Samples have always been the foundation of hip-hop since the beginning, from a Dj scratching different songs together to producers flipping a beat over for a hit single. Through each year its interesting to see how producers continue to evolve and dig up never before used samples for a memorable song. 2016 was no different, as many producers found diamonds in rough, creating hits that will be played for years. Here’s my list of my favorite samples used in 2016:
Put That On My Set – ASAP Rocky Feat. Skepta
Producer Lil Awree & A$AP Rocky decided to bring back one of the best samples in rap, Brother Gonna Work it Out by Willie Hutch, a song that has been sampled for Rat Tat Tat Tat by Dr Dre & Lost by Chance. Chalk up another W for this song as The U.K. God Skepta & Rocky go in on this and make it one of the most enjoyable songs of the year.
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Morning Sex – Joey Purp
S/o Joey Purp & Odd Couple for their smart move of putting this song as the intro and immediately grabbing your attention. They sample You Make My Life A Sunny Day by Phoenix Express and the use of the horns perfectly to make this one of best opening tracks of the year.
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R3hqc6clt8
Song: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/266099357″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Blessings (Reprise) – Chance The Rapper
Probably the most beautiful song of 2016 would not have happened without producers Cam Obi & The Social Experiment using this genius sample by Fred Hammond. Along with the sample, Chance uses his own choir for the hook that consists of stars like Anderson Paak or Raury to propel this track to a choir song on steroids. We need this in our churches come 2017.
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[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/266130842″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Nas Album Done – Nas
S/o to Nas who somehow found his way onto the DJ Khaled album with probably the best song on there. The beat is orchestrated by 808-Ray and Cool & Dre, who sample Lauryn Hill’s hook off Fu-Gee-La by the Fugees, so you already know it was gonna be dope. I feel like this is just the beginning of the Nas takeover in 2017, so watch out.
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She Wish She Was – YG
I don’t know what YG is drinking but whatever he is give me two. He somehow has brought back that old school west coast vibe and this song is no different. He & producer Dopson used the classic Foe Life song by Mack 10 for the sample. It is executed so well that it makes you feel like you’re actually driving thru LA while listening to it. Sidenote, this is probably one of the funniest songs of 2016 too.
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba2q6TUHgbU
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Right Now – Future
If you sample Tupac you better come with that fire and Future did that with this one. Producers DJ Esco & Cassius Jay got the sample from Pac’s No More Pain and made it an ultra aggressive intro, then ran it back when the beat dropped. Together with Future they created another hit for the dirty sprite legend, signifying further that Future will never lose.
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vZKPikFD9k
Song: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/270727583″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Dope Dealer – Schoolboy Q
When you get all-star producers Metro Boomin & SouthSide on a track you know it’s gonna be special, throw in a Three 6 Mafia sample and it turns legendary. The execution of the use of Three 6’s track is flawless and when the beat drops you actually feel like you are Ghost from the show Power moving weight in the streets. Also E-40 comes in too, which makes this song go from a 10/10 to a 20/10.
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Ain’t It Funny – Danny Brown
Leave it to a Danny Brown producer (Paul White) to find a song by Pink Floyd’s drummer (Nick Mason) and use his song “Wervin” for a sample. Literally this is one of the craziest beats I’ve heard this year and only Danny Brown himself could be the one to body it. Keep doing your thing Danny, you’re one of the most creative in the game.
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U With Me? – Drake
Kanye flexed his producer muscle on this mixing DMX;s “What These Bitches Want” and producing my favorite Drake track of 2016. Also s/o to Drake for taking the DMX theme further and sampling How’s it Goin Down on the hook.
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Lite Spots – Kaytranada
This song is just an instrumental but it still blows my mind how Kaytranada was able to work this sample from Brazilian Artist Gal Costa in a beat. Props to him for finding this and using it so effectively that when the beat drops it gets too lit.
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We The People – A Tribe Called Quest
S/o to ATCQ for using Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath to create one of the most politically charged tracks of 2016. When Rock & Rap come together it’s always beautiful and this is a prime example of that.
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Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1
Kanye really is the reason I wrote this article in the first place, he is able to not only use a sample but makes the listener appreciate it. This song is a great example of this, because when “You’re The Only Power” starts I feel like Jesus himself has actually come back to earth. Again Church, the ball is in your court, we need this in rotation during 2017. Also Check out the live performance of it below and notice how the crowd knows the sample. Kanye is top 5 dead or alive idc what J Cole Says.
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