Over the past few decades, hip hop and soul music have always had a close relationship, with some of the greatest rap producers drawing inspiration from the bygone eras of the ’60s and ’70s to create new classics.
This fusion of genres has led to some of the most iconic hip hop songs of all time. From the smooth, soulful melodies of artists like Marvin Gaye and Al Green, to the funky grooves of James Brown and Curtis Mayfield, hip hop producers have constantly turned to soul music as a source of inspiration.
On this list we take a look at classic tracks like Common’s “Love Is…” and DMX’s “No Sunshine” to Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.” and Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day” to present the 50 best hip hop songs that sample soul music.
1 Mos Def – “Ms. Fat Booty”
Released: August 2, 1999
Producer: Ayatollah
Samples: “One Step Ahead” by Aretha Franklin
2 Ice Cube – “It Was a Good Day”
Released: February 23, 1993
Producer: DJ Pooh
Samples: “Footsteps in the Dark” by The Isley Brothers
3 Jay-Z – “Song Cry”
Released: September 11, 2001
Producer: Just Blaze
Samples: “Sounds Like a Love Song” by Bobby Glenn
4 Mobb Deep – “Drop a Gem on ‘Em”
Released: August 25, 1996
Producer: Havoc
Samples: “Can’t Help but Love You” by The Whispers
5 Wu-Tang Clan – “C.R.E.A.M.”
Released: January 31, 1994
Producer: RZA
Samples: “As Long as I’ve Got You” by The Charmels
6 Cam’ron ft. Juelz Santana – “Oh Boy”
Released: April 2, 2002
Producer: Just Blaze
Samples: “I’m Going Down” by Rose Royce
7 DMX – “No Sunshine”
Released: March 13, 2001
Producer: Dame Grease
Samples: “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
8 Common – “Love Is…”
Released: May 24, 2005
Producer: J Dilla
Samples: “God Is Love” by Marvin Gaye
9 The Notorious B.I.G. – “One More Chance / Stay with Me (Remix)”
Released: June 6, 1995
Producer: Sean “Puffy” Combs, Rashad Smith
Samples: “Stay with Me” by DeBarge
10 Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Otis”
Released: July 20, 2011
Producer: Kanye West
Samples: “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding
11 Fugees – “Killing Me Softly”
Released: May 27, 1996
Producer: Fugees
Samples: “Killing Me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack
12 Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg – “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”
Released: November 19, 1992
Producer: Dr. Dre
Samples: “I Want’a Do Something Freaky to You” by Leon Haywood
13 UGK ft. OutKast – “International Players Anthem (I Choose You)”
Released: June 6, 2007
Producer: DJ Paul, Juicy J
Samples: “I Choose You” by Willie Hutch
14 Jay-Z – “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)”
Released: July 28, 2001
Producer: Kanye West
Samples: “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5
15 Jay Electronica – “Exhibit C”
Released: December 22, 2009
Producer: Just Blaze
Samples: “Cross My Heart” by Billy Stewart
16 2Pac ft. Richie Rich – “Ratha Be Ya Ni**a”
Released: February 13, 1996
Producer: Doug Rasheed
Samples: “I’d Rather Be with You” by Bootsy’s Rubber Band
17 Pete Rock & CL Smooth – “Take You There”
Released: November 8, 1994
Producer: Pete Rock
Samples: “Risin’ to the Top” by Keni Burke
18 Common – “The Light”
Released: July 18, 2000
Producer: J Dilla
Samples: “Open Your Eyes” by Bobby Caldwell
19 Kanye West ft. Jamie Foxx – “Gold Digger”
Released: July 5, 2005
Producer: Kanye West, Jon Brion
Samples: “I Got a Woman” by Ray Charles
20 Jay-Z – “American Dreamin”
Released: November 6, 2007
Producer: Diddy, Sean C, LV, Mario Winans
Samples: “Soon I’ll Be Loving You Again” by Marvin Gaye
21 Masta Ace – “Good Ol’ Love”
Released: August 3, 2004
Producer: 9th Wonder
Samples: “Hospital Prelude of Love Theme” by Willie Hutch
22 Blu & Exile – “O Heaven”
Released: September 4, 2012
Producer: Exile
Samples: “How High the Moon” by Ella Fitzgerald
23 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – “Tha Crossroads”
Released: April 23, 1996
Producer: Tim Middleton
Samples: “Make Me Say It Again Girl Part 1 & 2” by The Isley Brothers
24 Fugees – “Fu-Gee-La”
Released: February 13, 1996
Producer: Salaam Remi
Samples: “Ooo La La La” by Teena Marie
25 Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 5”
Released: May 8, 2022
Producer: Beach Noise
Samples: “I Want You” by Marvin Gaye
26 Nas ft. AZ – “Life’s a Bitch”
Released: April 19, 1994
Producer: L.E.S.
Samples: “Yearning for Your Love” by The Gap Band
27 Ghostface Killah – “Malcolm”
Released: February 8, 2000
Producer: Choo the Specializt
Samples: “Going in Circles” by Isaac Hayes
28 The Diplomats – “I Really Mean It”
Released: March 25, 2003
Producer: Just Blaze
Samples: “I Got Over Love (Live)” by Major Harris
29 AZ ft. Nas – “Mo Money, Mo Murder”
Released: October 10, 1995
Producer: DR Period
Samples: “Cry Together” by The O’Jays
30 The Notorious B.I.G. – “Big Poppa”
Released: December 24, 1994
Producer: Chucky Thompson, Sean Combs
Samples: “Between the Sheets” by The Isley Brothers
31 Jay-Z – “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love)”
Released: September 11, 2001
Producer: Kanye West
Samples: “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City” by Bobby Blue Bland
32 J Dilla – “Won’t Do”
Released: August 22, 2006
Producer: J Dilla
Samples: ”Footsteps in the Dark” by The Isley Brothers
33 GZA ft. Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Masta Killa & Inspectah Deck – “Duel of the Iron Mic”
Released: November 7, 1995
Producer: RZA
Samples: “I’m Afraid the Masquerade Is Over” by David Porter
34 Ghostface Killah – “After The Smoke Is Clear”
Released: October 29, 1996
Producer: RZA
Samples: “After The Smoke Is Clear” by Jimmy Ruffin
35 2Pac – “Me Against the World”
Released: March 14, 1995
Producer: Soulshock and Karlin
Samples: “Walk On By” by Isaac Hayes
36 50 Cent – “Ghetto Qur’an (Forgive Me)”
Released: May 21, 2002
Producer: Trackmasters
Samples: “Stop, Look, Listen (to Your Heart)” by Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye
37 Big Daddy Kane – “Ain’t No Half-Steppin’”
Released: June 21, 1988
Producer: Marley Marl
Samples: “Blind Alley” by The Emotions
38 Wu-Tang Clan – “Tearz”
Released: November 9, 1993
Producer: RZA
Samples: “After Laughter (Comes Tears)” by Wendy Rene
39 Common – “Faithful”
Released: May 24, 2005
Producer: Kanye West
Samples: “Faithful to the End” by D. J. Rogers
40 21 Savage ft. J. Cole – “A Lot”
Released: January 8, 2019
Producer: DJ Dahi, J. White Did It
Samples: “I Love You” by East of Underground
41 Kanye West – “Blood on the Leaves”
Released: June 18, 2013
Producer: Kanye West, Hudson Mohawke, Lunice, Carlos Broady (co.), 88-Keys (add.), Mike Dean (add.), Arca (add.)
Samples: “Strange Fruit” by Nina Simone
42 Little Brother – “Lovin’ It”
Released: August 16, 2005
Producer: 9th Wonder
Samples: “One Night Affair” by The Stylistics
43 Capone-N-Noreaga – “Invincible”
Released: November 21, 2000
Producer: DJ Premier
Samples: “Hey Boy Over There” by Jimmie & Vella
44 Nipsey Hussle – “Blue Laces 2”
Released: February 16, 2018
Producer: Rance, Mr. Lee, Mike & Keys
Samples: “Hospital Prelude of Love Theme” by Willie Hutch
45 Ghostface Killah – “Holla”
Released: April 20, 2004
Producer: Ghostface
Samples: “La La (Means I Love You)” by The Delfonics
46 Project Pat – “I Choose You”
Released: August 6, 2002
Producer: DJ Paul, Juicy J
Samples: “I Choose You” by Willie Hutch
47 The Game – “Dreams”
Released: June 7, 2005
Producer: Kanye West
Samples: “No Money Down” performed by Jerry Butler
48 LL Cool J – “Around the Way Girl”
Released: November 20, 1990
Producer: Marley Marl, LL Cool J
Samples: “All Night Long” by Mary Jane Girls
49 Elzhi ft. Royce da 5’9″ – “Motown 25”
Released: August 12, 2008
Producer: Black Milk
Samples: “True Love Can Be Beautiful” by The Ruffin Brothers
50 Drake – “Middle of the Ocean”
Released: November 4, 2022
Producer: Oz, Nik D, Noel Cadastre, Sucuki, LOOF
Samples: “Cry Together” by The O’Jays
