Cliff Smith Jr. was still a few years away from being known as Method Man and helping Wu-Tang Clan take the hip-hop world by storm when he got hooked on what became one of his life’s biggest passions.

Hip-hop has always relied on sampling as a bridge between eras, a creative tool that connects past innovations with the present soundscape. But while sampling often serves as a tribute, it also comes ...

Cliff Smith Jr. was still a few years away from being known as Method Man and helping Wu-Tang Clan take the hip-hop world by storm when he got hooked on what became one of his life's biggest passions.