Music Discovery
BLUES
The foundation. Delta picking, Chicago electricity, and the raw honesty of the form that gave birth to everything that came after.
Styles
Frequently Asked
What blues records are most sampled by producers?▾
Delta blues (1920s–1940s) and Chicago electric blues (1950s–1960s) are the most referenced eras. Artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Robert Johnson have been sampled directly and as interpolations across rock, hip hop, and R&B. Chess Records releases are particularly prized sample sources.
What is the connection between blues and hip hop sampling?▾
Blues is the root of soul and funk — the two genres most sampled in hip hop. The rhythmic structures, call-and-response patterns, and emotional directness of blues recordings flow through every era of American popular music. Understanding blues is understanding where the samples come from.
How can I discover obscure blues records online?▾
Discogs has the most comprehensive database of blues releases, including regional 45s, small label pressings, and recordings that never appeared on streaming platforms. CrateDrop lets you randomly discover blues records from the full Discogs catalog and hear them immediately on YouTube without any searching.