Hip-Hop music was built on a foundation of samples. In fact, samples are still heavily used today. Hooks, break beats, and sometimes entire songs are looped as a base for a rapper’s lyrics. The art of sampling is so masterfully done, that often the original song is turned into something unique. So unique – that most listeners don’t even realize it’s a sample.
I love music, and I lived through the lifecycle of Hip-Hop music – from vinyl to streaming. Throughout its life, one thing has remained, sampling. The following is a list of songs and their sampled originals:
- Rakim “Know The Ledge” – Nat Adderley “Rise, Sally, Rise”
- Wu Tang Clan “C.R.E.A.M” – The Charmels “As Long As I Got You”
- Jay-Z “4:44”: – Hannah Williams and The Affirmations “Late Nights & Heart Break”
- DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince “Summertime” – Kool & The Gang “Summer Madness”
- DJ Khaled “Holy Mountain” – Billy Boyo “One Spliff A Day”
- Kanye West “Mercy” – Super Beadle, Fuzzy Jones “Dust A Sound Boy”
