Sampling in music refers to the reuse of a portion or sample of a sound recording in another recording). Samples can include elements such as rhythm, melody, speech, sound effects, or longer passages of music. Sampling technology has improved over time, allowing for more manipulation of the samples, such as layering, equalizing, speeding up or slowing down, repitching, looping, or other forms of manipulation). Sampling originated in the 1940s with musique concrète, experimental music created by splicing and looping tape). The term "sampling" was coined in the late 1970s by the creators of the Fairlight CMI, a synthesizer with the ability to record and playback short sounds). Sampling is a foundation of hip hop music, which emerged when producers in the 1980s began sampling funk and soul records, particularly drum breaks).

Sampling can involve taking a small or large section of audio from another source, such as an existing song, and reworking it into a new track. The amount of sound that is sampled can vary widely from project to project, with some producers lifting an entire chorus from another song, while others might just take a drum beat and slice it up to suit their own musical needs. Other popular sections to sample include vocals, basslines, and spoken lines from film, TV, and online videos.

Sampling has become central to modern music-making, with producers regularly using sample packs and sampled instruments, and samplers at the core of most production workflows. Sampling is an artistic expression that allows music to be given new life, and it is not considered stealing as long as the sampling is done in a fair way and the music is cleared and licensed to respect the original artists.