5 Well-Known Rap Hits With a Classic Rock Sample as a Backbone

When the mainstream popularity of rap music elevated in the late 1980s, it often did so with the help of inventive sampling. While many samples came from the R&B funk world, clever hip-hop artists and producers often mined classic rock songs to provide the foundation.

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Here are five well-known rap hits of the ’80s and ’90s that used at least one classic rock song to its distinct advantage. Some you might be able to spot right away, and some might surprise you.

“Rhymin’ and Stealin’” by The Beastie Boys from Licensed to Ill (1986)

As the first song on their very first full-length album, “Rhymin’ and Stealin’” helped introduce the world to The Beastie Boys. And it quickly showed their cleverness when it came to devising the music to back their rapid-fire lyrical approach. MCA (Adam Yauch) was the mastermind in this case, rigging a reel-to-reel in primitive fashion to create the sample of Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks.” And what an apropos slice of music to choose. John Bonham’s thunderous drumbeat proved just right backdrop for the boastful rhymes of the trio.

“Parents Just Don’t Understand” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince from He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper (1988)

Peter Frampton broke through in a big way with his smash 1976 live album Frampton Comes Alive! Looking to build on his momentum, he followed it up with the studio album I’m in You, which produced a big hit single in the title track. Somewhat forgotten as the closing track on Side One is a song called “Won’t You Be My Friend.” Well, forgotten by everybody but Will Smith and Jeff Townes, apparently. They used a little snippet of the rhythm as the basis for their funny, eternally relevant song about the generation gap.

“Wild Thing” by Tone Loc from Loc-ed After Dark (1988)

By the time the sample of Van Halen’s “Jamie’s Cryin’” was used by Tone Loc on his debut single, sampling was starting to become a bit trickier, as the original artists were beginning to rightfully demand compensation. There was some controversy in this case, because a deal was made for the sample without the members of Van Halen themselves being consulted. In any case, it’s impossible to imagine “Wild Thing” without Alex Van Halen’s drum break or Eddie Van Halen’s guitar stabs. From there, all it took was Tone’s croaky flow to put the song over the top.

“Eye Know” by De La Soul from 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)

Like several classic rap albums from 1989, 3 Feet High and Rising took advantage of the last gasp of the sampling craze before such tactics became financially prohibitive. You probably can spot the sample of Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” on the group’s MTV hit “Say No Go,” but we didn’t choose that one because the Philly duo is more pop than rock. Instead, take a listen to the joyously romantic “Eye Know,” which takes full advantage of the chipper grooves created originally by Steely Dan on their 1977 hit single “Peg.”

“Pop Goes the Weasel” by 3rd Bass from Derelicts of Dialect (1991)

This took a stand against irresponsible sampling, even as it samples itself (albeit with permission from the acts it uses). You’ll hear snippets of The Who’s “Eminence Front” and Stevie Wonder’s “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” sprinkled throughout the track. But the brunt of the load is carried by a sample of the horns from “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel. All of that is in aid of MC Serch and Pete Nice’s takedown of Vanilla Ice, who famously tried to get away without crediting Queen and David Bowie for the “Under Pressure” sample on “Ice Ice Baby.”

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