How Changing Copyright Law Can Have A Positive Effect on Copyright Law

Introduction

Hip-Hop was born not too far from Columbia, in the Bronx. One of the most widely recognized forms of hip-hop is rap music. Rap music was influenced by many other genres of music that were popular among African-Americans. The original rap music was instrumentally based on samples. The samples originated from a wide variety of music including blues, jazz, funk, soul and disco. Before the commercialization of hip-hop in the early 1990s, sampling of these genres were without issue and the art form thrived. One of the first and most prominent sample issues involved MC Hammer’s track, You Can’t Touch This. Since that time, hip-hop has strayed from its original sound and style. Sampling increased the cost of production for rap artists who remain true to the original form of art. It has had the effect of pushing some of the best rap music underground. Rethinking the legal framework of copyright law and sampling could create an environment that would allow rap music to return to its origin.