10 Songs You Didn’t Know Were Sampled

Have you noticed how many recent songs give you the feeling of nostalgia? Yes, nostalgia has been really big in recent years as more people would like to return to simpler times. And like old movies get reboots, old songs get sampled.

Here are 10 songs you didn’t know were sampled.

1. Hold Up by Beyonce

Beyonce’s Lemonade hit tracks has a number of samples, from the instrumental intro of Andy Williams’ Can’t Get Used to Losing You, to lyrics from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Maps to Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig’s tweet to an outro from Soulja Boy’s Turn My Swag On and a sample from her own song Countdown! That is a lot of samples on one song.

2. Lucid Dreams by Juice WRLD

Late Juice WRLD’s hit song Lucid Dreams was a good song made great by the guitar riffs that played throughout the song. But did you know those were sampled from Sting’s 1993 song Shape of My Heart? Listen to it here.

3. Wild Thoughts by DJ Khaled feat. Rihanna, Bryson Tiller

If you ever wondered why Wild Thoughts was so easy to jive to, consider that it was sampled from the talented Santana’s 1999 Latin pop hit Maria Maria. Listen to it here.

4. The Box by Roddy Rich

Roddy Rich’s The Box dominated the Billboard charts for weeks. But what you don’t know about this song is that its dramatic intro is from the 2008 classical music song Dawn Symphony by Roland. Listen to it here.

5. The Way Life Goes by Lil Uzi Vert feat. Nicki Minaj

This smooth rap collabo expresses angst about a relationship gone sour. But did you know the entire production and chorus are lifted word for word from Oh Wonder’s Landslide? Listen to it here.

6. Whatcha Say by Jason Derulo

Whatcha Say was the track that drove Jason Derulo into the limelight, but like almost every song of his that became a hit, it borrows large chunks from another song; Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap. Listen to it here.

7. Bottom Bitch by Doja Cat

Doja Cat has a plethora of influences, including early 2000s garage rock. The slowed-down lazy guitar riffs from Bottom Bitch are sampled from Blink 182’s What’s My Age Again. Listen to it here.

8. My Type by Saweetie

Saweetie’s My Type and its many remixes have sparked TikTok challenges since its release last year. But did you know the song sampled Petey Pablo’s 2003 song Freek-a–Leek? Listen to it here.

9. Be Careful by Cardi B

Few female rappers can say they were not inspired by 90s hip hop/R&B icon Lauryn Hill, and Cardi is not exempt; as she samples lyrics and production for Be Careful from Hill’s Ex Factor. Listen to it here.

10. Megatron by Nicki Minaj

Last but not least, in case Nicki Minaj’s Megatron sounds oddly familiar, it’s because she samples fellow islander Mr Vegas’ 1997 dancehall/reggae hit Heads High. Listen to it here.