Tyler, the Creator, Missy Elliott, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Nas & More R&B and Rap Artists Who've Sampled & Interpolated Old African Songs
Aminé's third studio album 13 Months of Sunshine — which dropped Friday (May 16) — pays homage to his Ethiopian roots, and one of the clearest examples can be heard in the title track that samples Aster Aweke's 2019 track 'Nafkot.' Almost a decade ago, Canadian-Ethiopian superstar The Weeknd honored their shared motherland by also sampling Aweke's 'Y'shebellu' on his 2016 Starboy single 'False Alarm.'
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And they're not the only artists who've paid tribute to the continent. Tyler, the Creator's Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit 'NOID' from his seventh album Chromakopia finds the Nigerian American rapper paying homage to his African roots: He samples Zambian rock band Ngozi Family's 1977 track 'Nizakupanga Ngozi.'
And it's not the first time the revered MC (real name Tyler Okonma) — who's become more vocal about his heritage (see his comment underneath OkayAfrica's Instagram post about not being included in the platform's roundup of African artists who performed at Coachella this year) — has sampled an old African song. 'I THINK,' from his Grammy-winning 2019 album IGOR samples Nigerian disco artist Bibi Mascel's 'Special Lady' as well as Cameroonian funk multi-instrumentalist Nkono Teles' 'Get Down.'
The late and legendary Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango's 1972 smash 'Soul Makossa' is perhaps the most sampled African record ever, as its various instrumental elements have been heard in Jay-Z's 'Face Off' (featuring Sauce Money), Beyoncé's 'Deja Vu – Homecoming Live' (which Hov was also featured on) and countless more songs.
The 'Mama ko mama sa maka makossa' hook has been adapted and used on hits like Michael Jackson's 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'' and Rihanna's 'Don't Stop the Music,' but there was quite a bit of legal controversy surrounding those two songs. Dibango sued both artists in 2009 for copyright infringement after Rihanna only asked Jackson for permission to borrow the hook from 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'' for her 2007 track without reaching out to Dibango. He had previously reached a financial settlement with the King of Pop, but Dibango demanded €500,000 in damages and for Sony BMG, EMI and Warner Music to be barred from making money off those songs until the matter was resolved. But the judge threw the case out because Dibango had accepted publishing credit on Rihanna's song.
Billboard rounded up 16 songs by R&B and rap artists that sample and interpolate vintage African songs, in order from newest to oldest.
Aminé's '13MOS' from his 2025 album 13 Months of Sunshine samples fellow Ethiopian singer-songwriter Aster Aweke's 'Nafkot' from her 2019 album Ćhewa. Aweke's laidback, drawn-out runs on the first verse of 'Nafkot' are sped up and pitched up at the tail end of '13MOS.'
Tyler, the Creator's 'NOID' single from his 2024 album Chromakopia samples Zambian rock band Ngozi Family's 'Nizakupanga Ngozi' from its 1977 album 45,000 Volts. 'NOID' loops the fuzzy guitar riff from 'Nizakupanga Ngozi,' while the chorus of Tyler's single samples Paul Ngozi's Chichewa vocals: 'Pobwela panyumba panga, uyenela ku nkala ndi ulemu/ Chifukwa, ine sinifuna vokamba, kamba/ Vokamba kamba vileta pa mulomo/ (Wotangozi, wotangozi).' 'NOID' reached No. 10 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Kelly Rowland's 2020 single 'Hitman' that was included in the NFL's 2020 Songs of the Season series samples Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti's 'Mr. Follow Follow' from his 1976 album Zombie. The bold, funky horn melody of 'Mr. Follow Follow' powers 'Hitman.'
Beyoncé's 'Déjà Vu (Homecoming Live),' featuring Jay-Z, from the former's 2019 album Homecoming: The Live Album samples Fela Kuti's 'Zombie' from his 1976 album of the same name and Manu Dibango's 'Soul Makossa.' The groovy horn and rhythm sections of 'Zombie' and 'Soul Makossa' kick off 'Déjà Vu (Homecoming Live)' before Hov screams to the crowd, 'Coachella, if you havin' a good time tonight, make some noise!' 'Soul Makossa' reached No. 35 on the Hot 100, No. 21 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 3 on World Digital Song Sales. It also earned best R&B instrumental performance and best instrumental compilation nominations at the 1974 Grammys.
Tyler, the Creator's 'I THINK' from his 2019 album Igor samples Nkono Teles' 'Get Down' from his 1982 album Afro Music Party and Bibi Mascel's 'Special Lady' from his 1982 album of the same name. 'I THINK' loops the four-on-the-floor drum beat from 'Get Down,' while Tyler and guest vocalist Solange lift Mascel's heartfelt chorus — 'I think I've fallen in love/ This time I think it's for real' — and fuzzy synth chord progression. 'I THINK' reached No. 51 on the Hot 100 and No. 22 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
The Weeknd's 'False Alarm' from his 2016 album Starboy samples fellow Ethiopian singer-songwriter Aster Aweke's 'Y'shebellu' from her eponymous 1989 album Aster. Aweke's lithe runs can be faintly heard at the end of 'False Alarm,' which reached No. 55 on the Hot 100 and No. 23 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. 'Her voice is the greatest thing you'll ever hear,' The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) told Billboard for his 2016 No. 1s cover story.
J. Cole's 'Let Nas Down' from his 2013 album Born Sinner samples Fela Kuti's 'Gentleman' from his 1973 album of the same title. 'Let Nas Down' loops Kuti's woozy saxophone solo from 'Gentleman.'
J. Cole's 'Can't Get Enough,' featuring Trey Songz, from the former's 2011 album Cole World: The Sideline Story samples Guinean dance-music orchestra Balla et ses Balladins' 'Paulette' from its 1980 album Objectif Perfection. 'Can't Get Enough' loops the tropical guitar melodies and easygoing harmonies from 'Paulette.'
Nas and Damian Marley's 'As We Enter' from their 2010 collaborative album Distant Relatives samples Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke's 'Yegelle Tezeta' from his 1969 album New York – Addis – London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975. The blazing horn riff and shuffling organ groove of 'Yegelle Tezeta' underlines 'As We Enter,' which reached No. 16 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 and No. 23 on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales.
Ye's 'Lost in the World,' featuring Bon Iver, from the former's 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy interpolates Manu Dibango's 'Soul Makossa.' He sings 'Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-se, ma-ma-ku-sa' in the first verse of 'Lost in the World,' a play on Dibango's hook from 'Soul Makossa.'
The Roots' 'I Will Not Apologzie,' featuring Greg Porn and Dice Raw, from the band's 2008 album Rising Down samples Fela Kuti's 'Mr. Grammarticalogylisationalism is the Boss' from his 1975 album Excuse-O. The shrill horn section and polyrhythmic groove of 'Mr. Grammarticalogylisationalism is the Boss' underscore 'I Will Not Apologize.'
Rihanna's 'Don't Stop the Music' from her 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad samples Michael Jackson's 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin',' which interpolates Manu Dibango's 'Soul Makossa' from his 1973 album of the same title. She lifts the 'Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa' coda from Jackson's record, which Dibango had argued was an uncredited alteration of his hook from 'Soul Makossa.' Rihanna's hit peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 and Pop Airplay while topping Dance Club Songs and Dance/Mix Show Airplay. It was also nominated for best dance recording at the 2008 Grammy Awards.
Nas' 'Warrior Song,' featuring Alicia Keys, from his 2002 album God's Son samples Fela Kuti and The Afrika 70's 'Na Poi' from his 1971 album of the same title. Kuti's chanting from 'Na Poi' kicks off 'Warrior Song.'
Missy Elliott's 'Whatcha Gon' Do,' featuring Timbaland, from her 2001 album Miss E…So Addictive samples Fela Kuti and The Afrika 70's 'Colonial Mentality' from his 1977 album Sorrow Tears and Blood. 'Whatcha Gon' Do' loops the introductory bass and drum melody of 'Colonial Mentality.'
Jay-Z's 'Face Off,' featuring Sauce Money, from the former's 1997 album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 samples Manu Dibango's 'Soul Makossa.' The jazzy horn section and funky breakbeat of 'Soul Makossa' plays during the chorus of 'Face Off.' 'Jay came in, we put up the 'Soul Makossa' record, the sample, he had Sauce Money in there, and they went in together. It was hot. It was simple, nothing major. It was a one off,' Tone, one-half of the production duo Trackmasters that helmed the record, told Complex in 2012. 'We weren't gonna be in the studio for two weeks. It was just one session, he came, he spit, and it was over.'
Michael Jackson's 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'' from his 1982 album Thriller interpolates Manu Dibango's 'Soul Makossa.' 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'' peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
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