Meaning and membership: samples in rap music, 1979–1995

Abstract

This paper uses art works as the units of analysis to examine the constitution of a musical art world. I utilize data from rap music – a successful genre with a non-traditional musical score comprised of lyrics, music and samples of other recordings. In particular, I analyze the use of 750 musical samples in 473 rap songs that appeared on the weekly Billboard Top 100 R&B Singles charts from 1979 to 1995. Valuation of rap music rests in part on qualities of sample use. In particular, the qualities of samples include the identifiability of source material, the cost of its use, technical amenability to the process ( pragmatic distinction), and musical or political attributes ( symbolic distinction). These valuations tell listeners how to sort rappers into artistic circles, or sub-genres. These valuations and signals shift over time, as do the boundaries of these artistic circles. In sum, rap artists use samples to assert meaning and identity, just as other artists use literary reference or allegory. This study offers novel data for studying meaning and membership in creative industries.