What are the 7 most surprising samples in music history?
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Sampling has always been about discovery. The funkiest grooves often hide in forgotten corners of vinyl history - but sometimes, the most sampled magic comes from the most unlikely places. From cockney pub rock to cartoon soundtracks, here are seven examples that prove great producers can turn anything into a hit.
Top 7 Most Unlikely Sampled Tunes in Music History
1. “I Got The …” – Labi Siffre (featuring Chas & Dave) → Sampled by Eminem (“My Name Is”)
When Dr. Dre was digging through crates for a beat for Eminem’s 1999 debut, he landed on a bass and guitar groove from Labi Siffre’s 1975 track “I Got The …” - played by none other than Chas & Dave, the beloved British cockney rock duo.
What’s unlikely is that the musicians best known for “Rabbit” and “Ain’t No Pleasing You” helped shape one of hip-hop’s most iconic intros. The riff’s bouncy swagger gave “My Name Is” its playful, sarcastic energy - perfectly fitting Eminem’s comic-book alter-ego.
📀 Why it works: quirky groove, musical wit, and unmistakable British charm that cut through American hip-hop production.
Buy Eminem albums
2. “When You Wish Upon a Star” - Cliff Edwards (Disney, 1940) → Sampled by Jay-Z (“The Blueprint²”)
The heartfelt Disney ballad from Pinocchio was never meant for a rap beat - but Jay-Z flipped it to make a point about the cost of dreams and fame. Sampling such a saccharine children’s tune gave the song a deeper irony: a fairytale melody underscoring harsh reality.
📀 Why it works: The nostalgic innocence contrasts with Jay-Z’s hard truths - a sonic metaphor for the gap between dreams and real life.
Buy Jay-Z albums
3. “The Sound of Music (Do-Re-Mi)” - Julie Andrews → Sampled by Public Enemy (“Fight the Power” live edits & DJ sets)
Chuck D and the Bomb Squad famously layered everything from Malcolm X speeches to funk breaks - but even they surprised fans when snippets of “Do-Re-Mi” surfaced in live DJ cuts. It was a tongue-in-cheek nod to America’s cultural contradictions: sugar-sweet musicals juxtaposed with protest anthems.
📀 Why it works: Juxtaposition - the wholesome optimism of Rodgers & Hammerstein sliced against raw political energy.
4. “Progressive Rock: The Alan Parsons Project - Sirius” → Sampled by Chicago Bulls & Jay-Z (“The Ruler’s Back”)
Originally the instrumental intro for Alan Parsons Project’s 1982 prog-rock album Eye in the Sky, “Sirius” became the Chicago Bulls’ theme song… then appeared in Jay-Z’s opener for The Blueprint. It’s one of hip-hop’s strangest success stories: a prog-rock stadium anthem reborn as a rap power statement.
📀 Why it works: The tension-building synth and slow crescendo translate perfectly to rap’s sense of arrival and dominance.
5. “Spandau Ballet - Chant No.1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)” → Sampled by Neneh Cherry (“Buffalo Stance”)
Few expected the glossy new-romantic pop of Spandau Ballet to become hip-hop-adjacent. But Neneh Cherry’s 1988 smash “Buffalo Stance” turned its sax riff into urban cool.
📀 Why it works: Chic-inspired basslines and horn stabs were hiding in plain sight - showing how even chart pop can fuel underground energy.
6. “Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” (Classical) → Sampled by Vanessa Mae, DJ Shadow, and Dr. Dre (“The Next Episode” intro interpolation)
Baroque organ thunder might seem miles from modern beats, but composers and producers alike love its drama. Bits of Bach’s “Toccata” appear in everything from rave tracks to Dre’s G-funk motifs - proof that 18th-century intensity still slaps.
📀 Why it works: Classical builds tension and grandeur; perfect for intros and cinematic moments.
Buy Dr Dre Music
7. “Pachelbel’s Canon in D” - Classical Standard → Sampled by Coolio (“C U When U Get There”)
Few wedding songs are more overplayed than Pachelbel’s Canon. Yet Coolio used it in 1997 to craft one of hip-hop’s most emotional and melodic hits. Turning classical composition into street poetry was a bold move - and you know what? !t worked.
📀 Why it works: The repetitive harmonic loop of Canon in D makes an ideal hip-hop chord progression; timeless yet instantly recognisable.
Why These Surprising Samples Work
- Contrast Creates Character: The collision of genres (children’s music with rap; classical with funk) makes tracks more memorable.
- Emotional Familiarity: Listeners instantly recognise a melody and feel something - nostalgia, surprise, curiosity.
- Crate-Digging Instinct: Producers constantly search for what others missed; obscure or unfashionable records are gold mines.
- Irony & Commentary: Using “happy” or “wholesome” sounds under gritty lyrics adds satire or depth.
- Legal Savvy: Sometimes odd records are easier or cheaper to clear than classic funk or soul - a practical bonus.
Final Thoughts
The art of sampling isn’t just about finding grooves - it’s about context, surprise, and storytelling. Whether it’s Chas & Dave accidentally soundtracking Eminem’s breakthrough or Jay-Z flipping Disney dreams, these samples remind us that genius often hides in unexpected places.
So next time you hear a rap beat built on something bizarre, don’t be shocked - be impressed.