In December 2008, I watched a video featuring Kanye West’s samples on 808’s & Heartbreaks, College Dropout, Late Registration and Graduation. It was hard for me to compile a list of the songs featured in the video but thankfully, with an instant Google search, I came upon Kevin Nottingham’s website.
According to Kevin, Kanye West has sampled 79 tracks throughout his entire career. The bulk of the songs are from the 1970’s and have appeared on Kanye’s albums and songs that Kanye produced for other artist.
“Two of this site’s top articles to this day are Kanye West: The Samples, Part 1 and Kanye West: The Samples, Part 2. Well you can scrap those links and bookmark this post right here. Those two posts are consistently in this blog’s top ten daily and the majority of my referrers are from people doing a search for “Kanye West samples”. I decided to make it a little easier and put them all in one compilation. Yes, ALL OF THEM. Well, not quite. We have 79 of Kanye’s samples that he has used throughout his career. The only samples that we chose to leave off are the samples from College Dropout, Late Registration,Graduation, Common’s Be, and Common’s Finding Forever. They would have just made the compilation too long, but you can download those separately. This set of Kanye West samples is 462 MB! It took Thomas and I quite some time to compile these, even though we already had most of the samples. Feel free to add to this list in the comments.
In addition to the album sample sets we put out, we’ll be putting a few of these producer sample sets together from time to time. These, obviously, will not be as frequent as they do take a lot of time to compile. But be on the look out for producer sample sets from Timbaland, Just Blaze, DJ Premier, and Pete Rock in the coming months!”
Davy DMX – One For The Treble
Sampled in “Turn It Out” by Jermaine Dupri (featuring Nas)
From Life in 1472 (1998)
Eddie Kendricks – Time In A Bottle
Sampled in “You Made Me” by Harlem World (featuring Nas and Carl Thomas)
From The Movement (1999)
Bill Withers – Lovely Day
Sampled in “Minute Man” by Harlem World
From The Movement(1999)
George Benson – California Dreamin’
Sampled in “Joanne” by Trina & Tamara
From Trina & Tamara (1999)
Grover Washington Jr. – Love Song 1700
Sampled in “Rebuilding” by Goodie Mob
From World Party (1999)
Graham Nash – Chicago
Sampled in “The Truth” by Beanie Sigel
From The Truth (2000)
Sylvia Striplin – Give Me Your Love
Sampled in “That’s What’s Happenin” by Madd Rapper (featuring Mase and Tracey Lee)
From Tell ‘Em Why U Madd (1999)
Co-produced with D-Dot
The Miracles – Too Young
Sampled in “Ghetto” by Madd Rapper (featuring Raekwon and Carl Thomas)
From Tell ‘Em Why U Madd (1999)
Co-produced with D-Dot
Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker
Sampled in “Don’t Mess With Me” by Lil Kim
From The Notorious KIM (2000)
Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes – I Miss You
Sampled in “This Can’t Be Life” by Jay-Z (featuring Beanie Sigel and Scarface)
From The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2000)
Dynamic Superiors – Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing
Sampled in “Nothing Like It” by Beanie Sigel
From Beanie Sigel – The Reason (2001)
The Doors – Five To One
Sampled in “Takeover” by Jay-Z
From The Blueprint (2001)
Sampled in “The Rape Over” by Mos Def
From The New Danger (2004)
Jackson 5 – I Want You Back
Sampled in “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” by Jay-Z
From The Blueprint (2001)
Bobby Blue Bland – Ain’t No Love In the Heart of the City
Sampled in “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)” by Jay-Z
From The Blueprint (2001)
David Ruffin – Common Man
Sampled in “Never Change” by Jay-Z
From The Blueprint (2001)
The Miracles – Nowhere To Go
Sampled in “Got Nowhere” by Beanie Sigel & Freeway
From State Property (2002)
Buffy Sainte-Marie – Lazarus
Sampled in “Dead or Alive” by Cam’ron
From Come Home With Me (2002)
Eddie Kendricks – The Newness Is Gone
Sampled in “Poppa Was a Play” by Nas
From The Lost Tapes (2002)
Gladys Knight & The Pips – And This Is Love
Sampled in “In Cold Blood” by Scarface
From The Fix (2002)
The Originals – Sunrise
Sampled in “Guess Who’s Back” by Scarface (featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel)
From The Fix (2002)
The Dramatics – That Heaven Kind of Feeling
Sampled in “Heaven” by Scarface (featuring Kelly Price)
From The Fix (2002)
Norman Connors – Invitation
Sampled in “Brown Sugar (Fine)” by Black Star
From Brown Sugar Soundtrack (2002)
The Wings – Old Siam Sir
Sampled in “Muzik” by Knoc-Turn’Al
From L.A. Confidential… (2002)
2Pac – Me and My Girlfriend
Sampled in “‘03 Bonnie & Clyde” by Jay-Z (featuring Beyonce)
From The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse (2002)
The Marvelettes – After All
Sampled in “Poppin’ Tags” by Jay-Z (featuring Twista, Killer Mike, and Big Boi)
From The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse (2002)
Brian & Brenda Russell – Word Called Love
Sampled in “Some People Hate”
From The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse (2002)
Nina Simone – Sinnerman
Sampled in “Get By” by Talib Kweli
From Quality (2002)
Love – Doggone
Sampled in “Get By” by Talib Kweli
From Quality (2002)
Sampled in “Everything I Love” by Diddy (featuring Nas & Cee-Lo)
From Press Play (2006)
Chi-Lites – Never Had It So Good
Sampled in “Guerrilla Monsoon Rap” by Talib Kweli (featuring Black Thought, Kanye West & Pharoahe Monch)
From Quality (2002)
Al Green – Simply Beautiful
Sampled in “Good To You” by Talib Kweli
From Quality (2002)
Chic – Will You Cry (When You Hear This Song)
Sampled in “Hear the Song” by Freeway (featuring Tarrey Torae)
From Philadelphia Freeway (2003)
The Ohio Players – Pride And Vanity
Sampled in “My Life” by Fabolous (featuring Mary J. Blige)
From Street Dreams (2003)
The Masqueraders – It’s a Terrible Thing to Waste Your
Sampled in “Knock Knock” by Monica
From After The Storm (2003)
Bloodstone – I’m Just Doing My Job
Sampled in “Doin’ My Job” by T.I.
From Trap Muzik (2003)
Zapp And Roger – I Want To Be Your Man
Sampled in “Let Me Tell You Something” by T.I.
From Trap Muzik (2003)
Jr. Walker – Darling Come Back Home
Sampled in “HeartBeat” by Royce Da 5′9″
From Build & Destroy: The Lost Sessions Part 1 (2003)
The Shirelles – Dedicated To The One I Love
Sampled in “Dog’s Out” by DMX
From Grand Champ (2003)
John Holt – I Will
Sampled in “Encore” by Jay-Z
From The Black Album (2003)
Max Romeo – I Chase The Devil
Sampled in “Lucifer” by Jay-Z
From The Black Album (2003)
The Main Ingredient – Prove My Love To You
Sampled in “You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keys
From The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003)
Michael Jackson – PYT (Pretty Young Thing)
Sampled in “I Wanna Love You” by Memphis Bleek (featuring Donell Jones)
From M.A.D.E. (2003)
Also sampled in “Good Life” by Kanye West (featuring T-Pain)
From Graduation (2007)
Lenny Williams – Cause I Love You
Sampled in “Overnight Celebrity” by Twista
From Kamikaze (2004)
Sampled in “I Got a Love” by Jin (featuring Kanye West)
From The Rest is History (2004)
BT Express – (They Long To Be) Close To You
Sampled in “I Want You” by Janet Jackson
From Damita Jo (2004)
The Moments – Love On A Two-Way Street
Sampled in “So Soulful” by Consequence (featuring Kanye West and Khayree)
From Take ‘Em To The Cleaners (2004)
Al Green – What a Wonderful Thing Love Is
Sampled in “Getting Out The Game” by Consequence (featuring Kanye West)
From Take ‘Em To The Cleaners (2004)
Mandrill – Gilly Hines
Sampled in “Talk About Our Love” by Brandy (featuring Kanye West)
From Afrodisiac (2004)
Roberta Flack – Jesse
Sampled in “Where You Wanna Be” by Brandy (featuring T.I.)
From Afrodisiac (2004)
Aretha Franklin – Call Me
Sampled in “Selfish” by Slum Village (featuring Kanye West and John Legend)
From Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit) (2004)
Esperanto Rock Orchestra – Still Life
Sampled in “Throw Your Hands (In The Air)” by Mobb Deep
From Amerikaz Nightmare (2004)
Eddie Kendricks – Intimate Friends
Sampled in “Another Summer” by 213 (featuring LaToiya Williams)
From The Hard Way (2004)
The Fifth Dimension – The Age of Aquarius
Sampled in “Sunshine” by Mos Def
From The New Danger (2004)
William Bell & Mavis Staples – Strung Out
Sampled in “Down and Out” by Cam’ron (featuring Kanye West and Syleena Johnson)
From Purple Haze (2004)
Chuck Cissel – Forever
Sampled in “Dipset Forever” by Cam’ron
From Purple Haze (2004)
The Staple Singers – Let’s Do It Again
Sampled in “Number One” by John Legend
From Get Lifted (2004)
The Dramatics – Love Is Missing From Our Lives
Sampled in “Live It Up” by John Legend
From Get Lifted (2004)
Co-produced with DeVon “Devo” Harris
Lamont Dozier – Rose
Sampled in “More or Less” by Shyne (featuring Foxy Brown)
From Godfather Buried Alive (2004)
Jimmie & Vella – Old Men
Sampled in “This Way” by Dilated Peoples
From Neighborhood Watch (2004)
Jerry Butler – No Money Down
Sampled in “Dreams” by The Game
From The Documentary (2005)
Teddy Pendergrass – You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration
Sampled in “Higher” by Do or Die (featuring Kanye West)
From D.O.D. (2005)
Shirley Murdock – Go On Without You
Sampled in “Paid the Price” by Do or Die (featuring Kanye West)
From D.O.D. (2005)
Ramsey Lewis – Betcha By Golly Wow
Sampled in “Stay The Night” by Mariah Carey
From The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
Lamont Dozier – Tear Down the Walls
Sampled in “Grown Man Pt. 2″ by Young Gunz (featuring Kanye West and John Legend)
From Brothers From Another (2005)
Solomon Burke – Get Out Of My Life Woman
Sampled in “I Changed My Mind” by Keyshia Cole
From The Way It Is (2005)
Blue Magic – Sideshow
Sampled in “Bulls-Eye (Suddenly)” by Syleena Johnson (featuring Common)
From Chapter 3: The Flesh (2005)
Valerie Simpson – Silly Wasn’t I
Sampled in “A Time To See” by Czar Nok
From That One Way (2005)
The Three Degrees – Make It Easy On Yourself
Sampled in “We Can Make It Better” by Kanye West (featuring Q-Tip, Common, Talib Kweli & Rhymefest)
From Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now (2005)
The New Birth – Impossible
Sampled in “Impossible” by Kanye West (featuring Twista, Keyshia Cole)
From Mission: Impossible III [Soundtrack] (2006)
Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings – Pick It Up, Lay It In The Cut
Sampled in “Brand New” by Rhymefest (featuring Kanye West)
From Blue Collar (2006)
Dexter Wansel – Life On Mars
Sampled in “The Cool” by Lupe Fiasco
From Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor (2006)
Monk Higgins – Heaven Only Knows
Sampled in “Heaven” by John Legend
From Once Again (2006)
Creative Source – I’d Find You Anywhere
Sampled in “Wouldn’t Get Far” by The Game (featuring Kanye West)
From The Doctor’s Advocate (2006)
Diana Ross – The Interim (Still Dreaming)
Sampled in “Still Dreaming” by Nas (featuring Kanye West & Chrisette Michele)
From Hip Hop Is Dead (2006)
Bill Withers – Use Me
Sampled in “Still Dreaming” by Nas (featuring Kanye West & Chrisette Michele)
From Hip Hop Is Dead (2006)
Steve Miller Band – Take the Money and Run
Sampled in “Let There Be Light” by Nas (featuring Tre Williams)
From Hip Hop Is Dead (2006)
Crown Heights Affair – Feeling Tall
Sampled in “Ghetto” by Smitty (featuring Scarface, John Legend, Kanye West)
From The Voice of the Ghetto (2006)
Milton Nascimento – Catavento
Sampled in “Don’t Forget ‘Em” by Consequence
From Don’t Quit Your Day Job! (2007)
Al Green – I Wish You Were Here
Sampled in “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly” by Consequence (featuring Kanye West)
From Don’t Quit Your Day Job! (2007)
Lou Rawls – You’ve Made Me So Very Happy
Sampled in “Grammy Family” by Consequence (featuring Kanye West and John Legend)
From Don’t Quit Your Day Job! (2007)
The Friends Of Distinction – Lonesome Mood
Sampled in “In The Mood” by Talib Kweli (feat. Kanye West)
[...] on CD, a double-sided KAWS poster and a sheet of lyrics (in case you forgot the lyrics to original tracks sampled by Yeezy). Available at Amazon.com and [...]
January 28th, 2009 at 10:29 am
[...] the VIDEO to understand what I’m talking [...]
January 28th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Thanks for the props! Kanye’s actually sampled way more than 79 songs. These are just the ones we were able to dig up. Enjoy!
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 am
[...] on CD, a double-sided KAWS poster and a sheet of lyrics (in case you forgot the lyrics to original tracks sampled by Yeezy). Available at Amazon.com and [...]