Best Samples Used in Hip Hop and R&B Songs (Updated)

Throughout the history of music, some of the most dope songs have been created by sampling the sound of another great song. Perhaps sample some of your all-time favorite tracks to create a memorable song.

Samples can be hard to miss and hard to catch. Here are some of the best samples used in his favorite R&B and hip-hop classics.

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Diana Ross – “I’m Coming Out”

Diana Ross – I’m Coming Out

“I’m Coming Out” is the hit single from Diana Ross’ self-titled tenth album. Diana, Sampled on one of the biggest hip-hop tracks of the 1990s. Hint: In the first few seconds of the track, Diana sings the chorus!Okay, you should know right away that it’s sampled on her 1997 track “Mo Money Mo Problems” by Notorious BIG.

Ronnie Foster “Mystic Brew”

mystic brew

This track from longtime funk and soul organist Ronnie Foster is one of my favorites. This chilling performance created his layout for one of the dopeest beats ever. It was sampled on his 1993 track “Electric Relaxation” by A Tribe Called Quest and has inspired many other rappers.

Ahmad Jamal – “I Love Music”

Ahmad Jamal – I love music

It can be difficult to pinpoint who sampled this beautiful track from American pianist Ahmad Jamal, but if you listen closely at the track’s five-minute mark, you’ll hear the 1994 Nas inspirational track “The You can listen to samples used in World. It’s yours. “

Grant Green “Maybe Tomorrow”

maybe tomorrow

This track just pulls the ears of any rapper looking to take the emotion out of their chest. It has also been used by talented MCs such as

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Chic – “Good Times”

good times

This track was sampled by one of the oldest and most famous hip-hop tracks of all time. God, he’s almost 20 years older than me and I know the track. If you go around 3 minutes and 12 seconds of him on this song, you can hear a sample used throughout Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight.”

Stevie Wonder “Pastime Paradise”

Stevie Wonder – Passtime Paradise

Stevie Wonder’s “Passtime Paradise” was sampled on Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”, one of the greatest albums of all time and one of the most important hip-hop records ever. It may have been made famous by his Coolio, but the song has been sampled by other talented artists such as his Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige and Three 6 Mafia.

The Isley Brothers “Footsteps in the Dark”

Footsteps in the dark, Pts. 1 & 2

Sometimes when I hear a song, I immediately remember the song that sampled it. His 1977 Isley Brother classic “Footsteps in the Dark.” bottom. He can’t listen to one song without thinking about the others. “Footsteps in the Dark” was sampled by Thundercat in the popular social media hit “Them Changes.”

EPMD – “You are the Customer”

EPMD – You are the Customer

The drums that play throughout the track are timeless and have been sampled over the years by many artists across genres. Most notably, it was sampled on his 2004 Mario Winans track “I Don’t Wanna Know.” Many credit his Winans for samples of the standout track “Creepin” by Metro Boomin and The Weekend, but those drums came from his EPMD.

The Sharmell – “As Long As I’ve Got You”

THE CHARMELS – As long as I have you

Charmels may not have been the most popular musical ensemble of the 1960s, but their samples are beloved in hip-hop circles. As soon as the piano plays on this track, you should know right away that the Wu-Tang Clan sampled the song on his breakout hit “CREAM.”

Marvin Gaye – “Give It Up”

have to give up

Marvin Gaye is arguably the greatest singer of all time and one of the most sampled. Gaye has many songs, but one of my favorites of his is “Got to Give It Up,” which The Jacksons sampled on his 1978 song “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground).” am.two

Public Enemy – “Bring the Noise”

Bring the Noise – Public Enemy (Original Video)

It’s rare for a hip-hop song to be one of the most sampled songs of all time, but according to whosampled.com, Public Enemy’s “Bring the Noise” is the 7th most sampled song of all time. Unsurprisingly, it’s been sampled by a slew of rappers, including Kanye West, Ludacris, Rakim, and De La Soul. But it’s also been sampled by the Prince of all people.

Isaac Hayes – “Walk On By”

Walk On By (Remastered)

In addition to producing some of the tracks on this list, Isaac Hayes has been sampled numerous times. “Walk On By” is one of his most popular songs and has been sampled by artists Michael Jackson to Beyoncé.

The O’Jays – “Cry Together”

cry together

If you just want to listen to this song, you don’t need to listen to the track that sampled it. New music fans may recognize this track thanks to Drake’s outstanding rap on “Middle of the Ocean.” However, it has also been sampled by 2pac, The Diplomats, Ja Rule, Wu-Tang Clan and Johny Gill.

Chi-Lites – Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)

The Kyrites – Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)

Anyone born in the last 20 years will instantly recognize the artist and song that sampled this 1970 track. If not, I have a question about what you’ve been listening to in the last 20 years.

Bootsy’s Rubber Band – “I’d rather be with you”

Bootsy’s Rubber Band – I’d rather be with you

70’s funk and soul, this song serves as a sample of a modern classic. Thanks to Bootsy Collins and Parliament Funkadelic for helping create Childish Gambino’s ‘Redbone’.

The Winstons “Amen Brother”

Winstons – Amen Brother

Believe it or not, The Winstons’ “Amen Brother” is the most sampled song of all time.according to who sampled, which has been sampled over 6,000 times, almost twice as many as the second most sampled track. Sampled by artists like NWA, Tyler, the Creator, Jay-Z, Denzel Curry, Big KRIT and more.

Lynn Collins – Think (About It)

Lynn Collins – Think (About It)

After “Amen Brother,” “Think (About It)” is the second most sampled track of all time. Most recently, it was sampled on Beyoncé’s standout track from his 2022 album. Renaissance.

Silvers “Cry of a Dreamer”

The Sylvers- Dreamer’s Cry

This song isn’t one of the most popular samples of all time, but it’s definitely one of my favorites, thanks to the talent of the great producer Madlib. Amazingly, he sampled this song twice on his collaboration album with Freddie Gibbs. Bandanaon Two separate tracks. Once on “Palmolive” featuring Pusha T and Killer Mike, and once on “Fake Names.”

Roy Ayers “Everybody Loves The Sunshine”

Everybody Loves The Sunshine

Somehow, this song is loved by some of rap’s sharpest and greatest lyricists, including Common, Joey Bada$$, and Mos Def. However, the song is also sampled on “My Life” by immortal singer Mary J. Blige.

Kool & The Gang “Summer Madness”

summer madness

Like many other songs on this list, this track is great even unsampled. Thankfully the artist was smart enough to use it. Classic track, ‘Summertime’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It has also been sampled by Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Jhené Aiko, Aaliyah and Erykah Badu.

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