The 10 Best Uses Of Samples In Music

There's nothing better than hearing a good sample on a song you've been waiting to hear. Or even on a song that you've always loved. They often dictate the mood of the song and have the potential to make or break a piece of music. After some extensive research, I gathered 10 songs that seem to have the sample game figured out.

6 God by Drake

Sample: Donkey Kong Country 2

Rappers are never silent about their love of video games, usually mentioning video game characters or maneuvers in their bars, but Drake took it a step further. Sampling the 1995 video game in "6 God," Drake manages to create a song that feels like the listener is on a mission. This feeling relates to the song itself as 6 God and the album If You're Reading This It's Too Late as a whole showcases Drake's race to the head of the rap game.

Bound 2 by Kanye West

Sample: Bound by the Ponderosa Twins Plus One

I know Kanye is a bit of a touchy figure in music, but I really do believe no one uses a sample better than Mr. West. had to mention my favorite Kanye sample on his song "Bound 2." The Ponderosa Twins Plus One really created the perfect song. Even rapper Tyler, the Creator recognized this with his use of the song on IGOR track "The Boy is A Gun." All in all, I think the use of the sample in "Bound 2" creates a sort of nostalgic and stripped-back feeling that pushes the song to the top of Kanye's discography.

Bootylicious by Destiny’s Child

Sample: Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks

Beyonce, Michelle, and Kelly were 3 young girls with the message of confidence and girl power. There truly isn't a better sample for them to use on their hit song Bootylicious than "Edge of Seventeen!" Stevie Nicks is one of the leaders of carefree women in music inspiring many like Solange, Miley Cyrus, and more. Nothing says carefree like a song about curving guys at the club!

i by Kendrick Lamar

Sample: That Lady by The Isley Brothers

As their recent Verzus battle revealed, The Isley Brothers have been sampled over and over in all music genres. However, Kendrick Lamar's use of "That Lady" is definitely one of my favorite modern uses of the classic R&B group. There's so much juxtaposition in the mashup, and yet it seems to work really well. The dark themes in To Pimp A Butterfly, the subject matter of "i" along with the soulful feeling of "That Lady" make for the perfect anthem about self-love and Black pride.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk

Sample: Cola Bottle Baby by Edwin Birdsong

Daft Punk is the duo behind a lot of samples and house music favorites, but "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" has definitely had the biggest footprint in music. It's crazy to think that the song wasn't exactly an original creation and uses a sample itself, but it goes to show that a great use of a great song can create the ultimate masterpiece.

6 Inch by Beyonce (ft. The Weeknd)

Sample: Walk On By by Isaac Hayes

"6 Inch" is the cool and sexy Lemonade track that uses an equally cool and sexy sample of Isaax Hayes' cover of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By." From the saxophone to the heavy bass, the song paints a scene in the listener's mind of a dark nightclub and a woman ruling the dance floor. The Weeknd's smooth vocals compliment Beyonce's sultry tones to make the song we didn't know we needed from the Queen B.

The Party & The After Party by The Weekend

Sample: Master Of None by Beach House

The Weeknd uses a sped-up sample of "Master of None" to create that sexy yet haunting sound in "The Party & The After Party." It's almost addictive to the ear and makes you want to turn the music up as loud as it can go. The song holds back, leaving the listener longing for more. It's the definition of "lo-fi music to study to." This is only one of the many great samples on The Weeknd's House of Balloons mixtape.

Bad Guy by Billie Eilish

Sample: Pedestrian Crossing Walk Signal

"Bad Guy" took over the radio airwaves last year, but I bet you didn't realize there's a cool sample in the song that adds to that catchy beat that everyone loves. A simple sample of a pedestrian crossing signal in the background creates that beat that keeps your head nodding and your foot tapping. It's a very subtle yet clever sample that I can't un-hear now that I know about it!

The F*ck Shop by 2 Live Crew

Sample: Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses

I never would've thought that I'd be writing about 2 Live Crew and Guns N' Roses in the same post, but here we are. "The F*ck Shop" and "Sweet Child O' Mine" come together to make a summer jam perfect for beach parties and plenty of booty shaking. Honestly, the use of Guns N' Roses shows off the partnership between hip hop and rock music as kind of the black sheep music styles of their times.

Work It by Missy Elliott

Sample: Heart of Glass by Blondie

Another sample from 70's and 80's rock music, Missy Elliott takes a new spin on Blondie's "Heart Of Glass." That knocking and clicking beat that so many people love to imitate on lunch tables comes from an obscure sample. Missy takes the first few seconds of "Heart Of Glass" and loops it throughout "Work It" to make a beat that is bound to get stuck in your head.