24 Popular Songs That You May Not Know Actually Sample Older Songs
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1."Nice for What" by Drake samples "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill:
Along with the beat, the lyrics "I keep letting you back in, how can I explain myself?" and "Care for me, care for me ... there for me, there for me" by Hill are used in Drake's song.
2."Hung Up" by Madonna samples "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" by ABBA:
Madonna samples ABBA's beat in her song.
3."Break Your Heart Right Back" by Ariana Grande samples "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross:
Along with the beat, the lyrics "I'm coming out" by Ross are used in Grande's song.
4."Whatcha Say" by Jason Derulo samples "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap:
Along with the beat, the lyrics "Mmmm whatcha say, mmm that you only meant well? Well, of course you did" by Heap are used in Derulo's song.
5."Break up with your girlfriend, I'm bored" by Ariana Grande samples "It Makes Me Ill" by NSYNC:
In addition to the beat, the lyrics "Say I’m trippin' if you feel like, but you without me ain’t right" by NSYNC are used in Grande's song.
6."Hold Up" by Beyoncé samples "Can't Get Used to Losing You" by Andy Williams:
Beyoncé samples Williams' beat in her song.
7."I Like It" by Cardi B samples "I Like It Like That" by Pete Rodriguez:
In addition to borrowing the beat, Cardi uses the lyrics "Yeah, baby, I like it like that, you better believe me when I tell you" by Rodriguez in her song.
8."Bootylicious" by Destiny's Child samples "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks:
Destiny's Child samples the opening guitar riff from "Edge of Seventeen." Also, fun fact: Nicks makes a cameo in the "Bootylicious" music video.
9."Cheers (Drink to That)" by Rihanna samples "I'm With You" by Avril Lavigne:
Rihanna samples the iconic "Yeah, yeah" in Lavigne's bridge. Also, fun fact: Lavigne makes a cameo in the "Cheers (Drink to That)" music video.
10."Stronger" by Kanye West samples "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk:
Along with the beat, the lyrics "Work it, make it, do it, makes us harder, better, faster, stronger" by Daft Punk are a key component in West's song. Also, fun fact: Daft Punk are featured in the "Stronger" music video.
11."Look What You Made Me Do" by Taylor Swift samples "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred:
Swift samples Right Said Fred's beat in her song.
12."SOS" by Rihanna samples the cover of "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell:
Rihanna samples Soft Cell's beat in her song.
13."Questions" by Chris Brown samples "Turn Me On" by Kevin Lyttle:
In addition to the beat, many of the lyrics from "Turn Me On" are heavily sampled in Brown's song, most notably, "Lemme hold ya, come caress my body, you got me going crazy, turn me on, turn me on..."
14."Love Me" by Justin Bieber samples "Lovefool" by the Cardigans:
Along with the beat, the lyrics "Love me, love me, say that you love me, fool me, fool me" by the Cardigans are a key component in Bieber's chorus.
15."What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction samples "Summer Nights," sung by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in Grease:
One Direction samples the opening riff from "Summer Nights."
16."Something New" by Zendaya samples "Creep" by TLC:
Not just the beat, but the iconic "Oh I, oh I, oh I" riff by TLC is featured in Zendaya's song.
17."The Show Goes On" by Lupe Fiasco samples "Float On" by Modest Mouse:
In addition to the beat, Fiasco features — and interpolates — Modest Mouse's lyrics "Alright already, we'll all float on."
18."Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man samples "Please Mr. Postman" by the Marvelettes:
Portugal. The Man sample the Marvelettes' beat in their song.
19."The Way" by Ariana Grande samples "Still Not a Player" by Big Pun*:
Grande samples Big Pun's beat in her song. Also, Mac Miller, who is featured on the song, raps, "I ain't a player, I just—" which is a nod to Big Pun's original lyric, "I ain't a player, I just crush a lot."
*Both songs sample the piano riff from "A Little Bit of Love" by Brenda Russell.
20."Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X samples "34 Ghosts IV" by Nine Inch Nails:
Lil Nas X samples Nine Inch Nails' beat in his song.
21."My Type" by Saweetie samples "Freek-a-Leek" by Petey Pablo:
Saweetie samples Pablo's beat in her song.
22."Freak" by Doja Cat samples "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" by Paul Anka:
Doja Cat samples Anka's beat in her song.
23."Break My Heart" by Dua Lipa samples "Need You Tonight" by INXS:
Dua Lipa samples INXS's beat in her song.
24."Without Me" by Halsey samples "Cry Me a River" by Justin Timberlake:
Halsey sings "You don’t have to say what you did, I already know, I found out from him," which is from the pre-chorus of Timberlake's hit single.
