Mark Ronson's TED Talk: In Defence of Sampling
Mark makes a strong argument that sampling isn’t and has never been about copying music, but rather adding to the ongoing narrative of it. It isn't about “hijacking nostalgia wholesale,” but rather "about inserting yourself into the narrative of a song while also pushing that story forward."
Worth a watch, including his beautifully executed mashup of 15 TED Talks.
If you are interested in other TED talks related to music, you can find the full list here.