OneFourOne

Nayla Savannah found her voice in high school, but it wasn’t until she made it to Bixby – a small neighbourhood in Long Beach, California – that her vision truly started to crystallise. We talk creative beginnings, artistic evolution and the hustles that colour her whirlwind musical journey!

In the final instalment of our extensive Paul’s Boutique breakdown, we’re dedicating an entire piece to the nine-part, twelve-minute closing track. Bouillabaisse, anybody?

In the second instalment of our three-part Paul’s Boutique breakdown, we’re diving deeper into the singular sampledelic sound of a hip-hop classic! This part covers “Hey Ladies” through to “Ask For Janice,” and continues in ‘The B-Boy Bouillabaisse Breakdown’.

A classic unappreciated in its time, Paul’s Boutique is an intricate exhibition of true production prowess. Built almost entirely from samples, the Dust Brothers-produced record is kaleidoscopic, psychedelic and deeply referential. This week, we’re breaking down the samples on the “Sgt. Pepper of hip-hop.”

In part one of our Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakdown, we’re looking at instalments 501 through 505. It’s just the beginning!

In part two of our Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakdown, we’re looking at instalments 506 through 510. Now we’re getting somewhere!

In part three of our Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakdown, we’re looking at instalments 511 through 515. We’re in the thick of it!

In part four of our Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakdown, we’re looking at instalments 516 through 520. Not long to go now!

In part five of our Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakdown, we’re looking at instalments 521 through 525. After we wrap up the initial five-part breakdown, we’re going to look back at the compilation series as a whole!

The breakdown is nearly complete, but what have we learned? A whole lot. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers underpinning our sampling odyssey and talk about the main players that broke ahead in the influential 25-instalment compilation series!

Before Masta Ace was a dextrous emcee with a love of concept albums, he was a young kid trying to get ahead alongside his Cold Chillin’ colleagues. With invaluable assists from Marley Marl, Mister Cee and DJ Steady Pace, he released his astute and earnest debut, Take A Look Around, in 1990.

Kool G Rap has inspired some of the greatest emcees of all time, and is often given that designation himself. Despite this, he’s never really been a mainstream staple. In honour of G Rap’s contributions to the craft, we’re breaking down his 1995 solo debut, which found him exploring the subgenre he’d helped create: mafioso rap.

When Grand Daddy I.U. dropped Smooth Assassin in 1990, he was already a 22-year-old alumni of hip hop’s most legendary collective. Whilst his career never fully took off, the Grand Daddy still rocked the mic with his distinctive delivery and ostentatious garb. We’re looking back at the refined emcee’s obscure debut.

Before Queensbridge emcee Percy Chapman was Tragedy Khadafi, he was Intelligent Hoodlum, a young socio-political firebrand with a long list of grievances. His self-titled 1990 debut is a hip hop relic that explores injustice, upheaval, celebrations and irreverence in equal measure. That’s definitely something worth exploring, so jump in!

Follow The Leader - Eric B. & Rakim’s sophomore album - was released on July 25, 1988. The album, which boasts some of Rakim’s most commanding verses, is steeped in old school sensibilities that would soon give way to the more socio-political bent of ‘90s hip hop. In this instalment of Behind…, we’re looking at a classic from one of hip hop’s most formidable and influential duos.

Though emcees such as Roxanne Shanté and Antoinette had been releasing standalone singles for some time, MC Lyte’s 1988 debut, Lyte As A Rock, was hip hop’s first solo female LP. A critical and commercial success, it paved the way for female emcees throughout the ‘90s and beyond. In this edition of Behind…, we break down the impressive and oft-hilarious trailblazer.

One of the most important albums of all time, Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, is turning thirty. In celebration of hip hop’s most revered LP, we’re taking a look at the samples that underpin PE’s magnum opus.

In this, the second part of our breakdown of Public Enemy's It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, we cover from "Night of the Living Baseheads" to "Party For Your Right To Fight."

Big Daddy Kane’s 1988 debut, Long Live The Kane, remains an important milestone in hip hop. Kane’s lyrical dexterity and fast-paced delivery would influence artists such as Nas and RZA, helping shape the ever-evolving art of hip hop. In honour of the 30th anniversary, we’re breaking down the samples throughout the classic debut!

Take Me To Your Leader, the sole album by Daniel Dumile's King Geedorah, turns 15 today. We’re looking back at the samples that help make it such a standout album in Dumile's already-substantial canon.

In this instalment of the ‘Behind…’ series, we tackle Quasimoto's debut LP, The Unseen. Let’s delve into the samples that helped make the 2000 record such an essential slice of underground hip hop. 

The second instalment in our exhaustive breakdown of Quasimoto’s The Unseen. In this piece, we cover the samples from track nine, “Real Eyes” to track sixteen, “Green Power.”

The third instalment of our sample-chronicling journey through The Unseen, Quasimoto’s landmark underground debut, finds us exploring tracks from "Jazz Cats Pt. 1" to album closer "Discipline 99 Pt. 1."

Joey Badass was yet to graduate when he released 1999, his career-launching debut mixtape. Now, six years on, the tape that launched his career is finally on Spotify. We take a look at the samples underpinning Joey’s debut, exploring production from DOOM, Lord Finesse, Knxwledge and many more.

As part of our focus on Madlib, we're delving into his extensive and intimidating catalogue. This week, we look at his four multi-instalment album series: Beat Konducta, Rock Konducta, Mind Fusion and Madlib Medicine Show.

Boogie Down Productions’ second album, By All Means Necessary, is 30 years old. The classic 1988 LP helped shape politically-conscious hip hop, spurred by the untimely death of a founding member of the group. In this piece, we look back at the seminal album and the samples that underpinned it.

Daytona, Pusha T’s third solo album, is finally here. After three years of waiting, and a handful of false starts, the seven-track, Kanye produced record marks the beginning of Yeezy season. In this instalment of our Behind… series, we look into the samples underpinning Pusha’s new effort.

Jeru The Damaja’s The Sun Rises In The East is a minor East Coast classic. Though obscured by a swathe of impressive East Coast efforts, Jeru’s debut finds him at his creative zenith alongside producer DJ Premier. In celebration of its 24th anniversary, we’ve broken down the samples within.

Madlib is one of hip hop's most visionary and versatile producers. We look back at his storied career, revisiting releases from Lootpack, Quasimoto, Jaylib, Madvillain, MadGibbs, Jackson Conti and Madlib himself. 

A young man dissociates freely, gliding in and out of memories both grim and uplifting. 

Whilst almost all industry awards shows are a race to the bottom, The GRAMMYs are impressively terrible. In order to make sense of it all, we’ve looked into two key questions: why is hip hop so consistently maligned, and what are the hallmarks of a GRAMMY winning album?

Piñata, a collaboration between Madlib and gangsta rapper Freddie Gibbs, is yet another crowning achievement for the versatile producer. In dissecting the samples within, we explore the cultural connections fostered by hip hop culture.

Samples and interpolations are two of the most artistic ways to pay homage. Repurposing classic tracks and lifting from deep cuts shows both appreciation and knowledge, equal parts a reference and a flex. In our third Purple piece, we look at five great Prince samples.

Prince knew how to write a song, something he proved time and time again throughout his 39-album career. Here's ten standout, streaming-ready tracks that aren't the five you always hear on the radio.

Though prolific in his own right, one of Prince's greatest strengths was his eye for talent. Two years after his untimely death, we look at five the young artists endorsed by The Purple One. 

Zach Braff is best known for his role as JD on Scrubs, but his influence over the show's soundtrack made him an unlikely mid-2000s tastemaker. From Scrubs to Garden State, we look at the generation of indie music that Braff helped popularise. 

As one of hip hop's most enduring classics, Madvillainy is a cultural touchstone. We look at all the samples that make up the landmark 2004 record, identifying and contextualising the pop culture within.

Tyler The Creator's fourth album, Scum Fuck Flower Boy, has cemented him as one of hip hop's most engaging emcees. Conor looks at his long come up, from reviled edge-rap poster boy to uncommonly introspective artist. 

The Roots' tenth studio record, Undun, is a triumphant concept album exploring the tragedy of urban poverty and the role of opportunity in inner-city crime. We look at the acclaimed LP and the forces that influenced it, including The Roots' already long and prosperous career and their then-new gig on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Conor reflects on the short-but-sweet career of piano-rock group Jack's Mannequin, the trials that shaped them and the heartfelt music they left behind.

Leaks: a fact of life and the bane of the music industry. Internet-era artists must contend with the unpredictable and high-stakes reality of unauthorised leaks, an ever-present threat that costs them time and money... but who actually leaks music? From unscrupulous hackers to devious colleagues and untrustworthy critics, here's a look at how unreleased tracks emerge.

A short story about death, beers and growing up.

Toro y Moi might have emerged from the 2010 Chillwave movement, but a spate of fantastic records have proven Chaz Bundick's versatility. Though he's long been an indie darling, are we taking him for granted? Here's a primer on Toro y Moi's bumper career.

Brockhampton are amongst the biggest winners of 2017. Conor charts their popular ascension and considers the role played by the group's unorthodox use of the internet.

At the turn of the century, rap supergroup Deltron 3030 crafted one of hip hop's finest concept albums. Conor Herbert breaks down the rise of the members - Del The Funky Homosapien, Dan the Automator and Kid Koala - and looks back at their seminal LP.

Why is one of the most visionary and critically revered rappers of our age still without an album? Conor Herbert charts Jay Electronica's long-delayed debut.

You might not know what it is, but gated reverb invokes nostalgia. Teddy Hookey explores the resurgence of Phil Collins' most enduring sound.