The Top Hip Hop Singles to Use a James Brown Sample

With the recent passing of James Brown, I started thinking about how Brown was able to influence so many musical genres. He influenced soul, funk, pop, and hip hop music. It seems like almost every hip hop artist has sample some of Brown’s music at one time or another. I will look at some of the top hip hop songs to use a sample of James Brown’s music.

Boomin’ System by LL Cool J used the Intro to The Payback as a sample. Boomin’ System was one of the reasons that the album Mama Said Knock You Out was so successful. Back in 1990 this record help revive LL Cool J’s career.

I Go to Work by Kool Moe Dee used the song Super Bad as a sample. This song is from the 1989 album Knowledge is King. This thumping groove had everybody trying to do the running man dance back in the day.

The Vapors by Biz Markie used Papa Don’t Take No Mess as its sample. The Vapors is one of the songs that help Biz Markie establish his audience. The Vapors is about how people who may have snub you in the past, now want to be your friend because you have gain some success.

Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down by Brand Nubian used the song Public Enemy No 1 as a sample. This song is from Brand Nubian’s sophomore album In God We Trust. This is the type of song that can get you hype and it is a great song to work out to.

Welcome to the Terrordome by Public Enemy used a sample of the song Cold Sweat. This song is from the album Fear of a Black Planet. Welcome to the Terrordome is another example of Public Enemy’s ability to convey the injustices of the world through song.

Ruffneck by MC Lyte is another song that used the Intro to The Payback. Ruffneck was a number one single on the rap charts back in 1993. In the song Lyte describes the type of man she is interested in.

How Ya Like Me Now? by Kool Moe Dee used the samples from the songs Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag and Night Train. This record help introduce Kool Moe Dee to a larger audience.

Don’t Believe the Hype by Public Enemy used the sample I Got Ants in My Pants. This song talks about how people should not always believe everything that the media tells them.

Paid in Full by Eric B & Rakim used the sample from the song Hot Pants. Paid in Full was from Eric B & Rakim’s debut album of the same name. This is one of the songs that help establish Rakim as one of the best rappers out there.

They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y) by Pete Rock & CL Smooth used the sample from the song Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud. This song is from the album Mecca and the Soul Brother which was released in 1992. The song was inspired by the death of “Trouble” T. Roy of Heavy D & the Boyz.

There are many more hip hop songs that have used James Brown samples, but I believe that these songs are some of the best. Some of the songs on this list only use a partial sample, while other songs use a great deal of James Brown’s music. This just goes to show the influence that James Brown had on younger artists and how that influence will be passed on to future generations.

Reference:

• the-breaks.com