The Surprising Origins of 12 Famous Rap Songs
Sampling and remixing other artists' songs has been a staple of rap and hip-hop since the genre's origins, and it continues to this day. It's a great way for artists to pay tribute to other musicians that inspired them, and also adds a new twist on something older. Sometimes the sample becomes so well known that we forget that it came from somewhere else, so take a look at where some of the better ones are from!
Vanilla Ice
The Song: "Ice Ice Baby"
The Sample: "Under Pressure" by Queen
Nas
The Song: "Got Ur Self A Gun"
The Sample: "Woke Up This Morning" by Alabama 3
Snoop Doggy Dogg
The Song: "Who Am I (What's My Name)?"
The Sample: "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton
A Tribe Called Quest
The Song: "Can I Kick It?"
The Sample: "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed
Ice Cube
The Song: "Today Was A Good Day"
The Sample: "Footsteps in the Dark" by The Isley Brothers
Click to the next page to find out where even more famous samples come from!
Warren G
The Song: "Regulate"
The Sample: "I Keep Forgettin' " by Michael McDonald
Tupac Shakur
The Song: "California Love"
The Sample: "Woman to Woman" by Joe Cocker
Wu-Tang Clan
The Song: "Wu-Tang Clain Ain't Nuthing Ta F*** Wit"
The Sample: "Hihachi" by The Lafayette Afro Rock Band
Jay-Z
The Song: "99 Problems"
The Sample: "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier
N.W.A.
The Song: "Gangsta Gangsta"
The Sample: "Funky Worm" by The Ohio Players
P. Diddy
The Song: "Victory"
The Sample: "Going the Distance" by Bill Conti
Blackstreet
The Song: "No Diggity"
The Sample: "Grandma's Hands" by Bill Withers