This article originally appeared on Noisey.The first sampling synthesizer would have broken the average person's bank account several times over. Clocking in around $18,000 USD ($58,000 USD in today's money), the price tag meant the art of creative cut-and-paste wasn't widely available until the mid-to-late 80s, when more commercially viable products entered the market. It's during this time that many of today's prolific and established producers picked up their first sampling machine—your Dr Dres, Kanye Wests, etc—and began their journey toward world domination, bolstered with a neat collection of 80s soul vinyl.
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Fast forward twenty or so years and sampling is as commonplace in music as toenails are on people. "Hotline Bling" by Drake—that's a sample. "Mask Off" by Future—that's a sample. "Big For Your Boots" by Stormzy—that's right, you're getting it now. The sample used in the latter track from the Croydon MC may be a little more harder to work out than his American counterparts—it takes a minuscule vocal sample from a 1986 Chicago house track and subtly repeats it throughout the song. Still, the point stands: sample! This isn't a bad thing though. In fact, it's the opposite.As much as original music holds a special allure, there's something beautiful about sampling and how it can culminate in discovering even more music—often from a genre and era the listener wasn't intentionally journeying towards. So, with that in mind, here are some songs you may not have known were based on samples. If you did: congratulations! There is no award for you though. Sorry."Crazy In Love" sits at the zenith of impactful pop songwriting. Instantly recognisable, euphoric, replete with a tight hook and a silky smooth guest spot from Jay-Z – this song will be remembered for as many years as it takes until humanity evolves beyond the need for hearing. But while the respective talents of the Carter-Knowles partnership can't be understated, the triumph of "Crazy In Love" is owed in part to 1970s quartet Chi-Lites and their track "Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)". Go ahead and press play above and lap that sweet sample up into your eardrum.
Beyonce – "Crazy in Love" / Chi-Lites – "Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)"
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Daft Punk – "Digital Love" / George Duke – "I Love You More"
When people call Daft Punk one of the greatest electronic duos of all time they're missing one important accolade, which is that they're also masters of cherry-picking the best parts of their songs from slightly less interesting ones. Take "One More Time," for example. The ecstatic riff from that song appears at around 0:34 in Eddie John's "More Spell On You." Arguably their greatest feat though is taking the only good part from George Duke's "I Love You More" – literally the first ten seconds – and turning it into "Digital Love", perhaps the most romantic song to have ever come from the heart of a robot.
Rihanna – "Work" / Richie Stephens & Mikey 2000's "Sail Away Riddim"
Oh my god. Yes! This one is an absolute stonker. Hear the bassline on Richie Stephens & Mikey 2000s "Sail Away Riddim" and see how it turned into gold dust or (depending on how you feel) lost its dirty edge when becoming the foundation of Rihanna's "Work."
Eminem – "My Name Is" / Labi Siffre's "I Got The…"
Kendrick Lamar – "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" / Boom Clap Bachelors "Tiden Flyver"
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Kanye West – "New Slaves" / Omega – "Gyöngyhajú Lány"
Tyler, the Creator – "911 / Mr Lonely" / The Gap Band – "Outstanding"
Gnarls Barkley – "Crazy" / Gianfranco Reverberi – "Last Men Standing"
Robbie Williams – "Rock DJ" / Barry White – "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me"
Yessssssssssss! Literally press play, there are no more words for you.