Top 10 Sampled vs Original Songs
#10: Billy Squier’s “The Big Beat” (1980)
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Sampled by Run-D.M.C. The open drum break is an essential tool for every hip-hop producer and DJ. It serves as a musical foundation for many classic songs, and is often recycled again and again as that sample gains popularity. “The Big Beat” by Billy Squier was still relatively contemporary when Run-D.M.C. utilized it just four years after its release for their hit, “Here We Go.” The track has since been sampled by hundreds of other artists in the decades following Run-D.M.C.’s popularization. The original beat played by Squier’s drummer, Bobby Chouinard, is thick and massive-sounding: the perfect material with which to construct a memorable rhythm.
#9: Isaac Hayes’ “Hung Up on My Baby” (1974)
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Sampled by The Geto Boys Hip-hop producers often look to old movie soundtracks for inspiration, utilizing their crate digging knowledge to unearth some musty old secret from the 1960s or ‘70s. The Geto Boys weren’t exactly pulling from an obscure artist when they decided to sample “Hung Up on My Baby” from soul legend Isaac Hayes for their song, “Mind Playing Tricks on Me.” Still, this cut from the 1974 blaxploitation film “Three Tough Guys” is tailor made to be a classic. The tune leans hard on that gorgeously smooth guitar work from Hayes’ original, creating the hook that gave the Geto Boys one of their all-time best songs.
#8: The Charmels’ “As Long As I’ve Got You” (1967)
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Sampled by The Wu-Tang Clan It seems sort of incredulous, but right from its opening moment, “As Long As I’ve Got You” by The Charmels exudes such a classic, yet contemporary feel. As a result, the Wu-Tang Clan only needed to do very little when they sampled it for their formative second single, “C.R.E.A.M.” The chill drumming and smooth piano line just floats on the wind, effortlessly carrying over from the original to the sampled track. “C.R.E.A.M.” isn’t even required to incorporate any other part of this otherwise obscure soul song to cement their legend: it was a marriage made in heaven, right from the start.
#7: Lyn Collins’ “Think (About It)” (1972)
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Sampled by Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock It seems a smidge unfair to single out only one artist that’s sampled “Think (About It)” by Lyn Collins. That’s because this 1972 funk track has been utilized in over three thousand songs. Notably, “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock sampled the iconic “Yeah! Wow!” bit, but “Think (About It)” is most definitely the sum of its creative parts. After all, it was written and produced by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, so it has everything going for it. The drums crack and snap, the production is just raw enough, and the tambourine accompaniment adds that little extra sauce that makes the soul steak sizzle just a little bit hotter.
#6: Rick James’ “Super Freak” (1981)
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Sampled by MC Hammer It’s perhaps one of the most obvious samples on this list, but who said some of the greatest ideas weren’t obvious? Rick James rightfully gets praised for his songwriting, attitude and style, but the man was also a MEAN bass player. As a result, it’s the bassline for James’ 1981 classic “Super Freak” that gets adapted part and parcel in MC Hammer’s mega hit “U Can’t Touch This.” Hammer essentially lifted the entire bassline from “Super Freak,” to the point where Rick James had to receive a songwriting credit for his troubles. But hey, it’s a small price to pay in order to become a star, albeit briefly, of Hammer’s status, right?
#5: The Incredible Bongo Band’s “Apache” (1973)
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Sampled by Nas It took over two decades for this song that was released way back in 1960 to find new life as one of the most sampled songs of all time. “Apache” was originally a hit for Bert Weedon, but it’s the 1973 cover version by Incredible Bongo Band that’s gone on to serve as bedrock percussion for songs like Nas' “Made You Look.” This is largely due to the ‘73 version possessing an extended breakbeat section; perfect on its own, sure, but ESSENTIAL for modern productions, as well. It’s immediately recognizable today in “Made You Look,” too, as well as in classic jams such as the 1981 cover by the Sugarhill Gang.
#4: George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” (1982)
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Sampled by Snoop Dogg Thinking outside the box has remained important for all of hip-hop’s most influential producers, from Dilla and DJ Premier to RZA, Dr. Dre and Kanye West. As a result, artists often dig through records not only for drums, but for vocal phrases and melodies, as well. Snoop Dogg and Dre threw it back to the early ‘80s when it came to crafting the chorus to the D-O double G’s 1993 smash, “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)” They sought out George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog,” an electro P-funk number that was cutting edge for ‘82, and just retro enough to become fresh again for Snoop in the early nineties. The rest, as they say, is history.
#3: Chic’s “Good Times” (1970)
Sampled by The Sugarhill Gang “Good Times,” by Chic didn’t exactly need to be sampled by The Sugarhill Gang in 1979 to remind audiences of how disco was perhaps unfairly maligned as a genre. The latter’s “Rapper’s Delight” served as a formative slice of hip-hop that played an instrumental role in popularizing the genre. As a result, the glitz and glam of disco was still very much represented by that shiny production, but more importantly, the FUNKY bass of Bernard Edwards. The instrumental section showcases just how capable “Good Times” is at creating a MONSTER dance-floor groove, especially as Nile Rodgers’ guitar melds with the strings and piano to create a symphony of smoothness.
#2: James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” (1970)
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Sampled by Public Enemy We’ve highlighted a lot of different kinds of samples in this list, but it somehow always comes back to drums. “Funky Drummer” by James Brown was something of a self-fulfilling prophecy, a classic-in-the-making that would go on to fill crates and fuel parties around the world. The song is a typical James Brown instrumental, but its most desirable moment lies in drummer Clyde Stubblefield’s breakdown. This has become one of the most popular samples of all time, being utilized in songs like “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy and many more. Oh, and if you’re searching for MORE JB greatness, might we suggest “Funky President (People It’s Bad)” from 1974? We’re sure that one will hit the spot, as well.
#1: The Winstons’ “Amen, Brother” (1969)
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Sampled by N.W.A You just know a sample has entered “icon” status when it has a colloquial nickname like “The Amen Break.” “Amen, Brother” by The Winstons has been famously sampled by artists like N.W.A on their classic, "Straight Outta Compton." The break has also gone down to become a building block for jungle and techno music as THE most sampled tune of all time. Sadly, this also raises questions about the legality and ethics of sampling as an artform, since The Winstons tragically received no monetary compensation for their work. It’s a complicated discussion, as on one hand, “Amen, Brother” has provided so much joy over the years. Yet, it’s a reminder that the music business is just that: a BUSINESS. Can you remember any time you just HAD to seek out a sample’s source, and hear the whole album? Is sample snitchin’ a sin? Let us know in the comments!
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