15 Must Hear Hip-Hop Songs That Sample The Isley Brothers
Kendrick Lamar's new single 'i' is not the only hip-hop song to awesomely sample a classic Isley Brothers track. If you've not heard them yet, hit play on these hip-hop tracks and listen out for the samples.
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1. Kendrick Lamar - 'i'
This week saw Kendrick Lamar drop his first single in two years, and on it he samples The Isley Brothers' classic 1973 r&b and soul hit 'That Lady', who he says he grew up listening to non-stop.
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2. The Notorious B.I.G - 'Big Poppa'
The title track from their 1983 album, 'Between The Sheets' is a heavily sampled song in hip-hop, with The Notorious B.I.G being one of the most iconic rappers to adapt it 11 years after its original release on his 'Ready To Die' debut album.
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3. Lil Wayne - 'Receipt'
Lil' Wayne left his hard exterior at home when he got in the studio to record 'Receipt' - a love song tribute to his then-girlfriend Trina. To bring the romantic vibes, Wayne sampled Isley Brothers' 'Lay-Away, and it really works.
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4. Jay Z Feat Beanie Sigel - 'Ignorant Sh*t'
Released on Jay Z's 'American Gangster', 'Ignorant Sh*t' heard Jay Z collaborate with Beanie Sigel, sampling 'Between The Sheets', a 1983 Isley Brothers track.
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5. Tupac - 'My Block'
In 1996, 15 years after its original release, Tupac's sample of Isley Brothers 'Don't Say Goodnight' was unveiled on 'My Block', released on his Better Dayz posthumous studio album.
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6. Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa Feat Mike Posner - 'French Inhale'
Snoop, Wiz and Mike Posner borrowed the smooth and soulful beat from Isley Brother's 'Groove With You' for their 2011 single 'French Inhale' which featured in their own film, Mac & Devin Go to High School.
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7. Public Enemy - 'Fight The Power'
Public Enemy's 1989 hit songs samples Isley Brothers 1975 song of the same name as well as a ton of othert tracks, but most are so short you'd do well to catch on. Chuck D once said "our music is all about samples" - and they had good taste in them.
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8. Jay Z feat. Too Short - 'A Week Ago'
This Jay Z track samples Isley Brothers' 'Ballad For The Fall Solider', from their 1983 album 'Between The Sheets' - clearly an inspirational album for Hov.
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9. Nas Feat. R Kelly - 'Street Dreams (Remix)'
Shortly after Nas released 'It Was Written's' second single, which sampled Eurythmics 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)', he enlisted R Kellly for the remix and added a sample from the Isley Brothers' 'Choosey Lover.'
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10. Jay Z and R Kelly - 'It Ain't Personal'
Jay Z hooked up with R Kelly for his 2002 album track 'It Ain't Personal' from his 'The Best Of Both Worlds' and the two used the slow and steady beat from Isley Brothers' 'Voyage To Atlantis.'
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11. Ludacris Feat. Trey Songz - 'Sex Room'
When Ludacris made 'Sex Room' for his 2010 album 'Battle Of The Sexes', he he brought in ladies man Trey Songz and one of the sexiest Isley Brothers' songs to exist - 'Summer Breeze.' It's a winning combination.
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12. The Notorious B.I.G - 'What's Beef?'
Biggie borrows the lyrics 'Nothin' but smooth sailing' on 'Life After Death's 'What's Beef', from Isley Brothers' 'Smooth Sailin' Tonight,' released in 1987.
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13. Mac Miller - 'Good Evening'
The third rapper on the list to sample 'Between The Sheets', Mac Miller used the soulful song throughout his entire 'Good Evening' track on his fourth mixtape 'K.I.D.S'.
