A listenable history of Kanye West’s samples
Kanye West’s songs have always been huge, elaborate affairs that either build off of an existing song or pick out the best parts of several others to create one coherent and cooler whole. And while West may be known for his early work with soul, his choice of samples has now made it all the way to Elton John and Bon Iver.
West’s samples are listed in his album’s liner notes, but if you search around online, you’ll find a bit of disagreement over what he grabbed from each song (sometimes lyrics, sometimes a whole tune) and whether or not there are actually other, uncredited excerpts involved — the collection below has been formed in part from those arguments. For the most part though, the samples come through loud and clear in West’s tracks, propelling each song forward. Curious just how far and wide West searches for a great tune? Look below for history on West’s sampling.
The College Dropout
We Don’t Care
All Falls Down
Spaceship
Jesus Walks
Never Let Me Down
Slow Jamz
Breathe In Breathe Out
School Spirit
Two Words
Through the Wire
Family Business
Last Call
Late Registration
Wake Up Mr. West
Heard 'Em Say
Touch the Sky
Gold Digger
Drive Slow
My Way Home
Crack Music
Roses
Addiction
Diamonds from Sierra Leone (remix)
We Major
Hey Mama
Celebration
Gone
Graduation
Good Morning
Champion
Stronger
I Wonder
Good Life
Barry Bonds
Drunk and Hot Girls
Everything I Am
The Glory
808s & Heartbreak
Heartless
Robocop
Coldest Winter
Bad News
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Dark Fantasy
Gorgeous
Power
So Appalled
Devil in a New Dress
Runaway
Hell of a Life
Blame Game
Lost in the World
Who Will Survive in America
Yeezus
On Sight
I Am a God
New Slaves
I'm in It
Blood on the Leaves
Guilt Trip
Sent it Up
Bound 2
Loading comments...