# Unexpected samples in Hip-Hop **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813 "2007-08-24T19:55:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/1 "2007-08-24T19:55:46Z")
Probably the weirdest sample I can think of is Nelly’s “Hot in Here”, which samples, of all things, Neil Young’s “There’s a World.” What the hell is Nelly doing listening to Neil Young? Chime in, guys. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/2 "2007-08-24T19:59:10Z")
I still think Gwen Stafani’s use of that yodeling song from The Sound of Music was beyond weird. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/3 "2007-08-24T20:23:21Z")
“Gimme Some More” by Busta Rhymes has that creepy music at the beginning which according to wiki is from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, but it was actually taken from Citizen Kane if I’m not mistaken, though the music for both movies is by Bernard Herrmann. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/4 "2007-08-24T20:29:53Z")
Going way back, the the foundation of the song “Similac Child” by Black Sheep is a loop of angrily barking dogs. It sounds weird, but it works, man does it ever work. What a great song. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/5 "2007-08-24T21:38:27Z")
There’s a famous classical excerpt 3 minutes 2 seconds into the UK version of A Tribe Called Quest’s _Can I Kick It?_. I think it’s Verdi, but I’m not sure. I’d upload an mp3 (on a strictly temporary basis) but I’m not sure what the rules are around that. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/6 "2007-08-24T21:43:55Z")
Ah, never mind, got it. Prokofiev, “Romeo & Juliet”, Op. 64, “Montagues & Capulets (Dance of the Knights)”. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/7 "2007-08-25T08:34:30Z")
There’s a Fugees song that samples “Boadicea” By Enya, off her soundtrack album for _The Celts._ ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/8 "2007-08-25T08:44:05Z")
the Grey album, theres a track with a Madona sample, Rocky Racoon (beatles) the track is “Justify my thug” I have been listening to a ton of Dan the Automator lately the man has some seriously obscure samples, lots of classical but a ton of stuff I have no idea where it came from. ---
**Author:** ![hocow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hocow/32/4112_2.png) [@hocow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hocow)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/9 "2007-08-25T14:02:56Z")
Just recently, Kanye West’s new song “Stronger” samples from Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”. I thought it was weird at first, but it works. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/10 "2007-08-25T14:15:33Z")
Didn’t some hip-hop song lift music from the _Inspector Gadget_ theme? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/11 "2007-08-25T15:31:50Z")
Not Hip-Hop, but _Whats on Your Mind_ - **Pure Energy** has a sample of Spock say that famous line… ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/12 "2007-08-25T15:34:41Z")
Blackalicious lifting Harry Nilsson’s “Me and my arrow,” from _The Point_, for “Blazing Arrow.” Jay Dee using Raymond Scott’s jingle for “lightworks” on his last record. And the original “weird sample that shouldn’t work but does” - A Tribe Called Quest using Rotary Connection’s (the psychedelic soul band that “loving you” Minnie Ripperton fronted in the sixties) “Memory Band” for “Bonita Applebaum.” ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/13 "2007-08-25T18:11:47Z")
I think it would have to be “It’s A Hard-Knock Life” from _Annie_, sampled by Jay-Z, of course. Also, “Wooden Horse” by Craig Mack samples “High Hopes” by Frank Sinatra. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/14 "2007-08-26T22:20:24Z")
This is not well-known, but a British hip-hop group called Liquid Fluid Productions (L.F.P) surprisingly sampled the 1986 Happy Rhodes song “The Wretches Gone Awry” in their song “Stroll On.” Though it may not be as weird as some mentioned, it’s pretty weird, but I personally think it works beautifully, especially lyrically. I like that it’s a positive rap song about just trying to make it in the world when the odds are bad. The song [can be listened to here](http://www.mp3unsigned.com/lfp.asp), if anyone’s interested (streaming audio, not an mp3). I especially like how they used her voice as a beat during the rap parts. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/15 "2007-08-27T00:39:27Z")
[QUOTE=Hippy Hollow] I think it would have to be “It’s A Hard-Knock Life” from _Annie_, sampled by Jay-Z, of course. [/QUOTE] He also sampled “Anything” from Oliver! in his song,which was also called “Anything.” ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/16 "2007-08-27T19:48:35Z")
G-Unit (50 cents old band) used a [sample from Klaatu](http://www.kempa.com/blog/archives/000694.html)! (remember Calling Occupants?) I thought the break at 2 minutes yielded a better bassline, but I guess that’s why I don’t get no respect… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/17 "2007-08-27T19:56:19Z")
At the time, most of the identifiable samples from the Beastie Boy’s _Pauls Boutique_ would qualify. But since the “gritty 70s” image became part of their identity it no longer seems weird. Strange-at-the-time samples: Ballroom Blitz Those Shoes Folsom Prison Blues Superfly and probably many others I can’t think of. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/18 "2007-08-29T17:28:27Z")
[QUOTE=ForumBot] Probably the weirdest sample I can think of is Nelly’s “Hot in Here”, which samples, of all things, Neil Young’s “There’s a World.” What the hell is Nelly doing listening to Neil Young? [/QUOTE] Yeah, but I’d at least expect Nelly to have _heard of_ Neil Young. What’s weirder to me is when someone samples a song from an _obscure_ artist who plays a totally different kind of music. I mean, how many people in the U.S. knew who Dido was when Eminem sampled her song “Thank You” for his hit single “Stan” in 2000. “Thank You” of course become a hit too when it was released as a single, but that was a year _later_. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/19 "2007-08-29T18:58:42Z")
[QUOTE=tim314] Yeah, but I’d at least expect Nelly to have _heard of_ Neil Young. What’s weirder to me is when someone samples a song from an _obscure_ artist who plays a totally different kind of music. I mean, how many people in the U.S. knew who Dido was when Eminem sampled her song “Thank You” for his hit single “Stan” in 2000. “Thank You” of course become a hit too when it was released as a single, but that was a year _later_. [/QUOTE] _raises hand_ I’d seen her perform at a club called the Double Door in Chicago long before the Eminem song came out. As far as I know it was her first tour of the US. The club was packed, sold out, I think. She took time after the show to meet people and sign autographs. I got to meet her and talk to her and I thought she was nice. Her tour after that one probably took place after the Eminem song came out, and she played a much larger venue, the Vic Theater. That first time is the only time I’ve seen her live. There are a lot of artists who are obscure to the general public but who people who stay aware know about (well, with notable exceptions). Dido was causing a huge buzz in England right from the start, with the release of her first album, and that’s how Eminem heard of her to decide to use her song. I know what you mean, but Dido doesn’t fit in that category. Being obscure to you, and to the general public, doesn’t equal being obscure at all. Look at Happy Rhodes, she’s been making music for over 20 years, has 11 albums, has one of the oldest mailing lists on the internet, has a worldwide underground cult following. Have you ever heard of her? I’d kinda doubt it unless it came from me blathering. There are tons of artist FAR more well-known than her that you and/or the general public have never heard of and would be clueless about if the name were mentioned (say, Kate Bush, or Jane Siberry, or Eddi Reader). ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813/20 "2007-08-29T19:07:34Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] Didn’t some hip-hop song lift music from the _Inspector Gadget_ theme? [/QUOTE] Yup: Slick Rick’s _The Show_. I loved the first couple of De La Soul albums - they sampled just about everything. _Eye know_ had a great sample from Otis Redding’s _Sittin’ on the dock of the bay_ . There is a list of samples De La used [here](http://www.geocities.com/sterling3l/samples_archive.html) - many of them quite strange, but they worked! And thanks **Stolichnaya** - I had completely forgotten Black Sheep. Great first album. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unexpected-samples-in-hip-hop/416813.md?page=2)