The Most Sampled Songs in Hip Hop

What song is sampled the most?

According to the folks over at WhoSampled, the most sampled track in the history of music remains "Amen, Brother" by The Winstons. It’s estimated that the song has been sampled around 6005 times, in part owing to its classic drum break at 1:27 minutes in. Perhaps the best-known use is the unforgettable beat of NWA’s "Straight Outta Compton." Dr. Dre famously took the short drum break, slowed it down, and looped the break, creating one of the most iconic drum samples in hip hop history. Elsewhere the track has been sampled by the likes of Tyler, the Creator, Jay-Z, The Prodigy, and DJ Shadow.

Top 4 most sampled songs

The following four most sampled tracks are a hefty margin below "Amen, Brother":

• With an estimated 3316 uses, Lyn Collins’ "Think (About It)" has become a favourite amongst producers. Used by the likes of Madlib, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, and even Beyoncé on her latest album. The Think break has been kept alive by countless producers.
• Fab 5 Freddy’s "Change the Beat" is another favourite having been sampled around 2629 times. From pop-rap like Macklemore’s "Thrift Shop," to golden-age classics like Eric B. & Rakim’s "Paid in Full," the composition has a wide usage across hip hop’s many subgenres. It was even used in perhaps the earliest hip hop-jazz fusion with Herbie Hancock’s 1983 release, "Rockit."
• Given hip hop’s early reliance on funk’s rhythms, it makes sense that James Brown’s "Funky Drummer" comes in fourth place. Sampled by the likes of Jay-Z, Mos Def, Public Enemy, and LL Cool J, "Funky Drummer" has been of great use to many a classic hip hop producer. James Brown remains one of the most sampled artists in hip hop history.
• In fifth place with 1084 uses, we have a hip hop track from Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick. Their "La Di Da Di" has found itself repurposed in classic tracks by rap legends like The Notorious B.I.G, and Beastie Boys as well as by popstars like Beyoncé.

Famous samples in hip-hop history

Famous samples in music outside of hip-hop

Sampling isn't exclusive to hip-hop. One example is Madonna, who made waves on "Hung Up" by sampling ABBA’s "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (A Man After Midnight)". In a wild merger of styles, Janet Jackson famously sampled Joni Mitchell’s "Big Yellow Taxi" for "Got Til’ It’s Gone."

Other known examples in modern music include Britney Spears' "Toxic," Daft Punk's "One More Time," numerous interpolations by David Bowie, and The Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats." The fact even an artist like George Michael went as far as sampling a 1984 song by hip-hop legend Kurtis Blow, exemplifies the importance of sampling in other genres.

What are the most sampled beats in hip hop?

We’ve covered the top five most sampled tracks in hip-hop. But what are the most sampled beats? In other words, what are the rap instrumentals that have reappeared time and time again, becoming a fixture of the genre.

We have already mentioned Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s "La Di Da Di." This is technically the most sampled hip-hop track in rap history. But hip-hop fans will know about the recurrent use of "Bring The Noise" by Public Enemy. Run-DMC’s live rendition of "Here We Go" has been sampled many times as well by artists like J Dilla, Beastie Boys, and The Alchemist.

What are some famous non-musical samples?

Aside from sampling records, many artists have used snippets from a variety of unexpected sources. One example would be the use of gunshot sounds or police sirens in early gangsta rap. Elsewhere we have the recurrent sampling of famous speeches by the likes of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Used by artists like Public Enemy and Jungle Brothers, these speech samples added to the political meaning of their tracks.

Similarly, the spoken word of Gil Scott Heron has been sampled several times by artists like Kanye West. Looking to the underground, frequent sampling of old film dialogue has added a collage-esque character to iconic work by MF Doom and Madlib. Thus, producers should always be open-minded to the possibilities of sampling.

What song uses the most samples?

Iconic for their bafflingly extensive use of samples, The Avalanches certainly deserve a shout for some of the most samples used in one song. Such as "Frontier Psychiatrist"—a track from their 2000 album Since I Left You—which contains an estimated 28 samples.

What artist uses the most samples?

According to the database at WhoSampled, DJ Premier is the most prolific sampler of all time, owing to his decades-long career and a continued commitment to sample-heavy boom bap. It’s estimated that Premier has used an astonishing 1,458 samples. At a large margin below the old-school icon, we have Girl Talk, Madlib, DJ Shadow, and Dr. Dre.

Who is the most sampled artist of all time?

The most sampled artist of all time undoubtedly goes to the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. The funk legend has been sampled a staggering 8554 times. From Kendrick Lamar to Kanye West; Boogie Down Productions to Childish Gambino; Madonna to The Stone Roses, everyone has found sampling gold in James Brown’s vast discography. Though artists like The Winstons and Lyn Collins follow in second and third, Brown remains a foundational reference for the sound of hip-hop.

Read more about the most sampled music of all time

Given the major role sampling plays in modern music, it’s worth exploring the iconic songs and artists that have been foundational references for contemporary musical trends. From hip-hop to neo-soul, sampledelia to EDM, sampling is an ingrained feature of today’s popular music. If you want to dig even deeper check out our article on the most sampled drum beat in hip hop history.