Before was the singer, rapper, superstar and self-proclaimed “number one rock star on the planet” he was just a really good producer. West was out of the spotlight and the genius behind some of the best work from Jay-Z, Ludacris and Alicia Keys. But even through his own six solo albums he’s managed to keep production credits on most of the tracks.
Say what you will about his personality and his lyrics, but as a producer he’s always been one of the best in hip-hop. We’ve put together a list of our favorite songs Kanye West has sampled in his music or as a producer in other artist’s tracks.
West plays the Pepsi Center on Nov. 3.
10) Tears for Fears’ “Memories Fade” on “Coldest Winter”
One of the best takeaways from “808s & Heartbreak” is West’s re-appropriation of Tears for Fears’ “Memories Fade.” A heartbreaking end to West’s most personal and emotional album, the track pays homage to the tortured ’80s group.
“Memories Fade”
“Coldest Witner”
9) Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman” (Jamie Foxx) in “Gold Digger”
“Gold Digger” makes for a great example of how hip-hop can interpolate material into a 21st century radio hit. Though, some people are likely not thrilled that West changed the sentiment from the original “I Got a Woman” into a song about baby mamas.
“I Got a Woman”
“Gold Digger”
8) Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster Stronger” in “Stronger”
Probably the best use of sampling Daft Punk in a hip-hop song, West turns the robots into the underlying melody throughout the song and its chorus.
“Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”
“Stronger”
7) Lauryn Hill’s “Mystery of Iniquity” in “All Falls Down”
West quotes Lauryn Hill’s “Mystery of Iniquity” in his anti-materialism hit “All Falls Down.” He also touches on the same themes as Hill’s original, even though he couldn’t secure the rights to use it. This sample is sung by Syleena Johnson.
“Mystery of Iniquality”
“All Falls Down”
6) Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne” in “Champion”
Who expected Kanye West to sample Steely Dan, and who thought it would work this well? Throwing in some synths and claps, West brings Steely Dan’s fusion to a new level, incorporating “Kid Charlemagne” into a vast hip-hop pump-up song.
“Kid Charlemagne”
“Champion”
5) Bon Iver’s “Woods” in “Lost in the World”
An early example of indie music making its way into commercial hip-hop, this is West’s first of a few uses of Bon Iver. West re-imagines Bon Iver’s simple ballad “Woods” into a booming hip-hop anthem complete with a backing choir, heavy synths and marching drums.
“Woods”
“Lost in the World”
4) Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City” on Jay-Z’s “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)”
Part of the magic of hip-hop is its ability to unearth music from decades past. On Jay-Z’s “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love),” West reintroduces a new generation to this Bobby “Blue” Bland recording of “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City.” It might be a fairly obvious use of the song, but West gets credit here for brushing the dirt off the track and realizing its perfect placement in modern hip-hop.
“Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City”
“Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)”
3) Chaka Khan’s “Through the Fire” in “Through the Wire”
West’s sped up usage of Chaka Khan’s “Through the Fire” represents his early production technique that kicked off his career. The squealing chipmunk vocals show West’s first influence on mid-2000s hip-hop production.
“Through the Fire”
“Through the Wire”
2) The Jackson 5 “I Want You Back” in Jay-Z’s “Izzo (H.O.V.A)”
If only there was a way to find out how many people realized that “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” — one of the most popular hip-hop tracks of 2001 — samples the Jackson 5 hit “I Want You Back.” It’s chopped up and subtle, but listen for that piano key run.
“I Want You Back”
“Izzo (H.O.V.A)”
1) Nina Simone’s “Strange Fruit” in “Blood on the Leaves”
While this is a newer version of Billie Holidy’s “Strange Fruit,” it still holds the the same themes of racial injustice and chilling imagery. In West’s “Blood on the Leaves” he bravely juxtaposes “Strange Fruit” in an eerie way with modern hip-hop.
“Strange Fruit”
“Blood on the Leaves”
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