Sampling is one of the most powerful cheat codes in rap music when done right. Not only does it have the power to fuse sound and emotion, it efficiently fuses generations of sounds. Now in his 60th year of rap, the 2000s is a very popular era when it comes to sampling. More than ever, 2023 is the year that that trend is evident, with acclaimed tracks like Ice Spice, Latto taking inspiration from the era.
Ice Spice recently contributed to the game and would also like to thank her right-hand collaborator, producer RIOTUSA. He was the sole producer of her debut EP. like…?, was released in January. One of the undisputed gems out there is the Lil Tjay-assisted “Gangsta Boo.” Everyone involved was thrilled, but especially RIOT, who turned Diddy’s 2002 swanky blockbuster “I Need A Girl, Pt. 2” into a Bronx drill paradigm. On top of that, Fivio Fallin’s “Notice Me,” featuring up-and-comers Tata, Jen Carter and Kyle Rich, is another beam on Sample Drill Wave. Rewinding to 2005, that year he excerpted G-Unit’s timeless bop tune, “Smile.”
Of course the interpolation is different, but it’s still valid for this conversation. Ratt had another hit for Wax, releasing “Put It On the Floor” around the time he swept Coachella in April, ahead of a remix with Cardi B. Anyone at the bottom of the map combined two and two in her post. – Chorus lyric “I don’t know, what you’all being being kawo/Bet yo’ mans know, if you don’t? What’s happensin'” is the same bar from D4L’s “I’m Da Man” pays tribute to Year 2005. Speaking of the South, Doechii’s high-streaming track “What It Is (Block Boy)” featuring Kodak Black takes a similar approach, weaving lyrics from Trillville and Lil Scrappy’s 2004 song “Some Cut.”
That’s not all. Below is a complete list of this year’s best songs that somehow incorporate classic rap tracks from the 2000s.
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“What It Is (Block Boy)”
Doechill Feature Kodak Black
Sample song: Trillville’s “Some Cut” featuring Cutty (2004)
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“I can’t answer”
NLE Chopper featuring Lil Wayne
Sample song: ‘Stuntin’ Like My Daddy’ by Birdman and Lil Wayne (2009)
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“Gheekalek”
Auggiesee featuring Cash Kidd
Sample song: “Freak a Leak” by Petey Pablo (2003)
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“smile”
Fivio Fallin featuring Tata, Jen Carter, Kyle Rich
Sample song: G-Unit “Smile” (2003)
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“Silver Tooth”
Armani White featuring A$AP Ferg
Sample song: ‘Take Ya Home’ by Lil Bow Wow (2001)
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“Heroes”
Macklemore Featuring DJ Premier
Sample song: Black Eyed Peas “BEP Empire” (2000)
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“Gangstaboo”
Ice Spice featuring Lil J
Sample song: Didi’s ‘I Need A Girl, Pt.
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“Pinot Noir”
IDK featuring Saucy Santana and Jucee Froot
Sample song: ‘My Neck, My Back (Lick It)’ by Kia (2001)
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“Put it on the floor again”
Rat featuring Cardi B
Sample song: D4L “I’m Da Man” (2005)
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“Adonis Interlude (The Montage)”
Dreamville and J. Cole
Sample song: Jay-Z’s “The Watcher 2” (2002) featuring Dr. Dre, Rakim and Truth Hearts
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“Let’s talk about it”
Amine and Kaytranada featuring Freddie Gibbs
Sample song: ‘Let’s Talk About It’ by Jermaine Dupri featuring Clipse (2002)
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“The One and Only”
IS Gee
Sample song: TI’s “24’s” (2003)
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“moving”
Connie Diamond
Sample song: ‘Move B****’ by Ludacris featuring Mystical and I-20 (2001)
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“Area code”
curly
Sample song: Ludacris “Area Code” featuring Nate Dogg (2001)
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“Ghetto Girls”
Dababy
Sample song: Cash Money Millionaire’s “Project Bitch” (2000)