You can also do kind of what you're making it sound like.. Playing the "sample" piece, arrange it and mix it somewhat, making it sound like a record. Maybe overdo it a bit so it sounds real gritty. Then sample it.
I rarely sample anyone but myself. I work in a beatmaking team, and sometimes I arrange a piece with some piano, strings, bas and maybe a little percussion, and leave it up to my partner to sample it and make the beat. Challenge eachother a bit with those kinds of assignments. You can easily do it on the net as well, if you don't have a real life sparring partner to work with.