25 best samples in Drake songs

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Right from his breakthrough, Drake was all about the art of the sample. His now iconic “So Far Gone” mixtape was built around sample-heavy beats you wouldn’t expect in the year 2009 or any year really.

Drake has gone on to become one of the biggest rappers of all time and a true pop star. While many of his hits from the past several years have featured original production, Drizzy is still all about honoring the past. His albums have featured tracks produced by the likes of Noah “40” Shabib, Boi-1da and others that have sampled artists like Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, EPMD, Mariah Carey and Earth, Wind & Fire, just to name a few.

Last year’s compilation “Care Package” was littered with samples that have made even Drake’s unreleased songs fan favorites. Several of those, and other OVO classics populate this trip down memory lane. Presenting the 25 greatest samples in Drake songs:

25. “Hotline Bling”

Producer: Nineteen85

Sample: “Why Can’t We Live Together” by Timmy Thomas

Perhaps more so than any other rapper, Drake has differentiated himself from his peers by rapping over beats that don’t initially sound like they should be rapped over. “Hotline Bling” is a back to basics approach for Drake. The beat for “Hotline Bling” is Timmy Thomas’ sparse “Why Can’t WE Live Together” with a few bells and whistles from producer Nineteen85.

24. “8 out of 10”

Producers: Boi-1da, Sweet and OB

Samples: “You’re Gettin’ a Little Too Smart” by the Detroit Emeralds, “All the Way Round” by Marvin Gaye

“8 out of 10” is smartly pieced together with a drumbeat from the Detroit Emarlds and a funny snippet from Plies. But the most recognizable sample comes from Marvin Gaye’s “All the Way Round,” which gives “8 out of 10” its soulful vibe.

23. “Free Spirit”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib

Sample: “I Will Be Your Friend” by Sade

Because, of course, Drake was going to sample Sade. To be honest, he sort of sucks the sultry vibes out “I Will Be Your Friend." But Noah “40” Shebib knew what he had from peak era Sade, speeding things up a bit.

22. “Jodeci Freestyle”

Producer: Bink!, Noah “40” Shebib

Sample: “4 U” by Jodeci

If we were to speculate on the reason why “Jodeci Freestyle” never made its way onto a proper album (until last year’s compilation “Care Package”) it might be because it feels a bit raw and unfinished. After all, Jodeci’s “4 U” doesn’t scream hip-hop beat. Though, it works well in taking a backseat to Drake and J. Cole’s top-notch bars.

21. “Legend”

Producer: PartyNextDoor

Sample: “So Anxious” by Ginuwine

Not the only time Drake would sample Ginuwine’s “So Anxious.” He even does it on the same album (it’s also used on “Madonna” from “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late”). PartyNextDoor puts enough distortion and sonic charges into the album opener to make it more than just Drake falling back on another 90s R&B classic.

20. “Faithful”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib, Boi-1da, Nineteen85

Sample: “Get Gone” by Ideal

Okay, so we know Drake likes R&B music from the 1990s. But Ideal? This is impressive. “Get Gone” was a solid hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the late 1990s as part of a great production run for Jazze Pha at the time.

19. “Shot For Me”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib

Sample: “Anything” by SWV

“Doing It Wrong,” one of the slow burners from Drake’s masterful “Take Care” album, doesn’t need its SWV sample to make it a good song. But hearing “Anything’s” sweet vocals in the backdrop on the chorus certainly puts the song over the top.

18. “Emotionless”

Producer: No. I.D., Noah “40” Shebib, The 25th Hour

Sample: “Emotions” by Mariah Carey

Admittedly, “Emotionless” might be too on the nose in terms of samples. There’s no attempt at dressing it up given that Mariah Carey’s voice opens the song in emphatic fashion. But here’s what’s most interesting about the song, and it has nothing to do with Drake or his production team. It’s that Carey’s range was so astonishing on a song like “Emotions” that virtually any other song of its era would require a sped-up sample. But not with Carey singing. Cue up the original.

17. “4PM in Calabasas”

Producer: Vinylz, Franke Dukes, Allen Ritter

Sample: “You’re a Customer” by EPMD

The original EPMD beat feels a little too hard for Drake to rap over. That’s where the genius of sampling comes in. “4PM in Calabasas” comes equipped with emo synths, making it perfect for an artist like Drake.

16. “U With Me?”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib, Kanye West, DJ Dahi, Riera, Axlfolie, Vinylz, OZ

Sample: “What These Bitches Want” by DMX

Not only does “U With Me?” built around a sample of DMX’s hit “What These Bitches Want,” but the chorus is also an interpolation of DMX’s “How’s It Goin’ Down.” For anyone who was into DMX when he was biggest rapper in the universe (Yes, even bigger than Jay-Z at the time), this is a nostalgia trip for the ages.

15. “Wu-Tang Forever”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib

Sample: “It’s Yourz” by Wu-Tang Clan

The title reveals the sample. Drake wanted to spit over one of his favorite tracks from “Wu-Tang Forever.” Now that’s sure to get eye rolls by some hip-hop heads. But Drake’s “Wu-Tang Forever” (thankfully) doesn’t try to be “It’s Yourz.” It simply takes some Wu sounds and paints them in eerie emo vibes for Drizzy to rhyme over.

14. “Pound Cake”

Producer: Boi-1da, Jordan Evans

Samples: “Jimmy Smith Rap” by Jimmy Smith, “Don’t Say a Word” by Ellie Goulding

“Pound Cake” opens with an intro sample from “Jimmy Smith Rap.” From that point on, the star of the beat is a small vocal sample from Ellie Goulding that’s absolutely mesmerizing. Sometimes, all it takes is a snippet and a loop.

13. “Lust for Life”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib

Sample: “Ideas As Opiates” by Tears For Fears

Drake was certainly a different kind of artist when he arrived. Who the heck samples a Tears for Fears’ song that isn’t “Everybody Wants to Rule the World?” In all seriousness, the sample of “Ideas As Opiates” (a beautiful song, by the way) is a testament to Drake’s artistry and just how much of a weapon he has in Noah “40” Shebib.

12. “Started From the Bottom”

Producer: Mike Zombie

Sample: “Ambessence Piano & Drones 1” by Bruno Sanfilippo and Mathias Grassow

“Started from the Bottom” was Drake’s attempt at a monster club banger for his third studio album “Nothing Was the Same.” The song certainly achieved that. But what’s rather astonishing is what “Started From the Bottom” is built around – a sample of ambient music Drizzy’s mainstream fans had never heard. Crazy.

11. “Dreams Money Can Buy”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib

Sample: “BTSTU (Demo)” by Jai Paul

While other rappers were busy spitting over the hottest hip-hop beats of 2010, Drake was digging deeper. He hopped on Jai Paul’s “BTSTU (Demo),” a song that made Paul one of the hottest young artists overseas, flipping its indie-electronic vibes into an emo-rap epic and one of Drake’s most beloved deep cuts.

10. “Unforgettable”

Producers: Boi-1da, Noah “40” Shebib

Sample: “At Your Best” by Aaliyah

If you had to bet on one artist that was going to be sampled on Drake’s first proper studio album it was going to be Aaliyah. He’s obsessed and rightfully so. Aaliyah was Beyonce before Beyonce and her R. Kelly-produced remake of the Isley Brothers’ 1976 classic is a fan favorite.

9. “Feel No Ways”

Producer: Jordan Ullman, Kanye West, Noah “40” Shebib

Sample: “World Famous” by Malcolm McLaren & The World’s Famous Supreme Team

“Feel No Ways” is an old-school kind of sample. It bites the beat from Malcolm McLaren’s “World Famous,” which in its own right was a celebration of early hip-hop on McLaren’s EP “D’ya Like Scratchin’?” Drake probably could have done a lot with it as is, but instead, “Feel No Ways” morphs into an enticing indie-electronic track.

8. “Uptown”

Producers: Boi-1da, Northern Profit

Sample: “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel

No, this is not a mistake. Drake actually sampled Billy Noel’s “Uptown Girl” and it works masterfully. As the story goes, Drake suggested the sample in the studio, to which everyone in the room probably had to do a double take. All these years after “So Far Gone” it’s kind of magical to hear Billy Joel crooning in the background of the chorus to “Uptown.”

7. “Do Not Disturb”

Producers: Boi-1da, Noah “40” Shebib, Allen Ritter

Sample: “Time” by Snoh Aalergra

Okay, now we’re getting into elite sample territory. The beat on “Do Not Disturb” is fantastic. Drake could go on and on and no one would complain. But it’s that vocal that stays with you. Those sweet sounds come from Swedish singer-songwriter Snoh Aalegra and her song “Time.” Do yourself a favor and let the original melt your soul. Absolutely amazing.

6. “HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)”

Producer: T-Minus

Samples: “Swanging and Banging” by E.S.G., “Knocked Out” by Paul Abdul

The E.S.G. sample feels natural for Drake, who has always been enamored with Houston rap. But it’s the Paula Abdul sample that’s shocking. But damn if it doesn’t pull everything together, making “HYFR” this strange, yet blissful mix of southern rap and dance-pop.

5. “Weston Road Flows”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib, Stwo

Sample: “Mary’s Joint” by Mary J. Blige

When it comes to the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, it’s not about if you should sample, it’s about which part you should sample from. On “Weston Road Flows,” Drake rides a beat designed around the alluring ending to Mary J. Blige’s “Mary’s Joint.” The sample comes into the spotlight at the song’s end and you just don’t want it to end.

4. “Cameras”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib, Drake

Sample: “Calling On You” by Jon B.

In the mid-to-late 1990s, Jon B. was the white boy doing black music and people (many of them African American) couldn’t get enough of it. Vocally, he sounded like the second coming of Babyface. So, it should come as no surprise that a Drake song samples Jon B. But by 2011, Jon B. had been so far removed from popular culture that hearing “Calling On You” sped up a bit on “Cameras” was quite a delightful shock to the system.

3. “How Bout Now”

Producer: Boi-1da, Jordan Evans

Sample: “My Heart Belongs To U” by Jodeci

So, let’s get this out of the way first. The female voice at the beginning of “How Bout Now” is not Nicki Minaj nor is it a sample. It is an actual voicemail from Drake’s ex Kandice Henry (She reportedly wasn’t very happy about its usage). With that out of the way, Drake once again gets his Jodeci on. “How Bout Now” is an example of just how much Drake (or at least his producers) was influenced by Kanye West. The beat is a sample of Jodeci’s “My Heart Belongs To U” slowed down and then sped up to give it the chipmunk sound of the mid-2000s. It’s like Chopped & Screwed meets Kanye. And it’s awesome.

2. “Nice For What”

Producer: Murda Beatz

Sample: “X-Factor” by Lauryn Hill

After “Nice For What” took off, Lauryn Hill took a playful jab at Drake by releasing her own remix of “Nice For What” at a live show. It’s not the first time Drizzy sampled Lauryn Hill. He also did so on “Draft Day.” But “Nice For What” is on another level, flipping Hill’s heartbreaking soul anthem into a bouncy club anthem. It had No. 1 written all over it.

1. “Tuscan Leather”

Producer: Noah “40” Shebib, Nathan Sessoms

Sample: "I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston

What else was going to top this list? “Tuscan Leather,” the opening track from Drake’s album “Nothing Was the Same,” takes Whitney Houston’s iconic “I Have Nothing” and flips it not once, not twice, but three times. It gets better with each verse, sounding like three awesome songs in one.

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