A listenable history of Kanye West’s samples

Listen back to back and try to tell which song you're starting.

Samples: "I Just Wanna Stop," by The Jimmy Castor Bunch

Kanye rerecords the gorgeous hook from Lauryn Hill's song.

Samples: "Mystery of Iniquity," by Lauryn Hill

Marvin Gaye's soothing tones keep Kanye's "Spaceship" down to Earth, even when things get aggressive.

Samples: "Distant Lover," by Marvin Gaye

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

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

Are you gonna jam slower than Luther Vandross?

Samples: "A House is not a Home," by Luther Vandross.

Those horns.

Samples: "Precious Precious," by Jackie Moore

Turning some serious spirit into a frat-house anthem.

Samples: "Spirit in the Dark," by Aretha Franklin

Movements IV and V would have been a good choice too.

Samples: "Peace and Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) – Movement III (Time)," by Mandrill

A perfect example of College Dropout's high-pitched, sped-up sampling.

Samples: "Through the Fire," by Chaka Khan

Borrowed lyrics and small samples find their way in.

Samples: "Ambitionz Az a Ridah," by 2Pac; and "Fonky Thang," by The Dells

Making Kanye's "Last Call" sparkle.

Samples: "Mr. Rockefeller," by Bette Midler

This is not the attitude Natalie Cole had in mind.

Samples: "Someone That I Used To Love," by Natalie Cole

Cole's song keeps evolving.

Samples: "Someone That I Used To Love," by Natalie Cole; and "Candy Maker," by Tommy James & The Shondells

Amazing in both incarnations.

Samples: "Move On Up," by Curtis Mayfield

Flipping Ray Charles' song on its head.

Samples: "I Got A Woman," by Ray Charles

You'll recognize "Wildflower" right from the start.

Samples: "Wildflower," by Hank Crawford

As though this sample wasn't funky enough…

Samples: "Home Is Where the Hatred Is," by Gil Scott-Heron

Wait for the horns.

Samples: "Since You Came in My Life," by New York Community Choir

Again with the name play.

Samples: "Rosie," by Bill Withers

Just as catchy on its own.

Samples: "My Funny Valentine," by Etta James

You probably realized where this sample came from…

Samples: "Diamonds Are Forever," by Shirley Bassey

Kanye slows down the drums beneath his elaborate orchestration.

Samples: "Action," by Orange Krush

La la la la la…

Samples: "Today Won't Come Again," by Donal Leace

Aw, yeah.

Samples: "Heavenly Dream," by The Kay-Gees

Great on its own, but a little Ye doesn't hurt either.

Samples: "It's Too Late," by Otis Redding

Graduation's sound is bigger, and so are the names on its samples.

Samples: "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," by Elton John

Kanye borrows a catchy hook and makes it 10 times catchier.

Samples: "Kid Charlemagne," by Steely Dan

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

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

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

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Samples: "Long Red," by Mountain

It's times like these that really make you wonder just how much music Kanye listens to.

Samples: "Sing Swan Song," by Can

Keeping it just as soulful.

Samples: "If We Can't Be Lovers," by Prince Phillip Mitchell; and "Bring the Noise," by Public Enemy

Nyro's lyric about studying makes for the perfect close to Graduation.

Samples: "Save the Country," by Laura Nyro; and "Long Red," by Mountain

808s & Heartbreak doesn't sample often. But when it does, it works.

Samples: "Ammonia Avenue," by The Alan Parsons Project

Great expectations, low returns.

Samples: "Kissing in the Rain," by Patrick Doyle

A few choice lyrics.

Samples: "Memories Fade," by Tears for Fears

Forget the 808. This drum sample is where it's at.

Samples: "See Line Woman," by Nina Simone

There's not much higher to go than this.

Samples: "In High Places," by Mike Oldfield

Kanye recreates these 60's sounds as a garage-rock anthem driving his song forward.

Samples: "You Showed Me," by The Turtles

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

A dark breakdown becomes an even darker song.

Samples: "You Are - I Am," by Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Guess whose song is more romantic?

Samples: "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," by Smokey Robinson

Pulling out tiny pieces to spice up one massive track.

Samples: "Expo 83," by Backyard Heavies; and "Mary Jane (live)," by Rick James

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

Here's hoping the new Aphex Twin makes an appearance in the future.

Samples: "Avril 14th," by Aphex Twin

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

It's too good to stop.

Samples: "Comment #1," by Gil Scott-Heron

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

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

And for the epic resolution…

Samples: "Gyöngyhajú lány," by Omega

More like a fever dream.

Samples: "Lately," by Lattimore

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

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

Another song called "Memories Fade"?

Samples: "Memories Fade," by Beenie Man

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