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Top 10 Songs You Didn't Know Sampled Other Songs

Top 10 Songs You Didn't Know Sampled Other Songs
VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu WRITTEN BY: George Pacheco
You won't believe how many of your favorite songs used samples to bring them to life. For this list, we'll be ranking the hit tunes that borrowed elements from different tracks during the songwriting process. Our countdown includes “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, “Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang” by Dr. Dre, “Hung Up” by Madonna, and more!

Top 10 Songs You Didn’t Know Sampled Other Songs


Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Songs You Didn’t Know Sampled Other Songs.

For this list, we’ll be ranking the hit tunes that borrowed elements from different tracks during the songwriting process. We won’t be considering Ed Sheeran’s “The Shape of

You,” since the singer had to add writing credit for those composers behind TLC’s “Waterfalls”.

Can you think of any famous samples? Let us know in the comments!

#10: “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X

Sampled “34 Ghosts IV” by Nine Inch Nails
Some of the best hip hop crossover hits can feature samples from surprising and varied sources. Lil Nas X clearly knew this when making some of his signature tracks. For the track “Panini”, he sampled Nirvana’s “In Bloom”. Lil Nas X also took a fairly obscure Nine Inch Nails cut for his hit, “Old Town Road.” The sample in question came from “34 Ghosts IV”, a track from Trent Reznor’s sixth Nine Inch Nails album that was notable for its dark and ambient mood. Lil Nas X repurposed “34 Ghosts IV” over a drum machine beat and voila! Instant chart success.

#9: “Steal My Sunshine” by Len

Sampled “More More More” by The Andrea True Connection
You don’t need to sample a huge chunk of a song to make a big impression. Case in point? Len’s summertime smash, “Steal My Sunshine.” It definitely made the most out of a short bridge section from The Andrea True Connection’s disco classic, “More More More.” The bright and carefree nature of Len’s synth hit hinges upon a little bit of percussion and some funky bass. Thanks to True and her songwriting partner Gregg Diamond, the sample helps bridge the gap between 1970s disco and shameless ‘90s Europop. And if we’re being honest? The sample may be our favorite part of “Steal My Sunshine”.

#8: “New Slaves” by Kanye West

Sampled “Gyöngyhajú Lány,” from Omega
Kanye West has a history of digging deep to pull out unique samples. How else can we explain why Yeezy decided to sample the Hungarian prog rock band Omega, for his song, “New Slaves?” Admittedly, the track “Gyöngyhajú Lány” was actually a huge European hit back in the late sixties and seventies. So, it’s not out of the question for why it would be on Kanye’s radar. But we don’t think many other artists would have the same idea. The driving beat of Omega’s original slides in to drive home the outro to the song. In the end, the sample helps give the track the drama and gravitas it needs to stand out.

#7: “C.R.E.A.M.” by Wu-Tang Clan

Sampled “As Long as I Have You,” by The Charmels
The world of classic soul and funk is absolutely the cornerstone of modern hip-hop. Many of those tunes have served as the base for thousands of amazing samples. Out of the many examples of this trend, “As Long as I Have You” by The Charmels is one of the most notable types of these hits. Not only does the original song absolutely slap, but Wu-Tang Clan’s sample of it on their track “C.R.E.A.M.” is equally outstanding. It’s that intro piano hook that gets us every time. While producer The RZA pulls from The Charmels, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck and Method Man bring their voices to the party. The resulting product represents one of the Wu-Tang Clan’s most definitive musical statements.

#6: “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” by Dr. Dre

Sampled “I Want’a Do Something Freaky to You” by Leon Haywood
It felt like Dre was pulling from his personal collection when he dropped this Leon Haywood jam on us. “I Want’a Do Something Freaky to You” is definitely a track for older audiences since it goes so in-depth when describing a certain kind of physical activity. However, Dre cuts out the mature subject matter and keeps what matters: the bass, strings, drums and FUNK. It fits in perfectly with “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang’s” smooth production vibe. It just takes the sound of the instrumental to make us nostalgic for the first time we heard this forever banger.

#5: “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley

Sampled “Django, Prepare a Coffin,” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
A spaghetti western may sound like an obscure place to source a sample for a massive pop hit. But that’s exactly what Gnarls Barkley did for their smash single, “Crazy.” CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse sought out the soundtrack to 1968’s “Django, Prepare a Coffin”. They looped a moody piece of acoustic guitar and vocals from the song to create the backing track. Despite pulling from an obscure source, the choice still allowed Green and Danger Mouse’s vision to come through. It also served as an easter egg for genre films fans who may have thought that a certain mournful melody in “Crazy” sounded very familiar.

#4: “Kim” by Eminem

Sampled “When the Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin
Some songs that were once controversial lose their power to shock over time. But “Kim” is just as hard-hitting now as it was when it was released. Between its disturbing subject matter and intense delivery, the grim track needed something moody to tie it together. In the end, Led Zepplin’s “When the Levee Breaks” fit the bill. The classic rock staple serves as the percussive backbeat to Eminem’s horrifying storytelling. Throughout the song, it helps amplify the aggression on display. And there is a LOT of aggression. So, we wouldn’t be surprised if even the most hardcore Led Zeppelin fans missed their presence in Eminem’s “Kim”.

#3: “Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G.

Sampled “Juicy Fruit’ by Mtume
The original “Juicy Fruit” from Mtume was a fantastic slice of polished, early eighties funk. This smooth-as-silk jam earned a new lease on life when it was sampled by The Notorious B.I.G. for his hit, “Juicy.” Biggie and producer Puff Daddy put a little bit of their own work into the mix. Additionally, they re-recorded the chorus section and chose to use an alternate instrumental mix of the Mtume track for the basic groundwork. This ingenuity makes “Juicy Fruit” the best sort of sample. It’s one that’s used enough to be memorable. At the same time, it showcased how Biggie Smalls was in firm control of his lyrics, flow, and how he wanted his music to be presented.


#2: “Hung Up” by Madonna

Sampled “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” by ABBA
The songwriting geniuses behind ABBA, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, don’t give out permission to sample their music to just anyone. But Madonna isn’t just anyone. She’s…well, Madonna. That’s why the pair allowed the queen of pop to sample their intro to “Gimme! Gimme! Gimmie! (A Man After Midnight)” for her track, “Hung Up.” This was allegedly only the second time they’d allowed something like this. Thankfully, the results proved well worth it. That iconic synth melody just sounds too BIG to be denied. It not only made the ABBA original a chart success, but allowed Madonna to ride a similar wave of success with “Hung Up.”

#1: “Crazy in Love," by Beyoncé

Sampled "Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)," by The Chi-Lites
If you’re like us, you just can’t get enough of the dope horns and that killer break beat in this “The Chi-Lites” classic. “Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So)” did ok business for the group back when they released the track on their second album, “I Like Your Lovin’, Do You Like Mine?” But the pulsing bass and driving hook received a new lease on life when Beyoncé sampled the track on her mega-hit “Crazy in Love.” Today, the melody is instantly recognizable. We can’t begin to imagine how Beyoncé’s track would sound without the sample. Her production makes The Chi-Lites’ original instrumentation sound all the more amazing.
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