Songs Sampling Old Hits in Fresh Ways
When used properly, a sample can create something entirely new out of an old melody or beat, not just borrow from it. The best samples foster intergenerational dialogue by introducing classics to younger listeners and providing seasoned fans with an opportunity to re-listen to their favorite songs from a different perspective.
Others loop obscure breakbeats into catchy rhythms, some artists speed up vocals to create completely new textures, and some daring producers combine several classics to create something no one saw coming. Here is a list of 15 songs that sampled old hits in remarkably fresh ways.
Juicy
The Notorious B.I.G. took Mtume’s smooth 1983 R&B track ‘Juicy Fruit’ and transformed it into one of hip-hop’s most iconic anthems in 1994. Specifically, producers used the ‘Fruity Instrumental’ remix of the song, which provided the perfect laid-back groove for Biggie to tell his rags-to-riches story.
The sample became so synonymous with the rap version that many younger listeners assumed the melody originated with Biggie. The track sparked some controversy when Pete Rock claimed he wasn’t properly credited as co-producer, but regardless of the behind-the-scenes drama, the end result remains a masterclass in how to flip a sample into something entirely new.
Hung Up
Madonna made history in 2005 by convincing notoriously protective ABBA to let her sample ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)’ from 1979. The Swedish pop legends had refused countless sampling requests over the years, but Madonna’s vision convinced them to make an exception.
She took ABBA’s distinctive guitar riff and transformed it into a pulsing disco-house anthem that dominated dance floors worldwide. The song became one of Madonna’s biggest hits in years and introduced ABBA’s sound to a whole new generation.
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Through the Wire
Kanye West recorded this breakthrough single in 2003 while his jaw was literally wired shut after a near-fatal car accident. He sped up Chaka Khan’s 1984 emotional ballad ‘Through the Fire’ to create that distinctive chipmunk-soul sound that would define early Kanye production.
Khan famously wasn’t thrilled about sounding like a chipmunk, later saying she was upset about the alteration since Kanye hadn’t mentioned that change when asking permission. Despite her concerns, the sample helped cement Kanye as both a producer and rapper to watch, and the technique became his signature move for years to come.
Stan
Eminem’s 2000 storytelling masterpiece borrowed the haunting opening of Dido’s ‘Thank You’ to create one of hip-hop’s most emotionally devastating tracks. The British singer’s melancholic vocals provided the perfect backdrop for Eminem’s tale of an obsessed fan whose devotion turns tragic.
What makes this sample particularly brilliant is how seamlessly Dido’s original sentiment about gratitude transforms into something much darker in the context of Stan’s letters. The collaboration was so successful that it launched Dido into mainstream stardom in America, where she’d been relatively unknown before the track dropped.
Paper Planes
M.I.A. took The Clash’s 1982 politically charged track ‘Straight to Hell’ and flipped it into a 2007 commentary on immigration and identity that felt both playful and provocative. She added gunshot sounds and a cash register cha-ching to create one of the decade’s most distinctive hooks.
The song became unexpectedly huge after appearing in the trailer for Pineapple Express, then reached another level when Kanye West, T.I., Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne used it as the foundation for their Grammy performance of ‘Swagga Like Us.’ What started as an underground dance track ended up connecting British punk, global hip-hop, and mainstream pop culture in ways nobody predicted.
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Old Town Road
Lil Nas X sampled Nine Inch Nails’ 2008 instrumental ’34 Ghosts IV’ and turned it into the biggest crossover hit of 2019, blending country and trap in a way that broke every rule in the book. The sample gave the track an eerie, sparse foundation that felt completely unlike traditional country music, which is exactly why it worked.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who co-produced the original track, received their first-ever number one hit and both earned CMA and Billboard awards through their writing credits. The track sparked endless debates about genre boundaries while racking up a record-breaking 19 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Bootylicious
Destiny’s Child borrowed the unmistakable guitar riff from Stevie Nicks’ 1981 hit ‘Edge of Seventeen’ and transformed it into a 2001 celebration of curves and confidence. The sample maintains the swagger of the original while completely changing its context from mystical rock ballad to R&B empowerment anthem.
Producers chopped and looped the guitar in a way that made it feel both nostalgic and contemporary, introducing Fleetwood Mac’s sound to a generation raised on TRL. The song was so successful it even added a new word to the popular lexicon, with ‘bootylicious’ eventually making it into the Oxford English Dictionary.
C.R.E.A.M.
Wu-Tang Clan’s 1993 masterpiece sampled The Charmels’ 1967 soul track ‘As Long as I’ve Got You’ to create one of East Coast hip-hop’s most influential productions. The track’s acronym stands for ‘Cash Rules Everything Around Me,’ and the soul sample gave the harsh street narratives an emotional depth that elevated the entire song.
RZA’s production became a blueprint for how to use soulful samples in gritty hip-hop, creating something richer and more emotionally complex than the stark beats alone could provide. The song set a new standard for sampling in hip-hop and influenced countless producers who came after.
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It Was a Good Day
Ice Cube’s 1992 laid-back West Coast classic sampled the Isley Brothers’ ‘Footsteps In The Dark (Parts 1 & 2)’ to create the perfect soundtrack for a rare drama-free day in South Central Los Angeles. Cube explained that he’d heard the track sampled before but wanted to use more of it, while DJ Pooh enhanced the Isley Brothers’ music with additional bass and vocals to give it even more of an easy-listening vibe.
The result was one of gangsta rap’s most unexpectedly mellow tracks, proving that sometimes the chillest samples make the biggest impact. The laid-back soul foundation gave the song a timeless quality that keeps it in rotation decades later.
Summertime
DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince took Kool and the Gang’s dreamy 1974 instrumental ‘Summer Madness’ and turned it into 1991’s definitive warm-weather anthem. The laid-back jazz-fusion sample provided the perfect foundation for Will Smith to reminisce about Philadelphia summers without a care in the world.
More than 30 years later, the track still gets heavy rotation at cookouts and pool parties, which is the ultimate test of a successful sample. The song showed that hip-hop could be both sophisticated and accessible, using a jazz sample to create something that felt timeless from the moment it dropped.
First Class
Jack Harlow interpolated Fergie’s 2006 hit ‘Glamorous’ for his 2022 track, crediting both Fergie and Ludacris as writers for the recreation of the melody. Rather than using the original recording, Harlow’s team replayed the iconic hook to create an instant connection with millennials while introducing Gen Z to early 2000s pop.
The clever interpolation tapped into nostalgia while keeping the production contemporary enough to dominate streaming platforms. The track became one of 2022’s biggest hits, proving that even relatively recent songs can be successfully reimagined if the creative vision is strong enough.
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All Summer Long
Kid Rock did something almost unheard of in 2007 by interpolating two classic rock hits simultaneously—Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and Warren Zevon’s ‘Werewolves of London.’ Rather than sampling the original recordings, both songs were replayed and re-recorded to create an instant nostalgia mashup that felt like summer itself.
Both interpolations evoke hanging out with friends during endless warm nights, and combining them amplifies that carefree energy. The song became a massive hit despite critics questioning the artistic merit of essentially mashing up two classics at once.
A Milli
Lil Wayne’s 2008 banger built on pieces from Gladys Knight and The Pips’ ‘Don’t Burn Down the Bridge’ and A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘I Left My Wallet in El Segundo (Vampire Mix),” with the infectious hook pulled from the latter. Producer Bangladesh crafted something that sounded completely minimal and futuristic despite using samples from decades earlier.
The track sparked controversy over production credits and payment disputes, but none of that stopped it from becoming one of Wayne’s signature songs. The sparse, aggressive production influenced countless rap tracks that followed, showing how samples could be stripped down to their essential elements and still hit hard.
Paint the Town Red
Doja Cat sampled Dionne Warwick’s 1964 classic ‘Walk on By’ for her 2023 hit, taking a song about heartbreak and transforming it into a confident declaration of not caring what others think. The sample is lengthy and prominent, with Warwick’s vocals providing the entire opening before Doja Cat comes in with her own twist.
It’s a bold choice to use such an iconic and recognizable sample so prominently, but Doja Cat’s confident delivery makes it work. The track introduced Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s legendary songwriting to a new generation while giving longtime fans a fresh reason to appreciate the original.
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Love Again
For her 2021 song, Dua Lipa sampled White Town’s 1997 one-hit wonder “Your Woman,” which in turn sampled Lew Stone and the Monseigneur Band’s 1932 recording “My Woman.” As a result, an intriguing chain of samples from almost 90 years of recorded music was produced.
The peculiar trumpet sample distinguished Dua Lipa’s disco-pop production from other songs on her Future Nostalgia album by adding a unique vintage flavor. While older listeners experienced that nagging “where have I heard this before” feeling, younger fans were awed by the unconventional selection.
The Circle Continues
Not only do the best samples revive old recordings, but they also allow new artists to stand on the shoulders of greats by fostering a conversation between the past and present. Sampling has become both simpler and more complex in the digital age, as artists can now manipulate sounds in ways that were not feasible decades ago.
Sampling is still one of the most effective techniques in music production, even with the difficulties associated with sample clearance and legal complications. It brings classics to new audiences, bridges the generational divide between listeners, and demonstrates that great music never truly dies—it simply gets remixed, reimagined, and reborn in countless inventive ways.
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