So, I know many of you guys aren't into the hip-hop game, but I'm givin a shot at some 'vintage' hip hop beats using lots of sampling, and I'm wondering- what are some creative ways to use samples? I'd appreciate if you could apply the explanation to pop, soul, and even rock too, if possible.

What are you doing with them so far? The most obvious technique with beats is to chop them up and rearrange them. Back in the early 90's I used to mess with drum & bass music and we'd chop up drum loops into 8 equal pieces, literally by dividing the number of bytes in the sample by 8 and entering the start and end times of each chop into the sample editor in bytes. Nowadays you can do this instantly with a program like Sonar. Then you can arrange the parts in different orders and get some totally new rhythms you wouldn't have thought of. Reverse some of the parts too for a cool effect.

Very broad question.  There are so many ways, ranging from the simple grabbing a loop and layering sounds on top of it to the method Sharke described.  Here is a decent example of someone taking a song and chopping it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwAHIDicQ3k
 
You can take lyrics and pitch them so words can be played melodically or even as chords.  Samples can be manipulated to become instruments they were not intended to be.  In hip hop and EDM, it is not uncommon to stretch an 808 sample into a bass and create deep subsonic bass lines.

I took a loop and put it on a track.  Then, I stretched it to where the song would end.  I chopped out a few sections for fills and stuff, but I was able to keep the beat going without too much trouble.  Nothing exotic, but it works. 

I remember a contest i saw online where everyone had to make a complete song from one sample.  It was a very short sample and I believe it was part of a protest.  The results were amazing.  People were taking base elements from the sample and creating kicks, snares, basslines and even leads.  People sometimes forget that the basic elements in most modern synths are all technically samples.

dubdisciple
I remember a contest i saw online where everyone had to make a complete song from one sample.  It was a very short sample and I believe it was part of a protest.  The results were amazing.  People were taking base elements from the sample and creating kicks, snares, basslines and even leads.  People sometimes forget that the basic elements in most modern synths are all technically samples.

I agree. I heard something like it on celemony's website. Some guy made a complete track out of a coke can or something and it sounded amazing.
 

davdud101
So, I know many of you guys aren't into the hip-hop game, but I'm givin a shot at some 'vintage' hip hop beats using lots of sampling, and I'm wondering- what are some creative ways to use samples? I'd appreciate if you could apply the explanation to pop, soul, and even rock too, if possible.

Something worth trying. The old EMU sampler would sample in 12 bits. So, experiment downsampling with different bit and sample rate settings.
Another trick I have used a lot lately but mostly in house tracks. Instead of sampling records I create my own samples. I setup a disco session with drums, bass, lots of guitars and a rhodes or wurlitzer. I then record different chord progressions and mix like if it was the next chic record kkk. Then I export to my main project. Before loading on a sampler, I pitch it up a few steps (because those samples from classic house tracks were always pitched up to match the track tempo) and downsample it. Then I load it on the sampler and start messing around with it.