“Assemblages are texts built primarily and explicitly from existing texts in order to solve a writing or communication
problem in a new context”
In 2006, Detroit hip-hop producer J Dilla died from a blood disease named thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Three days before his death, he released a critically acclaimed album named Donuts. The album had a sparse sound to it, chopping up samples in an unheard of way that has never been heard before. J Dilla had a somewhat normal style before this time, but the reason his sound was so different was because the album was made in his hospital bed with minimal equipment. He started a new sound and style of hip-hop by creating an assemblage with the materials he had at his disposal.
Within the context of the definition by Johnson-Eilola and Selber in Arola and Arola’s piece, J Dilla had a problem. He wasn't able to use his musical equipment properly since he was in a hospital bed, so he used what he had to create something new. Something that people aspired to create later on after his legacy. As an ethnic assemblage, J Dilla was using music that wasn't meant for the purpose he created. His use of classical music, prog, rock, and oldies were unheard of and J Dilla was considered the king of picking out samples. The ethical dilemma is the fair use factor.
Is it okay for J Dilla to use this music that isn't his to create new music? Will it give a platform of new listeners to the original artists? Will they make royalties? Personally, I don't know what went into J Dilla's exact process in clearing these samples, but I know that there weren't any lawsuits involved in the process, so I guess it was fair in the end.
In general for lots of studio-made music, the bare repetition plays a huge factor into the creation of the music. Dance/hip-hop music is meant to have hypnotizing drum and sample loops that entertain the listener. A musician can't just loop something and call it a finished product, the process behind creating this music is so tedious to the point where it seems insane to imagine someone listening to it for hours a day to perfect. There's a certain craft that a musician needs to be able to pull off repetitious rhythms that don't get tiring. Once an individual spends a day in a recording studio, they'll understand repetition at a bare level.
In 2006, Detroit hip-hop producer J Dilla died from a blood disease named thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Three days before his death, he released a critically acclaimed album named Donuts. The album had a sparse sound to it, chopping up samples in an unheard of way that has never been heard before. J Dilla had a somewhat normal style before this time, but the reason his sound was so different was because the album was made in his hospital bed with minimal equipment. He started a new sound and style of hip-hop by creating an assemblage with the materials he had at his disposal.
Within the context of the definition by Johnson-Eilola and Selber in Arola and Arola’s piece, J Dilla had a problem. He wasn't able to use his musical equipment properly since he was in a hospital bed, so he used what he had to create something new. Something that people aspired to create later on after his legacy. As an ethnic assemblage, J Dilla was using music that wasn't meant for the purpose he created. His use of classical music, prog, rock, and oldies were unheard of and J Dilla was considered the king of picking out samples. The ethical dilemma is the fair use factor.
Is it okay for J Dilla to use this music that isn't his to create new music? Will it give a platform of new listeners to the original artists? Will they make royalties? Personally, I don't know what went into J Dilla's exact process in clearing these samples, but I know that there weren't any lawsuits involved in the process, so I guess it was fair in the end.
In general for lots of studio-made music, the bare repetition plays a huge factor into the creation of the music. Dance/hip-hop music is meant to have hypnotizing drum and sample loops that entertain the listener. A musician can't just loop something and call it a finished product, the process behind creating this music is so tedious to the point where it seems insane to imagine someone listening to it for hours a day to perfect. There's a certain craft that a musician needs to be able to pull off repetitious rhythms that don't get tiring. Once an individual spends a day in a recording studio, they'll understand repetition at a bare level.
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