Hip Hop was born when a myriad of musical styles fused together to make something great. In a genre fueled by experimentation, “sampling” became a pillar that its leaders leaned on. As a result, most of the Hip-Hop songs we all know, and love were crafted out of other songs we’ve never heard. To fully appreciate the Hip-Hop movement, we must recognize the musicians of eras before that laid its foundation. In this post, I will look at three iconic songs and the original samples used as their cornerstones. If you’re a fan of smooth loops and head-bopping drums, chances are you’re a fan of pre-80’s jazz compositions too.
The Pharcyde and Stan Getz
The Pharcyde is first up to the plate, bringing their hit song “Runnin’” off the 1995 album Labcabincalifornia. The Los Angeles group accumulated a mass following in the early to mid-1990’s by incorporating elements of jazz and soul in their rap storytelling. On this song, The Pharcyde collaborated with one of Hip Hop’s greatest producers, J Dilla, to make arguably their most successful work. Samples of nostalgic Latin guitar picking, and breezy tones of the saxophone blend together for an unforgettable piece. However, those breathtaking melodies did not come from J Dilla himself. Rather, they are credited to Stan Getz in his song “Saudade Vem Correndo”, off the 1963 album Jazz Samba Encore!. Getz was an American Jazz artist who helped popularize Bossa Nova music in America. He often worked with Brazilian artists such as Luiz Bonfá, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and João Gilberto. In 1964, he recorded an award-winning album with the latter two titled Getz/Gilberto, which held the world-famous track “The Girl from Ipanema”. Dilla’s crate-digging took him as far as back as 60’s Brazilian style jazz. Who knew Hip-Hop’s roots ran so deep?
Wu-Tang Clan and The Charmels
The next song is titled “C.R.E.A.M.”, by the Wu-tang Clan off their 1993 album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). It would be a sin to talk about sampling without mentioning RZA, Wu-Tang Clan’s founder and producer. RZA took sampling to the next level by incorporating snippets of dialogues from old Kung-Fu movies in his instrumentals. Soul music also had a major influence on his ear, which directly translates to his music. “C.R.E.A.M.” is a Hip-Hop classic that some would consider the most impactful Hip-Hop song ever created. Millions of people recognize the familiar piano melody that is looped throughout, but only a few know where it originates. The iconic sample comes from the opening six seconds of The Charmel’s 1967 single “As Long as I’ve Got You”. With a few chops and screws, RZA flipped this sweet soul record into a ballad of the streets.
MF Doom and Cortex
Along with J Dilla and RZA, the work of underground artist MF Doom is rich with samples of all kind. Known for his “supervillain” persona, MF Doom fills his instrumentals with dialogues of cartoon shows that paint a narrative of his character. His eccentric beat making stems directly from influences of soul, jazz and funk records. The song “One Beer” off his 2004 album Mm…Food is the posterchild for Doom’s irresistibly unique style. As he tells a story of the “comedic villain” with only one beer left, the oddly beautiful vocals and drums of a 1975 jazz/funk song loop in the background. MF Doom samples “Huit Octobre 1971” by Cortex, off the 1975 album Troupeau Bleu. In fact, a few others in the Hip-Hop community have sampled this French piece, such as Wiz Khalifa’s “Visions” and Tyler the Creator’s “Odd Toddlers”. Cortex delivered a fascinating blend of electronic jazz and funk melodies that inspired music making almost 30 years later.
Expand Your Palate
To quote Nasir Jones, “No idea is original”. The producers of 1990’s and 2000’s Hip-Hop classics found a way to take beautiful music and make it more relatable to people in their generation. By digging up old records and looping certain parts on the turntables, producers created a culture of experimentation that took over the nation. The Hip Hop revolution started with the great minds of the 60’s and 70’s. So, don’t be afraid to dip your feet into the deep waters of jazz, funk, and soul. Expand your palette, you may end up getting a taste for something you can’t get enough of.
Drop your favorite Hip-Hop samples in the comment section below!