Following on the heels of such docs like Scratch, Freestyle: the Art of Rhyme and Planet B-Boy, Copyright Criminals (dir: Benjamin Franzen), takes a look at one of the other elements of hip hop, the most controversial one of them all: sampling. You can catch this interesting documentary on the debate and discussion of sampling this Sunday, April 18 @ 7pm at the W2 Storyeum in Gastown (151 West Cordova).
Executive Producer and writer, Kembrew McLeod will be presenting this followed by a remix meetup where you can show and share your edits n cuts.
April 18: Screening, Q&A and After Party
7 - 10 p.m. at W2 Storyeum, 151 West Cordova
$10 donation at the door
Copyright Criminals is a riveting and expansive documentary about the history of music sampling, charting the movement from its inception during the rise of hip hop to the legal battles that dominate the practice today.
Artists' Legal Outreach (ALO), W2 and Emily Carr University will present two screenings of this work, April 16 and 18, with the film's executive producer Kembrew McLeod taking part in a post-screening Q&A at the April 18 event.
April 16 / Emily Carr University of Art and Design
1399 Johnston Street, Granville Island
12 noon / Room 301
April 18: Screening, Q&A and After Party
7 - 10 p.m. at W2 Storyeum, 151 West Cordova
$10 donation at the door
Q&A with Kembrew McLeod, the film's executive producer, writer and music consultant. Stay for remix music, video and drinks.
Copyright Criminals examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law, and (of course) money.
This documentary traces the rise of hip-hop from the urban streets of New York to its current status as a multibillion-dollar industry. For more than thirty years, innovative hip-hop performers and producers have been re-using portions of previously recorded music in new, otherwise original compositions.
When lawyers and record companies got involved, what was once referred to as a “borrowed melody” became a “copyright infringement.” The film showcases many of hip-hop music’s founding figures like Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Digital Underground—while also featuring emerging hip-hop artists from record labels Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers, Ninja Tune, and more.
It also provides an in-depth look at artists who have been sampled, such as Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown’s drummer and the world’s most sampled musician), as well as commentary by another highly sampled musician, funk legend George Clinton.
As artists find ever more inventive ways to insert old influences into new material, this documentary asks a critical question, on behalf of an entire creative community: Can you own a sound?
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Copyright Criminals features:
Public Enemy
De La Soul
Mix Master Mike
Clyde Stubblefield
George Clinton
DJ Spooky
El-P
Mr. Len
AND ALSO
Harry Allen
Anthony Berman
Jeff Chang
Cibo Matto
Coldcut
Danger Mouse
Pam the Funkstress
Eyedea & Abilities
Ken Freundlich
Bobbito Garcia
Kid 606
Matmos
Mr. Dibbs
Qbert
Pete Rock
Prefuse 73
Sage Francis
Tom Silverman
Greg Tate
Siva Vaidhyanathan
