These songs were bigger than the originals they sampled

Express Tribune

15-04-2025

Ever heard a song so good you thought it had to be one-of-a-kind, only to later find out it was built on the bones of a classic?
Sampling is the bridge that connects generations of music lovers—and some tracks have become so massive, they've completely eclipsed the originals they borrowed from.
Here's a breakdown of chart-dominating hits that flipped legendary melodies into pop culture moments all their own.
'Nice For What' (2018) – Drake
Built on Lauryn Hill's 'Ex-Factor' (1997), which itself samples Wu-Tang Clan's 'Can It Be All So Simple' and Barbra Streisand's 'The Way We Were,' Drake's anthem soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, replacing his own hit, 'God's Plan.' That switch-up made him the first artist ever to replace himself at No. 1 with a new release.
'Whatcha Say' (2009) – Jason Derulo
Jason Derulo's debut took Imogen Heap's 'Hide and Seek' (2005) and pushed it into the mainstream. Though the original peaked at No. 37 on Billboard's US Digital Song Sales chart, Derulo's track climbed to No. 1 on the Hot 100 and sold over four million copies in five years. 'Whatcha Say' featured the now-iconic bridge from Heap, who earned her first Hot 100 No. 1 as a writer through the sample.
'21 Questions' (2003) – 50 Cent
Sampling Barry White's 'It's Only Love Doing Its Thing' (1978), 50 Cent delivered a softer side on this track—despite Dr. Dre's initial hesitation to include it on Get Rich or Die Tryin'. The gamble paid off. While White's track and its Simply Red cover barely cracked the Top 60, '21 Questions' flew to No. 1, staying there for four weeks and giving 50 his second Hot 100 chart-topper after 'In da Club.'
'The Show Goes On' (2010) – Lupe Fiasco
'Float On' by Modest Mouse (2004) laid the sonic foundation for this anthem, and Lupe Fiasco made it his own. The original hit No. 1 on the US Alternative Airplay list and No. 68 on the Hot 100, but Lupe's take reached No. 9 and received Grammy nods for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.
'Stronger' (2007) – Kanye West
Inspired by Daft Punk's 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,' Kanye's fusion of French house and hip-hop not only pleased the original artists, it topped the Billboard Hot 100. 'Stronger' eventually dethroned 'Crank That (Soulja Boy)' and stayed on the chart for a whopping 27 weeks.
'Hung Up' (2005) – Madonna
ABBA rarely allows their catalog to be sampled, but they made an exception for Madonna. 'Hung Up' transformed 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)' into a disco-pop juggernaut that introduced a new generation to the Swedish supergroup's magic.
'Bootylicious' (2001) – Destiny's Child
Stevie Nicks' guitar riff from 'Edge of Seventeen' (1982) found new life in this Destiny's Child smash. Though Nicks' solo track peaked at No. 11 on the Hot 100, 'Bootylicious' became the girl group's fourth and final No. 1, and a cultural moment unto itself.
'Gangsta's Paradise' (1995) – Coolio
Coolio's chart-topping single wasn't just a tribute—it was a full-on reimagining of Stevie Wonder's 'Pastime Paradise' (1976). It became the top-selling single of 1995 and earned accolades like a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, and two MTV VMAs for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film.
'Stan' (2000) – Eminem
A haunting vocal sample from the start of Dido's 'Thank You' (1998) helped cement Eminem's 'Stan' as one of the most impactful hip-hop tracks of all time. Dido's original peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, but 'Stan' carved out its own space in rap history and introduced Dido's voice to millions.
'California Love' (1995) – 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre
Joe Cocker's 'Woman to Woman' (1972) laid the instrumental groundwork for this West Coast anthem. Originally a B-side to 'Midnight Rider,' the track finally cracked the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 56—decades before Dr. Dre and 2Pac flipped it into one of the most iconic beats in hip-hop.
Some of these originals were already respected, others were hidden gems but in the hands of modern artists, they became supernovas.
Sampling isn't just an art form; it's a cultural reset button, reminding us that the past still has plenty to say.