Last week, I put out a list for my favorite hip-hop samples of the year. This week, I wanted to give R&B its shine, as this genre has had a solid 2016 overall. The best part of the genre now is that a lot of R&B songs are now incorporating old hits into current songs to rejuvenate the genre even further. Here are my top samples of R&B in 2016:
Get Bigger/Do u Luv – NxWorries (Prod. by Knxwledge)
First of all, I’m happy for Knxwledge, who is finally getting the shine he deserves after many years of hard work. Teaming up with Anderson Paak has been one of the best moves of the last two years, as the tandem are a modern day Shaq & Kobe on this album. My favorite part of Knxwledge is that he is one of the dopest producers at bringing soul to his sound. He does it on this one too, using a Webster Lewis sample on Get Bigger. Then coming back by fitting in a dope Ronnie Mcneir sample for the short song Do U Luv. Genius.
Song:
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhFIVEAFcNM
Flex – Tory Lanez (Prod. By Play Picasso, Lavish, & xxyyxx)
Flex is the perfect title for this song, as Tory does just that providing some dope vocals over an xxyyxx sample. xxyyxx has been putting out some of my favorite beats for a while now and it’s great that he also got more recognition on this one by the Toronto artist. S/o to Play Picasso & Lavish as well, who made multiple hits along with this one with Tory throughout 2016. Toronto stays winning.
Song:
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG23Xz2TA-A
Too Deep – dvsn (Prod. by Nineteen85)
Probably my favorite new artist of 2016 dropped maybe my favorite R&B song of the year. S/o to nineteen85, who along with singer Daniel Daley bring together the group dvsn. Nineteen85 took many W’s in 2016 and this is definitely one of the standouts by using a throwback Ginuwine sample. Add the choir, plus the hard bass it turned this song into one of the best tracks to come out of OVO. Also, if you ever get the chance to see this live, do so, I did in June and it was life changing.
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Sample:
Let Me Explain – Bryson Tiller (Prod. by Phonix Beats)
Bryson Tiller came back with a hit single in the middle of the year talking that real talk like usual. Producer, Phonix Beats, brought this song together using an old Missy Elliott song with Ginuwine. This sample is used about as perfect as anybody could ask for, setting the right vibe for Bryson to do his thing.
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Sample:
Ex Calling – 6LACK (Prod. by Southside)
S/o to 6LACK for not only releasing one of the dopest album of 2016, also spinning a Future song for his own hit. Not many artist can do this and still come out with a great song on the other end. However, 6LACK did it, further solidifying how bright his future will be.
Song:
Perky’s Calling:
Close To You – Frank Ocean (Prod. by Francis Farewell Starlite, Vegyn, & Buddy Ross)
This is why Frank Ocean is a once in a generation artist. Who would ever be able to use a Stevie Wonder live performance as a sample and execute it perfectly? Honestly, everytime I hear this it still gives me chills because of how sonically incredible it sounds. S/o to the team of the producers who gave Frank this beat, which included Francis and the Lights, you are appreciated. (The sample starts at the 1:32 mark)
Song:
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARkcpUuqIW4
Nobody – PartyNextDoor (Prod. by Partynextdoor)
This is why so many producers amaze me, they literally can take anything and make it a dope beat. Partynextdoor is a prime example of this, who produced it by taking the last solo part of Sza on Wale’s track and sped it up for his song. Using that combined with the bass, makes this one of my favorite PnD songs of the year.
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Sample:
Same Ol’ Mistakes – Rihanna (Produced by Kevin Parker)
I know this is not technically R&B, but Rihanna spun this Tame Impala song so well I got to give her props. It was so good, even Tame Impala publicly showed their appreciation for how well Rihanna executed it. I feel bad, as this gave me my first exposure to Tame Impala and now I can’t stop listening to them now. In my opinion, “Anti” was the best Rihanna album by her and this track solidified that for me.
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Sample:
Deja Vu – Twenty88 (Prod. by Amaire Johnson, Cam O’bi, & Key Wane)
The Big Sean & Jhene Aiko combination was one of the most unexpected duos to come out of 2016, but I’m actually glad it happened. Of all the songs on their EP, this one was my favorite, as their team of producers sampled an old R&B cut from the group Xscape. I’m hoping for more songs like this from Twenty88 in 2017.
Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IETBXlCVSe8
Sample:
Secrets – The Weeknd (Prod. by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, & Cirkut)
First of all, I love this song so much that I pretty much listen to it everyday, as it reminds me of my parents music I heard growing up. The Weeknd, along with producers Don Mckinney & Cirkut sampled an old 80’s Tears for Fears song perfectly. Along with this, the Weeknd used a hook from The Romantics, to make this song even further feel like it would be a hit 30 years ago. This is why I love music, as it can cross many genres, making you appreciate songs that were hits long before you were alive.
Song:
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNe2OK1-LNs
Redbone by Childish Gambino (Prod. by Childish Gambino & Ludwig Goransson)
Childish Gambino dropped one of the most unexpected sounding but amazing albums of 2016. Redbone was a prime example of this, as both him & Ludwig Goransson brought together two songs from the 70’s to produce this standout track. Chalk up another W for Donald Glover, he can’t lose.
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