Proof that no song is original

Music has consistently evolved over time, with musicians taking inspiration from one another to explore their own musical genre. They’ve also done plenty of complaining about stealing work from one another. No matter which view point you take, WhoSampled provides detailed info on what goes into a song.

Everything is a remix

Start with one artist – let’s say Kanye West – who you’d like to learn more about. You’ll see a detailed list of all of his songs and a breakdown of where he pulled each sample from. For example, his song “Jesus Walks” uses four different samples including one from Curtis Mayfield. To find out what Curtis contributed, simply tap on the description and a video will pop up playing the very brief sample. Do you like Curtis Mayfield and want to hear more of his music? Tap on his picture.

Welcome to WhoSampled

That might have been the first time you’d heard Curtis Mayfield before, which illustrates a wonderful part of the app: WhoSampled provides a great way to hear artists that you otherwise would’ve never found. This is especially true for fans of hip-hop, which tends to sample heavily from forgotten funk legends.

These samples could be as long as a considerable part of a song or as short as a tambourine shake. The breakdowns that WhoSampled gives you shows that a lot of music is full combinations that are as complex as a chemical formula. This has the adverse side effect that it can take the magic out of a song, but it also really makes you appreciate the work that goes into producing a song.

WhoSampled doesn’t just show samples, it also includes covers and remixes which only adds to the depth of information in the app. The app also embraces social media: users can vote on their favorite samples or artists.

Just start searching

WhoSampled has an intuitive interface. Artists and songs are easy to browse through or they can be found using a helpful search feature. The app also categorized artists and songs in categories such as most sampled, biggest samplers, and trends.

An awesome app to enhance your musical perspective

WhoSampled is a fascinating app that casual listeners and music snobs can both appreciate. It also provides an alternative source of finding new artists to listen to.