florida, Florida International University, and the University of West Florida. As the Florida Phoenix has reported, DeSantis is installing his political allies at state universities so that they can purge these institutions of 'ideological concepts.' To date, five of 12 schools have new presidents and another four are looking. People like Packer and Adora Obi Nweze, president of the Florida State Conference NAACP, issued calls to scrap the entire process and start again. Nweze urged the FAMU Board of Trustees to 'recommit to a fair and untainted process' that reflects the university's legacy of academic excellence. She and others were ignored and Johnson now will become FAMU's 13th president. During a volatile meeting that ran about two hours, as Johnson introduced herself to the community, tempers ran hot. Packer warned trustees that choosing Johnson would be detrimental to FAMU's future, but she sought to assuage those fears. 'I know that the comments you're bringing – while they're coming to me in a way that may evidence angst – are coming from your love for this university, your love for this university's legacy, and your interest in making sure that you protect it. If I am selected, I would fight and win for FAMU,' Johnson told the crowd. 'No, I'm not a Trojan horse. I was not sent here to dismantle FAMU. … 'I would love the opportunity to work with you and to grow FAMU.' Johnson also said: 'I understand the gravity of this moment. I'm grounded in the importance of FAMU's legacy, and I'm energized by the opportunities that we have in front of us.' The new president served as vice president for governmental affairs (meaning she was a lobbyist) for Charter Communications, a telecom company, and is a former member of the State Board of Education. I reached out to Desirée Nero, a corporate and government consultant and 'a very proud alum,' said she understands the concerns but now that Johnson has been selected, FAMUANs must figure out how to work with her. 'Universities are moving more in the direction of being managed like businesses. The president's job is to raise money, build relationships, and increase the universities' global impact and reputation. Marva Johnson can do that,' Nero said. Nero gives Johnson props for succeeding as a Black woman in business – 'I'm sure she has had to fight some battles in her rise to leadership,' she said. 'She's well educated; a Georgetown undergrad, an MBA from Emory and a J.D. from Georgia State,' said Nero, who has 20 years of experience working in leadership development within Florida State government. 'Republicans and MAGA are not one and the same. There's nothing recently that indicates she will walk the MAGA path.' FAMU, the state's only public historically Black institution, was established in 1887 during the height of Jim Crow and segregation because African Americans weren't allowed to attend white institutions. Racism and purposeful underinvestment has always dogged the university. In 2023, the Biden administration sent letters to 16 governors – including DeSantis – urging these states to review $12 billion in funding disparities among land-grant universities. The U.S. Department of Education alleged that the states disproportionately underfunded Florida A&M University by nearly $2 billion compared to University of Florida – the second largest funding disparity among all land-grant universities. This disparity has resulted in 'inadequate resources and delay critical investments in everything from campus infrastructure to research and development to student support services,' then-U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona wrote. The Trump administration recently rescinded a $16.3 million grant that had been awarded to FAMU's College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Meanwhile, FAMU is struggling to properly prepare its students to pass board examinations in its nursing, law, pharmacy, and physical therapy programs. Alan Levine, vice chair of the Florida Board of Governors, last year threatened to get rid of the programs if there's no improvement. Those who support Johnson hope she has the political connections, fundraising acumen, and leadership skills to reverse these challenges. And they hope she will convince DeSantis not to mess with FAMU the way he did New College. 'Change is inevitable and history has shown us that those who fight change are subject to be left behind,' Nero said. 'Change isn't coming to FAMU, it's here. FAMU may be in the fight of its life and we need a warrior to champion this fight. This is too important to be confrontational.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
