Samples Through Time – Presenting the Breakdown – Hip-Hop/Rab/RnB Version (90s)

Welcome to the 90s!! The Golden Era of Hip-Hop. Think West Coast vs East Coast, Gangsta Rap & G Funk. Think Biggie, Tupac, Nasty Nas, Tribe, Dr. Dre. Think Funky Dirty Beats, Jazzy Hooks, Horns & Hand Claps. Good Luck!

A breakdown of the difficulties is below (descriptions for each difficulty are failry loose, I wouldn’t necessarily rely on them to try and guess any specific sample, they’re more fluid and in place just to make things more organized):

DifficultyDescriptionFull Value
EasyVery famous songs and generally unchanged samples from original song, generally instantly recognizable1 point each (0.5 pts each for artist and song title)
MediumVery famous songs with less recognizable samples or slightly less famous songs with unchanged samples2 points each (1 pts each for artist and song title)
HardGenerally less famous songs with distorted and/or chopped up samples, sample may be hidden within original song3 points each (1.5 pts each for artist and song title)
ExtremeLess famous songs with heavily changed samples, sample may be hidden within original song5 points each (2 pts each for artist and song title)
ImpossibleSong is either not well known or sample is quick and discrete, not meant to be successful20 points (10 pts each for artist and song title)
Easy (1 pt each!)

Walk On The Wild Side – Lou Reed (1972)

Hint – Artist & Year

A Tribe Called Quest – 1990

Answer

Can I Kick It? – A Tribe Called Quest (1990)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Bass and Rhythm (starting at 0:00)


I’m Blue – The Sweet Inspirations (1967)

Hint – Artist & Year

Salt-N-Peppa -1993

Answer

Shoop – Salt-N-Peppa (1993)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Rhythm, Lyrics, Vocals (throughout)


The Way It Is – Bruce Hornsby and the Range (1986)

Hint – Artist & Year

2pac – 1998

Answer

Changes – 2pac (1998)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Everything (starting at 0:00)


I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near) – Michael McDonald (1982)

Hint – Artist & Year

Warren G, Nate Dogg – 1994

Answer

Regulate – Warren G, Nate Dogg (1994)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Drums, Piano & Rhythm (starting at 0:00)


Between the Sheets – Isley Brothers (1983)

Hint – Artist & Year

The Notorious B.I.G. – 1994

Answer

Big Poppa – The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Bass, Drums, & Rhythm (throughout)


Pastime Paradise – Stevie Wonder (1976)

Hint – Artist & Year

Coolio, L.V. – 1995

Answer

Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio, L.V. (1995)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Vocals (0:24 and repeated) & Beat (starting at 0:00)


Woman to Woman – Joe Cocker (1972)

Hint – Artist & Year

2pac, Dr. Dre – 1995

Answer

California Love – 2pac, Dr. Dre (1995)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Piano (starting at 0:00)
Horns (starting at 0:10)


I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross (1980)

Hint – Artist & Year

The Notorious B.I.G. – 1997

Answer

Mo Money Mo Problems – The Notorious B.I.G. (1997)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Vocals & Guitar (throughout)


The Edge – David McAllum (1967)

Hint – Artist & Year

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg – 1999

Answer

The Next Episode – Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg (1999)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Everything (Drums, Horns, Rhythm, 0:00-0:25)


Khusara Khusara – Hossam Ramzy (1994)

Hint – Artist & Year

Jay-Z – 1999

Answer

Big Pimpin’ – Jay-Z (1999)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Hook/Riff (0:00-0:13)


Medium (2 pts each!!)

Think (About It) – Lyn Collins (1972)

Hint – Artist & Year

Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock – 1988

Answer

It Takes Two – Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock (1988)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Vocals (1:20-1:35)

Hint – Lyric

… to make a thing go right
… to make it outta sight


I Want’a Do Something Freaky to You – Leon Haywood (1974)

Hint – Artist & Year

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg- 1992

Answer

Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang – Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg (1992)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Drums, Guitar and Rhythm (0:00-1:00, 0:30 esp)

Hint – Lyric

It’s like this, and like that, and like this, and uh
It’s like that, and like this, and like that, and uh
It’s like this, and like that, and like this, and uh


Today – Tom Scott, California Dreamers (1967)

Hint – Artist & Year

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth -1992

Answer

They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) – Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth (1992)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Saxophone (1:37)

Hint – Lyric

 I reminisce for a spell, or shall I say think back (yeah)
22 years ago to keep it on track (uh-huh)
The birth of a child on the 8th of October (it’s like that)
A toast, but my granddaddy came sober (crazy fact)


Footsteps in the Dark, Pts. 1 & 2 – The Isley Brothers (1977)

Hint – Artist & Year

Ice Cube – 1992

Answer

It Was A Good Day – Ice Cube (1992)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Drums, Guitar & Rhythm (starting at 0:00)


Darkest Light – Lafayette Afro Rock Band (1974)

Hint – Artist & Year

Wreckx-N-Effect – 1992

Answer

Rump Shaker – Wreckx-N-Effect (1992)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Horns (starting at 0:00)

Hint – Lyric

All I wanna do is zoom a zoom zoom zoom


As Long As I’ve Got You – The Charmels (1967)

Hint – Artist & Year

Wu-Tang Clan – 1993

Answer

C.R.E.A.M. – Wu-Tang Clan (1993)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Piano Riff (0:00)
Vocals (0:16-0:20)

Hint – Lyric

I grew up on the crime side, the New York Times side
Staying alive was no jive
At second hands, moms bounced on old men
So then we moved to Shaolin land


Mystic Brew – Ronnie Foster (1972)

Hint – Artist & Year

A Tribe Called Quest – 1993

Answer

Electric Relaxation – A Tribe Called Quest (1993)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Bass Guitar (0:00-0:10)

Hint – Lyric

I like ’em brown, yellow, Puerto Rican or Haitian
Name is Phife Dawg from the Zulu Nation
Told you in the jam that we can get down
Now let’s knock the boots like the group H-Town


Bonita Applebum – A Tribe Called Quest (1990)

Hint – Artist & Year

Fugees – 1996

Answer

Killing Me Softly With His Song – Fugees (1996)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Weird Guitar Like Hook (0:08 and throughout)

Hint – Lyric

Strumming my pain with his fingers (one time) yeah, yeah
Singing my life with his words (two times)


Rise – Herb Alpert (1979)

Hint – Artist & Year

Notorious B.I.G. – 1997

Answer

Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G. (1997)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Drums, Bass & Beat (starting at 0:00) 3:22 should be obvious

Hint – Lyric

Biggie, Biggie, Biggie, can’t you see?
Sometimes your words just…


I Got The… – Labi Siffre (1975)

Hint – Artist & Year

Eminem – 1999

Answer

My Name Is – Eminem (1999)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Drums & Bass (2:09 onwards)

Hint – Lyric

Hi kids! Do you like violence? Wanna see me stick nine inch nails through each one of my eyelids?


Hard (3 pts each!!!)

Found a Child – Ballin’ Jack (1970)

Hint – Artist & Year

Young MC – 1989

Answer

Young MC – Bust a Move (1989)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Everything (1:40-2:00)

Hint – Lyric

A girl starts walkin’, guys start gawkin’
Sits down next to you and starts talkin’
Says she wanna dance ’cause she likes the groove
So come on, fatso…


(Not Just) Knee Deep – Funkadelic (1979)

Hint – Artist & Year

De La Soul – 1989 (close enough)

Answer

Me Myself and I – De La Soul (1989)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Horns throughout (0:00), backing vocals (0:20)

Hint – Lyric

Mirror, mirror on the wall


Summer in The City – Quincy Jones (1973)

Hint – Artist & Year

The Pharcyde – 1992

Answer

Passin’ Me By – The Pharcyde (1992)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Rhythm & Hook/Riff (0:00-0:24)

Hint – Lyric

I was on her jock, yes indeedy. I wrote graffiti on the bus
First I’d write her name then carve a plus
With my name last, on the looking glass
I seen her yesterday but still I had to let her pass


Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong – KC & The Sunshine Band (1975)

Hint – Artist & Year

Digable Planets – 1993

Answer

Where I’m From – Digable Planets (1993)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Horns & Guitar (throughout)

Hint – Lyric

Venus acts a fool at the square right? (Yeah)
Doctors engineer in apparel right? (Yeah)
Hip-hop made a point last year right? (Yeah)
But Planets is the joint this year right? (Yeah)


Be Alright – Zapp (1980)

Hint – Artist & Year

2pac – 1993

Answer

Keep Ya Head Up – 2pac (1993)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Bass Guitar (0:00-0:10)

Hint – Lyric

And since a man can’t make one
He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one
So will the real men get up
I know you’re fed up ladies…


I Love Music – Ahmad Jamal Trio (1970)

Hint – Artist & Year

Nas – 1994

Answer

The World Is Yours – Nas (1994)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Piano (4:58-5:03)

Hint – Lyric

I can’t call it, the beats make me fallin’ asleep
I keep falling, but never falling six feet deep
I’m out for presidents to represent me (say what?)
I’m out for presidents to represent me (say what?)
I’m out for dead presidents to represent me


The 900 Number – 45 King (1988)

Hint – Artist & Year

DJ Kool – 1996

Answer

Let Me Clear My Throat – DJ Kool (1996)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Direct Sample (throughout)

Hint – Lyric

Have mercy babe, ha!
I hope ya don’t mind!…


Boadicea – Enya (1987)

Hint – Artist & Year

Fugees – 1996

Answer

Ready or Not – Fugees (1996)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Vocals & Bass (0:00-0:26)

Hint – Lyric

… here I come, you can’t hide
Gonna find you and take it slowly


Danger! She’s A Stranger – The Five Stairsteps (1967)

Hint – Artist & Year

Outkast – 1996

Answer

Two Dope Boyz (In a Cadillac) – Outkast (1996)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Piano & Vocals (0:15-0:25)

Hint – Lyric

Now who them boys that be having it crunk every occasion
This side n****s dusting, that side n****s lacing
But in the middle we stay calm, we just drop bombs
Asking where we come from? South Coast slums


Bumpy’s Lament – Mack Browne & The Brothers (1971)

Hint – Artist & Year

Dr. Dre – 1999

Answer

Xxplosive – Dr. Dre (1999)

Hint – Sample Location & Type

Guitar Hook (0:00-0:07)

Hint – Lyric

All my real dogs still kick it with me
All my down hoes still tricking with me
All the true gangstas know
Nate ain’t never love no ho


EXTREME (5 pts each!!!!!)

Funky Worm – Ohio Players (1972)

Answer

Jump – Kris Kross (1992)


Stretching – Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (1978)

Answer

Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) – Digable Planets (1992)


Shoot Your Shot – Jr. Walker & The All Stars (1965)

Answer

Jump Around – House of Pain (1992)


Blue Horizon – Vic Juris (1980)

Answer

Mass Appeal – Gang Starr (1994)


Thief of Baghdad – Lee Erwin (1974)

Answer

Represent – Nas (1994)


Saudade Vem Correndo – Stan Getz, Luiz Bonfa, Maria Toledo (1963)

Answer

Runnin’ – The Pharcyde (1995)


Jessica – Herbie Hancock (1969)

Answer

Shook Ones Pt. II – Mobb Deep (1995)


Rachmaninoff – Les Baxter (1968)

Answer

Intergalatic – Beastie Boys (1998)


Walk on By – Cal Tjader (1968)

Answer

Full Clip – Gang Starr (1999)


Godzilla Theme – Akira Ifukube (1954)

Answer

Simon Says – Pharoahe Monch (1999)



Impossible (The Ultimate Test. One Sample. One Song. Can you get it!? 20pts up for grabs)

Good Guys Only Win in the Movies – Mel & Tim (1969)

Answer

Insane in the Brain – Cypress Hill (1993)


Polls (Only open once you’ve completed)

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