I Sampled True Love
Mixed Media with Metal Leaf on 350gsm Watercolor Paper
76x56 cm | Original Artwork by Ashwan
“I Sampled True Love” draws directly from the lyric “I sampled true love” in Love of My Life by Erykah Badu, featuring Common. In this piece, Ashwan reflects on the essence of hip hop itself as both muse and source—a genre built upon the foundation of sampling, remixing, and reinterpreting the past to create something new and powerful. The concept of sampling in hip hop mirrors the layered nature of memory and experience, where each sound, each influence, contributes to the larger narrative.
This original mixed media work, measuring 76x56 cm on 350gsm watercolor paper, incorporates shimmering gold and silver metal leaf, adding a dynamic interplay of light and texture. The piece acts as a visual palimpsest, where each layer, like a sample in a hip hop track, builds upon the last to create something uniquely expressive. The metal leaf suggests the fleeting nature of inspiration, while the textured media evokes the complexity and depth of hip hop’s creative process.
Ashwan’s piece captures the energy of hip hop’s continuous evolution, where the source—love, in its many forms—remains at the core. The shimmering elements of the artwork echo how love, as both a personal and universal force, fuels creativity in all its many forms, including the art of sampling.
“I Sampled True Love” speaks to the cyclical nature of artistic creation, honoring the influence of hip hop as a muse that draws from the past to inspire the future. This artwork is a perfect addition for those who appreciate the intersection of music, culture, and visual art, and the ongoing dialogue between history and innovation.