A listenable history of Kanye West’s samples
Kanye West’s songs have always been huge, elaborate affairs that either build off of an existing song or pick out the best parts of several others to create one coherent and cooler whole. And while West may be known for his early work with soul, his choice of samples has now made it all the way to Elton John and Bon Iver.
West’s samples are listed in his album’s liner notes, but if you search around online, you’ll find a bit of disagreement over what he grabbed from each song (sometimes lyrics, sometimes a whole tune) and whether or not there are actually other, uncredited excerpts involved — the collection below has been formed in part from those arguments. For the most part though, the samples come through loud and clear in West’s tracks, propelling each song forward. Curious just how far and wide West searches for a great tune? Look below for history on West’s sampling.
The College Dropout
We Don’t Care
Listen back to back and try to tell which song you're starting.
Samples: "I Just Wanna Stop," by The Jimmy Castor Bunch
Play song →Play sample →
All Falls Down
Kanye rerecords the gorgeous hook from Lauryn Hill's song.
Samples: "Mystery of Iniquity," by Lauryn Hill
Play song →Play sample →
Spaceship
Marvin Gaye's soothing tones keep Kanye's "Spaceship" down to Earth, even when things get aggressive.
Samples: "Distant Lover," by Marvin Gaye
Play song →Play sample →
Jesus Walks
It's should be no surprise that Kanye turns to a choir for the booming hooks of "Jesus Walks."
Samples: "Walk With Me," by The ARC Choir; and "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go," by Curtis Mayfield
Play song →Play ARC Choir sample →
Play Curtis Mayfield sample →
Never Let Me Down
Kanye plays off of Blackjack, and Jay Z just borrows from himself.
Samples: "Maybe It's the Power of Love," by Blackjack; and "Hovi Baby (Remix)," by Jay Z
Play song →Play Blackjack sample →
Play Jay Z sample →
Slow Jamz
Are you gonna jam slower than Luther Vandross?
Samples: "A House is not a Home," by Luther Vandross.
Play song →Play sample →
Breathe In Breathe Out
Those horns.
Samples: "Precious Precious," by Jackie Moore
Play song →Play sample →
School Spirit
Turning some serious spirit into a frat-house anthem.
Samples: "Spirit in the Dark," by Aretha Franklin
Play song →Play sample →
Two Words
Movements IV and V would have been a good choice too.
Samples: "Peace and Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) – Movement III (Time)," by Mandrill
Play song →Play sample →
Through the Wire
A perfect example of College Dropout's high-pitched, sped-up sampling.
Samples: "Through the Fire," by Chaka Khan
Play song →Play sample →
Family Business
Borrowed lyrics and small samples find their way in.
Samples: "Ambitionz Az a Ridah," by 2Pac; and "Fonky Thang," by The Dells
Play song →Play 2Pac sample →
Play The Dells sample →
Last Call
Making Kanye's "Last Call" sparkle.
Samples: "Mr. Rockefeller," by Bette Midler
Play song →Play sample →
Late Registration
Wake Up Mr. West
This is not the attitude Natalie Cole had in mind.
Samples: "Someone That I Used To Love," by Natalie Cole
Play song →Play sample →
Heard 'Em Say
Cole's song keeps evolving.
Samples: "Someone That I Used To Love," by Natalie Cole; and "Candy Maker," by Tommy James & The Shondells
Play song →Play Natalie Cole sample →
Play Tommy James & The Shondells sample →
Touch the Sky
Amazing in both incarnations.
Samples: "Move On Up," by Curtis Mayfield
Play song →Play sample →
Gold Digger
Flipping Ray Charles' song on its head.
Samples: "I Got A Woman," by Ray Charles
Play song →Play sample →
Drive Slow
You'll recognize "Wildflower" right from the start.
Samples: "Wildflower," by Hank Crawford
Play song →Play sample →
My Way Home
As though this sample wasn't funky enough…
Samples: "Home Is Where the Hatred Is," by Gil Scott-Heron
Play song →Play sample →
Crack Music
Wait for the horns.
Samples: "Since You Came in My Life," by New York Community Choir
Play song →Play sample →
Roses
Again with the name play.
Samples: "Rosie," by Bill Withers
Play song →Play sample →
Addiction
Just as catchy on its own.
Samples: "My Funny Valentine," by Etta James
Play song →Play sample →
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (remix)
You probably realized where this sample came from…
Samples: "Diamonds Are Forever," by Shirley Bassey
Play song →Play sample →
We Major
Kanye slows down the drums beneath his elaborate orchestration.
Samples: "Action," by Orange Krush
Play song →Play sample →
Hey Mama
La la la la la…
Samples: "Today Won't Come Again," by Donal Leace
Play song →Play sample →
Celebration
Aw, yeah.
Samples: "Heavenly Dream," by The Kay-Gees
Play song →Play sample →
Gone
Great on its own, but a little Ye doesn't hurt either.
Samples: "It's Too Late," by Otis Redding
Play song →Play sample →
Graduation
Good Morning
Graduation's sound is bigger, and so are the names on its samples.
Samples: "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," by Elton John
Play song →Play sample →
Champion
Kanye borrows a catchy hook and makes it 10 times catchier.
Samples: "Kid Charlemagne," by Steely Dan
Play song →Play sample →
Stronger
There's a lot of contention over whether Kanye’s song or his sample is better. Let's just agree that they're both pretty sweet.
Samples: "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger," by Daft Punk
Play song →Play sample →
I Wonder
Even with a huge beat overtop of it, the tone of Siffre's song comes through loud and clear.
Samples: "My Song," by Labi Siffre
Play song →Play sample →
Good Life
Slow the end of "P.Y.T" way down and you'll realize why "Good Life" sounds quite so good.
Samples: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," by Michael Jackson
Play song →Play sample →
Barry Bonds
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Samples: "Long Red," by Mountain
Play song →Play sample →
Drunk and Hot Girls
It's times like these that really make you wonder just how much music Kanye listens to.
Samples: "Sing Swan Song," by Can
Play song →Play sample →
Everything I Am
Keeping it just as soulful.
Samples: "If We Can't Be Lovers," by Prince Phillip Mitchell; and "Bring the Noise," by Public Enemy
Play song →Play Prince Phillip Mitchell sample →
Play Public Enemy sample →
The Glory
Nyro's lyric about studying makes for the perfect close to Graduation.
Samples: "Save the Country," by Laura Nyro; and "Long Red," by Mountain
Play song →Play Laura Nyro sample →
Play Mountain sample →
808s & Heartbreak
Heartless
808s & Heartbreak doesn't sample often. But when it does, it works.
Samples: "Ammonia Avenue," by The Alan Parsons Project
Play song →Play sample →
Robocop
Great expectations, low returns.
Samples: "Kissing in the Rain," by Patrick Doyle
Play song →Play sample →
Coldest Winter
A few choice lyrics.
Samples: "Memories Fade," by Tears for Fears
Play song →Play sample →
Bad News
Forget the 808. This drum sample is where it's at.
Samples: "See Line Woman," by Nina Simone
Play song →Play sample →
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Dark Fantasy
There's not much higher to go than this.
Samples: "In High Places," by Mike Oldfield
Play song →Play sample →
Gorgeous
Kanye recreates these 60's sounds as a garage-rock anthem driving his song forward.
Samples: "You Showed Me," by The Turtles
Play song →Play sample →
Power
Huge samples, huge song.
Samples: "It's Your Thing," by Cold Grits; "Afromerica," by Continent Number 6; and "21st Century Schizoid Man," by King Crimson
Play song →Play Cold Grits sample →
Play Continent Number 6 sample →
Play King Crimson sample →
So Appalled
A dark breakdown becomes an even darker song.
Samples: "You Are - I Am," by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Play song →Play sample →
Devil in a New Dress
Guess whose song is more romantic?
Samples: "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," by Smokey Robinson
Play song →Play sample →
Runaway
Pulling out tiny pieces to spice up one massive track.
Samples: "Expo 83," by Backyard Heavies; and "Mary Jane (live)," by Rick James
Play song →Play Backyard Heavies
sample →
Play Rick James sample →
Hell of a Life
Yeah, this song has everything.
Samples: "She's My Baby," by Mojo Men; "Stud-Spider," by Tony Joe White; and "Iron Man," by Black Sabbath
Play song →Play Mojo Men sample →
Play Tony Joe White sample →
Play Black Sabbath sample →
Blame Game
Here's hoping the new Aphex Twin makes an appearance in the future.
Samples: "Avril 14th," by Aphex Twin
Play song →Play sample →
Lost in the World
Funk + Bon Iver + Gil Scott-Heron = amazing.
Samples: "Soul Makossa," by Manu Dibango; "Think (About It)," by Lynn Collins; "Woods," by Bon Iver; and "Comment #1," by Gil Scott-Heron
Play song →Play Manu Dibango sample →
Play Lynn Collins sample →
Play Bon Iver sample →
Play Gil Scott-Heron sample →
Who Will Survive in America
It's too good to stop.
Samples: "Comment #1," by Gil Scott-Heron
Play song →Play sample →
Yeezus
On Sight
Yeezus gets dark quickly. This eerie organ tune helps.
Samples: "Sermon (He'll Give Us What We Really Need)," by Holy Name of Mary Choral Family
Play song →Play sample →
I Am a God
An intro too good to only use once.
Samples: "Forward Inna Dem Clothes," by Capleton; and "Are Zindagi Hai Khel," by Manna Dey, Rahul Burman, and Asha Bhosle
Play song →Play Capleton sample →
Play Dey/Burman/Bhosle sample →
New Slaves
And for the epic resolution…
Samples: "Gyöngyhajú lány," by Omega
Play song →Play sample →
I'm in It
More like a fever dream.
Samples: "Lately," by Lattimore
Play song →Play sample →
Blood on the Leaves
Of all the controversial things on Yeezus, Kanye's repurposing of "Strange Fruit" might come out on top.
Samples: "Strange Fruit," by Nina Simone; "R U Ready," by TNGHT; and "Down for My Niggaz," by C-Murder
Play song →Play Nina Simone sample →
Play TNGHT sample →
Play C-Murder sample →
Guilt Trip
A huge intro becomes a dark and booming sample.
Samples: "Chief Rocka," by Lords of the Underground; and "Blocka (Ackeejuice Rockers Remix)," by Pusha T
Play song →Play Lords of the Underground sample →
Play Pusha T sample →
Sent it Up
Another song called "Memories Fade"?
Samples: "Memories Fade," by Beenie Man
Play song →Play sample →
Bound 2
None of these songs are coming out on top without a Kim Kardashian music video.
Samples: "Aeroplane (Reprise)," by Wee; "Bound," by Ponderosa Twins Plus One; and "Sweet Nothin’s," by Brenda Lee
Play song →Play Wee sample →
Play Ponderosa Twins Plus One sample →
Play Brenda Lee sample →
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