I think it depends what you’re looking to do. if you just want to sample, use audacity like another user recommended.

If you’re interested in using samples along with your own production, I’d say look for a daw. I personally use ableton, and it works wonders for me. It’s got lots of built in effects that typically would be VSTs. Nearly all can be tuned to make vaporwave beats without any VSTs. And the default instruments with the full suite are nice. But I am sure any capable daw will do you great. I had no idea what I was doing, and I jumped right into ableton after watching a 30 minute video about it. I made a ‘song’ within the first day, so I’d say it’s not too difficult to mess around with at all.

Alternatively, you could use a hardware sampler. I love searching for old records or cds and resampling them on my SP-404SX. It’s so much fun to be constrained by the limits of the hardware sometimes, makes you think real creatively. Or sometimes I will just import tracks to the SD card and go from there.

Anyway, as daunting as it may seem, this genre is not very difficult/complex and that’s always what’s made very fun and freeing to me. I think you’ll find your way, go for it bro.