Kanye West’s songs have always been huge, elaborate affairs that either build off of an existing song or pick out the best parts of several others to create one coherent and cooler whole. And while West may be known for his early work with soul, his choice of samples has now made it all the way to Elton John and Bon Iver.
West’s samples are listed in his album’s liner notes, but if you search around online, you’ll find a bit of disagreement over what he grabbed from each song (sometimes lyrics, sometimes a whole tune) and whether or not there are actually other, uncredited excerpts involved — the collection below has been formed in part from those arguments. For the most part though, the samples come through loud and clear in West’s tracks, propelling each song forward. Curious just how far and wide West searches for a great tune? Look below for history on West’s sampling.
The College Dropout
We Don’t Care
Listen back to back and try to tell which song you're starting.
Samples: "I Just Wanna Stop," by The Jimmy Castor Bunch
Play song →All Falls Down
Kanye rerecords the gorgeous hook from Lauryn Hill's song.
Samples: "Mystery of Iniquity," by Lauryn Hill
Play song →Spaceship
Marvin Gaye's soothing tones keep Kanye's "Spaceship" down to Earth, even when things get aggressive.
Samples: "Distant Lover," by Marvin Gaye
Play song →Slow Jamz
Are you gonna jam slower than Luther Vandross?
Samples: "A House is not a Home," by Luther Vandross.
Play song →School Spirit
Turning some serious spirit into a frat-house anthem.
Samples: "Spirit in the Dark," by Aretha Franklin
Play song →Two Words
Movements IV and V would have been a good choice too.
Samples: "Peace and Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) – Movement III (Time)," by Mandrill
Play song →Through the Wire
A perfect example of College Dropout's high-pitched, sped-up sampling.
Samples: "Through the Fire," by Chaka Khan
Play song →Late Registration
Wake Up Mr. West
This is not the attitude Natalie Cole had in mind.
Samples: "Someone That I Used To Love," by Natalie Cole
Play song →My Way Home
As though this sample wasn't funky enough…
Samples: "Home Is Where the Hatred Is," by Gil Scott-Heron
Play song →Diamonds from Sierra Leone (remix)
You probably realized where this sample came from…
Samples: "Diamonds Are Forever," by Shirley Bassey
Play song →Graduation
Good Morning
Graduation's sound is bigger, and so are the names on its samples.
Samples: "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," by Elton John
Play song →Champion
Kanye borrows a catchy hook and makes it 10 times catchier.
Samples: "Kid Charlemagne," by Steely Dan
Play song →Stronger
There's a lot of contention over whether Kanye’s song or his sample is better. Let's just agree that they're both pretty sweet.
Samples: "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger," by Daft Punk
Play song →I Wonder
Even with a huge beat overtop of it, the tone of Siffre's song comes through loud and clear.
Samples: "My Song," by Labi Siffre
Play song →Good Life
Slow the end of "P.Y.T" way down and you'll realize why "Good Life" sounds quite so good.
Samples: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," by Michael Jackson
Play song →Drunk and Hot Girls
It's times like these that really make you wonder just how much music Kanye listens to.
Samples: "Sing Swan Song," by Can
Play song →808s & Heartbreak
Heartless
808s & Heartbreak doesn't sample often. But when it does, it works.
Samples: "Ammonia Avenue," by The Alan Parsons Project
Play song →My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Gorgeous
Kanye recreates these 60's sounds as a garage-rock anthem driving his song forward.
Samples: "You Showed Me," by The Turtles
Play song →So Appalled
A dark breakdown becomes an even darker song.
Samples: "You Are - I Am," by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Play song →Devil in a New Dress
Guess whose song is more romantic?
Samples: "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," by Smokey Robinson
Play song →Hell of a Life
Blame Game
Here's hoping the new Aphex Twin makes an appearance in the future.
Samples: "Avril 14th," by Aphex Twin
Play song →Lost in the World
Yeezus
On Sight
Yeezus gets dark quickly. This eerie organ tune helps.
Samples: "Sermon (He'll Give Us What We Really Need)," by Holy Name of Mary Choral Family
Play song →Blood on the Leaves
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