Known as the Godfather of Soul, James Brown influenced popular music as a singer, a songwriter, a dancer and bandleader through the 60′s and 70′s primarily. Already a prolific and accomplished force in his own right, Brown’s influence hit critical mass in the 80′s thanks to the popularity of digital sampling in Hip Hop.
Through sampled tracks James Brown has been a part of thousands of songs, reaching far beyond his own genres, or his own amazing 78 albums, helping hundreds of new artists and millions of listeners Get up, Say It Loud and Feel Good.
WhoSampled.com, a sample tracking website that “explores and discusses the DNA of Music,” has attempted to catalogue all the songs that sample James Brown’s music. So far they have found 1,114 songs that use samples from James Brown. These samples come from 92 different James Brown songs. Producing 92 songs in a career that people want to listen would be a feet for any artist. Producing 92 songs that people want to include in their own songs is much more impressive. No wonder James Brown was known as the Hardest Working Man in Show Business.
Some tracks get have gotten more sampling love than others over the years. Here are the top 10 most sampled James Brown songs:
10 Escape-ism (1971)
Sampled 23 Times
This is a pre-rap rap, with a nice mid-tempo beat featuring a simple horn riff and James rapping over the top. First sampled by Heavy D & the Boyz in The Overweight Lover’s in the House (1987), and last sampled by Jigmastas in If (1999), this beat enjoyed moderate success in the hip hop realm.
9 Get on the Good Foot (1972)
Sampled 23 Times
A fast and energetic beat, with a frenetic guitar riff and super funky. First sampled by Double Dee & Steinski in their James Brown remix called Lesson 2 (1985) and last sampled by Bomfunk MC’s in Freestyler (1999). The best known use of this sample is probably in Gold by Grandmaster Flash (1988).
8 Make It Funky (1971)
Sampled 31 Times
This song reminds us that whatever James Brown was going to play, he was going to “Make It Funky”. Brown usually played this song much faster live, but the original track was pretty slow, to maximize the funk. First sampled by Ice-T in a track by the same name (1988) and last sampled by 88-Keys feat. Redman in The Burning Bush (2008). This song has also been sampled by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince as well as by Public Enemy.
7 Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine (1970)
Sampled 35 Times
Without this track how would any of us known to “stay on the scene like a sex machine”? Once again supper funky with call and response lyrics, an iconic piano break and a break down where they chant “shake your money maker.” This track was first sampled by Eddie Murphy in Singers (1983) and most recently sampled in Always (Smile) by Muhsinah (2010).
6 Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud (1968)
Sampled 41 Times
One of Brown’s signature songs and an important Black Power Anthem addressing prejudice and the need for empowerment, Say it loud was first sampled by Jazz Legend Miles Davis in Yesternow (1971) and most recently in Peanuts Club by Noob (2009). Others to use this song include 2 Live Crew, Public Enemy, Salt-n-Pepa, and Cypress Hill in Insane in the Brain. This song is the first place where Brown started using the reappropriated sobriquet, “His Bad Self”.
