30 Songs You Didn't Know Were Samples
Creating timeless music is a rare skill. Producers like Kanye West, Just Blaze and Diddy had sampling down to a science. But while well-known interpolations are instantly recognizable, there are certain records you hear and fail to realize it's not an original. With that in mind, VIBE compiled this list of 30 songs you may not have known were sampled. Click to get schooled.
1) J. Cole feat. Trey Songz “Can’t Get Enough”
Sample: Balla et ses Balladins “Paulette”
Traveling to the sounds and coast of West Africa, J. Cole took a sample of this group’s Guinean melodies for one of his popular singles, with the help of some background vocals to sprinkle a little culture on the track.
Photo Credit: Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images
2) Jay-Z "Oh My God”
Sample: Genya Raven "Whipping Post"
Off his Kingdom Come album, this 2006 single sampled singer Genya Raven’s “Whipping Post" and can also be heard in the Gangster Squad movie trailer. The screaming effect gives the song that extra kick.
Photo Credit: Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images
3) Ne-Yo "It Just Ain't Right" & Rich Boy "Throw Some D's"
Sample: Switch "I Call Your Name"
Ne-Yo and Rich Boy may not have much in common, but both looked to Motown R&B group Switch for their instrumentation and lyrics. Whether utilizing the chorus or intro, Ne-Yo and Rich Boy made the sample their own.
Photo Credit: FilmMagic
4) Fabolous "Pachanga"
Sample: Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes "You Know How To Make Me Feel So Good"
Fabolous didn’t name his 2011 mixtape Soul Tape for nothing. On this track, he sought out the sounds of this R&B group to splash some “feel good” on this melody.
Photo Credit: Graham Denholm, Getty Images
5) Cam'Ron, Juelz Santana, DJ Kay Slay, Freeky Zeeky "Hey Ma"
Sample: Commodores "Easy"
Known for throwing abstract samples from rock to reggae on their gritty street anthems, Dipset also slapped some soul and R&B on their hit “Hey Ma” with a little help from The Commodores by increasing the tempo of the piano chords.
Photo Credit: The Rap Up
6) Common "Be"
Sample: Albert Jones "Mother Nature"
From the goose-bump-causing opening chords to its progression, this sample was perfect for Common’s style, taking a few notes from Albert Jones’ “Mother Nature.”
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images
7) Jay-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean "No Church In The Wild"
Sample: James Brown "Don't Tell A Lie About Me And I Won't Tell A Lie About You"
Sample: Spooky Tooth's "Sunshine Help Me"
Sample: Phil Manzanera "K-Scope"
Pulling vocals and sounds from James Brown, Spooky Tooth, and Phil Manzanera, the Watch The Throne duo, with Frank Ocean’s assistance, pieced together one of the album’s more popular songs, tediously syncing all these samples into one.
Photo Credit: Neoboto
8) Nicki Minaj "Your Love"
Sample: Annie Lenox "No More I Love You's"
With a catchy hook, Nicki Minaj sought an even catchier beat, sampling Grammy award winner Annie Lennox’s vocals for Minaj’s recurring background feature.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
9) Rihanna "Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary"
Sample: The Police "Message In A Bottle"
Rihanna’s seventh studio album hosted stellar production, including this sample from The Police on one of her more revealing songs. The piece starts off slow then changes gears but still has that '80s vibe.
Photo Credit: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
10) Trae The Truth "Remember the Rain"
Sample: 21st Century "Remember the Rain"
Trae’s dark track takes its cue from R&B’s 21st Century’s composition from its moniker to the background vocals heard throughout the somber song.
Photo Credit: Jesse Knish/WireImage/Getty Images
11) A$AP Rocky "Peso"
Sample: The S.O.S. Band "No One's Gonna Love You"
A$AP Rocky hit this sample on the money for his mixtape LiveLoveA$AP track “Peso,” looking to the S.O.S. Band for a standout production, including the eerie sound that’s reminiscent of a creaky playground swing.
Photo Credit: Karl Walter/Getty Images
12) Destiny's Child "Bootylicious"
Sample: Stevie Nicks "Edge of Seventeen"
No one could forget the colorful video for “Bootylicious,” but that recurring guitar note, which was sampled from Stevie Nick’s Rock N’ Roll hit “Edge of Seventeen,” truly gave ladies the curve they needed.
Photo Credit: FRANK MICELOTTA/GETTY IMAGES
13) Elle Varner "I Don't Care"
Sample: AZ "Ho Happy Jackie" which first sampled Kool & The Gang "Little Children"
This sample serves as a timeline of old school R&B resurfacing in '90s hip-hop and then rounding back to R&B with Elle Varner’s “I Don’t Care.” A quicker tempo of the instrumental elevates Varner’s lyrics, almost as if this sample was created for the songstress.
Photo Credit: John W. Ferguson, Getty Images
14) Drake feat. Lil Wayne "HYFR"
Sample: E.S.G. "Swangin' and Bangin"
Drake is known for intricate samples on his songs, especially those of artists hailing from Houston, so it was only fitting that he paid a visit to E.S.G.’s discography for this hit with Weezy from the beginning to end.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
15) Fabolous "Breathe"
Sample: Supertramp "Crime of the Century"
Fabolous breathes life back into this Rock N’ Roll production from the piano notes to the guitar strings, taking Just Blaze’s productive ear and placing it on wax (or soundboards).
Photo Credit: John Nunez/Getty Images
16) Frank Ocean "Crack Rock"
Sample: Jimi Hendrix "Little Miss Lover"
Known for his creative pen game, Frank Ocean took Jimi Hendrix’s late '60s rocking hit and turned it into an addictive piece of a song – like, er, crack.
Photo Credit: Roger Kisby/Getty Images
17) Jazmine Sullivan "Lions, Tigers & Bears"
Sample: Salaam Remi "Shila's Playground"
Famed producer Salaam Remi had no problem allowing Jazmine Sullivan to place her powerhouse vocals over this string-dominated track.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
18) Amy Winehouse "Tears Dry On Their Own"
Sample: Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
While Amy Winehouse earned major props for her vocal chops, she also continued to pay it backwards to those who inspired her musically, as she did on this single that samples Motown greats Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell timeless hit.
Photo Credit: BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
19) J.Cole feat. Brandon Hines "Dreams"
Sample: Hank Crawford "Wildflower"
With a Blues undertone, J.Cole and Brandon Hines maintained the essence of Hank Crawford’s “Wildflower” effortlessly keeping intact the somber aura of the piece.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt, Getty Images
20) Outkast "Spottiottiedopaliscious"
Sample: Sly Stone "Rock Dirge"
There's no denying Outkast’s genius, so it's no surprise that they brought Genesis’ “Dancing With the Moonlit Knight” to life with their mellow track “Spottieottiedopaliscious.” With the help of the drums and electric guitar, the sample received a “dopaliscious” Outkast treatment.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
21) 112 "It's Over Now"
Sample: Grandmaster Melle Mel's "White Lines (Don't Don 't Do It)"
112 managed to sprinkle some color on this “White Lines” track, taking an R&B swing to the '80s hit, firstly sampled by Mobb Deep’s “Quiet Storm.” The group solely took the bass rift and placed their melodies over it.
Photo Credit: youknowyougotsoul.com
22) Erykah Badu "Honey"
Sample: Nancy Wilson "I'm In Love"
Erykah Badu’s feel good “Honey” sampled Nancy Wilson’s “I’m In Love” tastefully as she brought this '70s hit to the millennium without missing a lick of instrumentation.
Photo Credit: Zimbio.com
23) Mary J. Blige "I'm Going Down"
Sample: Rose Royce "I'm Going Down"
Although MJB sang word for word from Royce’s “I’m Going Down,” there's no doubt the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul put her uniqueness on this brokenhearted anthem, from the highs to the lows.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
24) Nas feat. Jay-Z "Black Republican"
Sample: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra "Marcia Religiosa" (The Godfather Soundtrack)
Some rappers are known to use gangster flick references in their songs, but two of hip-hop’s greatest lyricists made sure to sample a proclaimed orchestra for their “Black Republican” hit.
Photo Credit: Zimbio
25) Next "Too Close"
Sample: Kurtis Blow "Christmas Rappin"
Who would’ve thunk a hard-hitting lyrical engineer like Kurtis Blow’s “Christmas Rappin” could sound so sensual with vocals from Next? The '90s R&B trio executed this sample from the bass line to the synths.
Photo Credit: Singersroom.com
26) Childish Gambino feat. Bun B "R.I.P."
Sample: Kavinsky feat. Lovefoxxx "Nightcall"
Bun B delivers nothing but clever lyrics over this Kavinsky sampled beat. The track from the movie Drive emits a' 80s feel since its release in 2010 but with these rappers, it sounds like an original production.
Photo Credit: BET.com
27) Wale "Fa Wa We" (Freestyle)
Sample: Cortex "Huit Octobre 1971"
Freestyle or not, Wale spits intricate lyrics over an even more intricate jazzy sample from French group Cortex. The popular sample traveled across the Atlantic, being heard with Cortex’s unique and high-pitched voice and Jazz-infused chords on tracks from Tyler, The Creator, Wiz Khalifa and MF Doom.
Photo Credit: Raglin/Getty Images
28) Ciara "Promise"
Sample: Kraftwork "Tour De France"
Ciara’s transition into someone who’s ready to give up the goodies came with the release of “Promise” cycling her moves for the wanting eye with the assistance of a sassy beat from Euro pop group Kraftwork’s “Tour De France.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
29) Big K.R.I.T. "Temptation"
Sample: Beastie Boys "The New Style"
On his mixtape 4Eva N A Day this Mississippian brought it back to the old school with a sample of the Beastie Boys “The New Style” contrasting this bass-pounding song’s smooth edge with the already hype sample.
Photo Credit: Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images.
30) Rell feat. Jay-Z "Love For Free"
Sample: B.T. Express "Do It 'Til You're Satisfied"
One of Roc-A-Fella’s R&B standouts, Rell hooked up with head honcho Jay-Z to add to the '90s wave of the hip-hop hook on a R&B song, planting a jiggy vibe to this B.T. Express sample.
Photo Credit: singersroom.com
