Video explains the world's most important 6-sec drum loop
Why Hacker News recommends it
A perennial HN recommendation, brought up whenever sampling, copyright or music history comes up, often described as a must-watch.
What it is
Nate Harrison's 2004 video history of the Amen Break, a six-second drum sample from a 1969 b-side that became the basis of hip-hop sampling, jungle and drum and bass. It is also a meditation on cultural ownership and creativity.
Recommended by 15 HN commenters across 11 different months, 2011 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec jeffool · 2012-06 · on “Youtube claims I don't own my own film”
I wish you the best of luck Mdotstrange (if you didn't see it, he posted in this thread claiming BFM actively claimed copyright over the sound of wind.) Yes, piracy and copyright infringement is rampant, but by both individuals and corporations. A great example is the Amen Break. If you've got 20 minutes, I can't suggest this video enough for everyone: [this video] It's in everything from old hip hop, to Oasis' "D'You Know What I Mean?" to the original Futurama theme song! And all used with, according to the creators, absolutely zero royalties. (And they're fine with it, having been told. They get it.)
Strong rec joezydeco · 2013-04 · on “The Economics Of Girl Talk”
If you want to go farther down the rabbit hole, this is an excellent 20-minute video about the history of the Amen Break, the "six-second clip that spawned several entire subcultures" and the rise of sampling: [this video]
Strong rec jmarin · 2014-06 · on “Houston, We Have A Public Domain Problem”
For anyone interested in more thoughts on copyright and (the killing of) culture, I highly recommend this video on the Amen break: [this video] Additionally, this comic is informative and fun: [LINK]
Strong rec DiabloD3 · 2015-05 · on “Typedrummer”
For those who don't know what the Amen Break is, here is the most important documentary ever done: [this video]
Strong rec jsmthrowaway · 2015-05 · on “The Roland TR-808: the drum machine that revolutionised music”
The TR-808 is up there with samplers and the Amen Break in terms of defining modern music. If you have twenty minutes, there's a wonderful video explaining the Amen Break that I suggest everybody watch at least once: [this video]
Strong rec atlanta90210 · 2023-09 · on “A History of the Amen Break: From the Winstons to Futurama and Om Unit”
17 Years ago this audio/video explained it all. Props to the artist Landon for laying down the audio to a record and playing the audio (with examples) from the record. 6.8 millions views - the Winstons will never be forgotten. [this video]
Strong rec securingsincity · 2025-04 · on “Shared DNA in Music”
This is my favorite video on the Amen break from about 20 years ago that explains the history and more of the context [this video]
Strong rec fred_is_fred · 2026-04 · on “A 25-Year-Fight over a 2-Second Sample”
Here's the video to watch on the history of the Amen Break. It's very in-depth and I highly recommend it. I just noticed it's 20 years old too! [this video]