The Sampler, by Mr. NomBear

The Sampler

by Mr. NomBear

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Streaming + Download

Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

In addition to the individual tracks and long form recordings for each side of the cassette, every download will come with not only a PDF copy of the associated photo book, but also individual jpg files of all the included images as well as bonus/ outtake images made during the process.

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1.	Side A 09:12	info	buy track
2.	Side B 09:53	info	buy track
3.	A Note 01:36
4.	Endless 01:26
5.	Copy Cats 01:13
6.	Dilla-lude 02:17
7.	Ambition 01:28
8.	The Samples 01:11
9.	Blend 01:26
10.	ROC 01:29
11.	Soul! 01:54
12.	B O I 01:36
13.	We Out! 02:16
14.	That's The Plan 01:09

about

In hip-hop music, sampling refers to the act of taking pre-recorded music and using it in a way that is distinct from the original recording. Very similar to the idea of appropriation, sampling is often vilified both critically and legally as blatantly copying someone else's work and claiming it s one's own. Yet this greatly oversimplifies the process: in working with someone else's art, producers are able to change the song in ways that presents there own unique perspective and subjectivity.

As a hip-hop producer and beat maker myself, as well as someone very much interested in the potential uses of photography, I wanted to challenge myself to see how I could express this idea of sampling through the medium of photography. Using street art and graffiti as a foundation, and experimental dark room techniques such as solarization and drip printing, I made the following images in an attempt to create a visual representation the sampling process in hip-hop. To accompany these images, I have also made a set of beats which can be heard through the provided boom-box. I titled this project “The Sampler” because it describes so much about this project: about the images themselves, the tools I use to craft beats, and the role that I took on in developing both parts of this effort.

(Click the tracks for each side to see the samples used!)

credits

released May 3, 2018

I'd like to acknowledge several individuals who all played important roles in the development of this project:

To my instructors, Evelyne Leblanc-Roberge, Megan Mette, and Dr. Margarita Simon-Guillory, for giving me the push and support to pursue this project and for supporting me throughout the process.

To the City of Rochester: I never knew much about the city of Rochester outside of campus until this year, but this project really forced me to get out and explore. Whatever inspiration drove me to this project inevitably came from here- Thank you.

To the friends who have supported me and my music since I began: music has always been a personal outlet for me, but it means the world to be able to share it with you all. So whether you've been along for the ride since I started making beats almost 5 and half years ago, sometime during my tenure at the UofR, or just now-- thank you.

To my family, especially my brother Vijay: When I told my family about my taking a year to study photography and postpone my entry to the real world, they were apprehensive to say the least. Amma, Acha; thank you both for taking a chance on me and giving me the opportunity to explore and do this project for myself: I am grateful. And Vijay: You've been with me since day one on this project, you've probably listened to this tape all the way through as many times as I have. This project started as our collective dream, and I wouldn't have gotten here without you kiddo.