Ever since DJ Kool Herc spun records at those legendary New York block parties in the seventies, extending five second breakdowns into "five minute loops of fury" and funk, hip-hop music has always had an intrinsic relationship with the soul, funk and reggae genres. With the evolution of rap music and technology though, many producers took those classic cuts and added their own spin on the them, creating timeless tunes that in part pay homage to the artists before it and lay out blueprints for the future generations of rhymeslingers and beatmakers alike. Soul samples are like gold to me when it comes to hip-hop music. I love hearing guys like DJ Premier, Large Professor and Pete Rock chop up beats by artists such as Isaac Hayes and The Stylistics and create something unique; that true head nod shit. That's the beauty of a soul sample, I think, the old synths and trumpets, the climactic crescendos - it's music in one of it's purest forms, sonically dope.
Listed below are my favourite soul records sampled by some of hip-hop most coveted producers (along with a few wildcards too).
5. Caldera - Ancient Source
Rick Ross - Maybach Music 3 f/ T.I, Jadakiss & Erykah Badu (prod. J.U.S.T.I.C.E League)
Rapsody - Honda Accord Music f/ Skyzoo & Thee Tom Hardy (prod. 9th Wonder)
Pitch Black - It's All Real (prod. DJ Premier)
4. Kool and The Gang - Summer Madness
Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth - What's Next On The Menu? (prod. Pete Rock
Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff - Summertime (prod. DJ Jazzy Jeff)
Erykah Badu - Certainly (Flipped It) (prod. Madukwu Chinwah)
Gangstarr - DJ Premier In Deep Concentration (prod. DJ Premier)
Big Pun - You Ain't A Killer (prod. Younglord)
3. Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets
Da Brat - Funkdafied (prod. Jermaine Dupri)
Jay-Z - Ignorant Shit f/ Beanie Sigel (prod. Just Blaze
Notorious B.I.G - Big Poppa (prod. Chucky Thompson)
Big L - Fed Up With The Bullshit (prod. Lord Finesse)
2. Isaac Hayes - The Look of Love
Jay-Z - Can I Live (prod. Irv Gotti)
3rd Bass - Gladiator (prod. Daddy Rich)
Kim Summerson - Choices (prod. Dr. Dre)
Snoop Dogg - G'z Up, Hoes Down (prod. Dr. Dre)
1. Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell (prod. Large Professor)
Elzhi - It Ain't Hard To Tell (prod. Will Sessions)
Jason Nevins pres. Holly James - Heaven (prod. Jason Nevins)
Termanology - Pay Jay f/ Big Pooh, Joe Scudda, Chaundon (prod. J Dilla)
What are some of your favourite soul samples? Let me know!
First time i heard that isley brothers sample was on ATCQ's "bonita applebum" Hootie remix... it and big poppa is like my instinctive go to's when i think bout songs built around that sample
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