We’ll take a look at some classic and modern hits whose samples have been reimagined in drum & bass.
Be it any kind of music, sampling has been instrumental in enriching the aesthetic of the record. Since the 1970s, pop and rock artists began incorporating elements from world music, bringing new cultural influences and sounds to Western audiences. This set the stage for the explosive rise of hip-hop, where sampling became a transformative tool, revolutionizing the genre with its innovative, intricate use of snippets from funk, soul, jazz, and beyond.
Hip-hop’s proficiency with sampling paved the way for its expansion into electronic dance music, where producers continue to reshape classic sounds, creating energetic, layered tracks that resonate across generations. Speaking of jungle and drum & bass, right from iconic tunes like ‘Original Nuttah’ by Shy FX and UK Apache, ‘Valley Of The Shadows’ by Origin Unknown, or ‘The Messiah’ by Konflict, to name a few, have not only defined the genre but also the samples they used, which are now firmly weaved into the fabric of the genre’s history.
These tracks merely scratch the surface of drum & bass’s relationship with sampling, showcasing how contemporary pieces draw from classic samples, often reimagining them or transforming their core to revitalize the genre. So, whether it’s a reggae vocal, an old film dialogue, or a snippet from a pop classic, we’ll take a look at some of the most masterful uses of samples in drum & bass that remind us of the art and ingenuity in sampling that continues to propel drum & bass forward.
WILKINSON – IF YOU WANT IT | CHILDISH GAMBINO – REDBONE (2016)
Part of his ‘Cognition’ LP, ‘If You Want It’ was one of the best drum & bass tunes of 2022 for its ability to mesmerize with its alluring sample and then the bone-crushing drop. Now, coming to the sample, it was taken from Childish Gambino’s 2016 number ‘Redbone.’ The twisted vocal of the original was reworked by Wilkinson to turn it into an absorbing female vocal sample that sets the stage for the track’s explosive climax.
S.P.Y. – BY YOUR SIDE | ANNETTE TAYLOR – FAITH (2000)
If you want to know how much this track from S.P.Y means to drum & bass heads, just search the tune on YouTube and read the comments on the upload. ‘By Your Side’ ticks all the boxes—rolling, timeless, and emotional. The melody of the tune hits the deepest corners of our hearts, but what elevates it further is the iconic vocal sample, which is taken from Annette Taylor’s 2000 house record, ‘Faith.’ Speeding up the original’s velocity with that heart-melting, S.P.Y. gave us a tune that will be remembered for generations to come.
HIGH CONTRAST – LORD | BOB JAMES – DREAM JOURNEY (1975)
High Contrast has just dropped his new album, and it’s a true masterpiece. Half way through the album, you come across this track, and you think to yourself, “Wait, Technimatic—Night Vision?” You’d be spot on, as both tracks draw from the same sample—but they’re imagined uniquely. Technic’s 2014 single takes a polished, clean approach, while ‘Lord’ by High Contrast introduces an intriguing twist midway. The shared sample originates from Bob James’ 1975 track ‘Dream Journey,’ adding a layer of nostalgia that each artist interprets in their own style.
MOHICAN SUN – FIXATION | DJ SNAKE – TALK (2016)
When this track from Mohican Sun was released, there were two unknown aliases with the Integral Records tribe. Now, there are four and we barely know details about any of them, but one thing that we do know, however, is their dedication to uncovering the deepest, most evocative samples—and their remarkable skill in weaving them seamlessly into their music.
For ‘Fixation,’ Mohican Sun have used the piano chord from DJ Snake’s 2016 single, ‘Talk’ featuring George Maple. It’s almost incredible how they have constructed the tune over a 4-second piano chord.
KOVEN – CHASE THE SUN | PLANET FUNK – CHASE THE SUN (2001)
Planet Funk’s 2001 single ‘Chase the Sun‘ is a track that evokes countless memories, especially for fans of early-2000s electronic music. When Koven took on the mantle of reworking this classic, what began as a bootleg turned into a full-fledged drum & bass rendition, blending nostalgia with the duo’s signature high-energy sound.
Delivering the euphoria of the original with the infusion of Koven’s uplifting style, the tune quickly became a festival favorite. Koven did speak about the challenges they faced in securing clearance for the sample, but in their words, the effort was well worth it.
Stay tuned as we uncover more expertly used samples that have defined dancefloors and playlists alike.
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