The Most Sampled Beats in Music History

Sampling changed the face of the music industry when it took off in the 80s and 90s. It became a defining characteristic of Pop, Hip-Hop, Electronic and Dance music. To discover the roots of these beats, we have to go back to the early 70s, when funk and soul music really came alive. In this article, I’ll mention the drummers who laid down the chops, and where to discover the original recordings.

The main positive of drum sampling is the quality, originating from iconic drummers in music history. Guys like George Brown and Bonham were trailblazers of their respective genres. Drummers such as Al Jackson Jr. and Harvey Mason were elite session players (more on these guys in my next article.) The most sampled beats often came from drummers during the 70s. These guys didn’t have any technology at their disposal – it was just a drumkit, some sticks and a whole lot of creativity. So, in that sense, artists sampled the drums to re-invent that organic sound.

1. Synthetic Substitution – Melvin Bliss (Bernard Purdie)

Originally released as a B-side to the single “Reward,” Synthetic Substitution didn’t make the charts due to Opal Productions folding, the parent company of Sunburst Records. Written and produced by Herb Rooney, singer Melvin Bliss delivers some deep lyrics with echoey emotion. Rooney writes about a computerised society, where authenticity has been stripped away. It almost seems ironic given that the song has been sampled over 850 times!

Although he passed away at 75, Bliss left his mark on modern music with the lyrics still resonating today. The legendary Bernard Purdie played the two-bar drum intro, better known for creating the Purdie shuffle. Bernard projects a unique feel with the bass drum, giving the beat a bit of swing whilst maintaining a solid pulse.

The track has been used in songs such as “Don’t Believe the Hype” by Public Enemy, “Bring Da Ruckus” by Wu-Tang-Clan, and even “Die in Your Arms” by Justin Bieber. If you played Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, you might recognise the beat from “Ego Trippin” by Ultramagnetic MCs.

2. Funky Drummer – James Brown (Clyde Stubblefield)

It’s difficult to find another artist that has been sampled more than James Brown. It’s estimated his songs have been sampled over 14,000 times!

His royalty statements must be longer than a Windows 10 update. Even uber-sampled songs which he didn’t feature on, Brown helped produce. Think About It (Lyn Collins) and The Grunt (The J.B.’s) are just some examples.

For this tune, The Godfather of Soul called on seasoned pro Clyde Stubblefield, who previously played for none other than Otis Redding. It’s no wonder that Brown dubbed the song “Funky Drummer” after hearing one of the most iconic drum solos ever recorded. The late Stubblefield is one of the greats – yet despite how often his drumming has been sampled, he remains relatively unknown outside of the drum world.

Clyde uses a great mix of rimshots, offbeats and ghost notes on the snare to create a super-funky feel. If you haven’t heard it already, here’s a clip of him grooving away, making it look easy.

3. Hot Pants – Bonus Beats (Bobby Byrd) – John “Jabo” Starks

Another one from James Brown’s extensive catalogue, Hot Pants is one of the most recognisable beats around. The most sampled version comes from Bobby Byrd’s recording of the song – one of Brown’s associates. Hits such as “Fools Gold” (The Stone Roses), “Fight the Power” (Public Enemy), and Wannabe (Spice Girls) all used this beat – amongst hundreds of others.

John “Jabo” Starks was behind the kit, laying down a popping snare that mixes perfectly with the shaker effect. It’s no wonder why everyone sampled it – I’d give anything for that snare sound!

Along with Stubblefield, Starks was one of the OG’s of funk drumming. Check out this video to watch them doing what they do best.

4. Impeach the President – The Honey Drippers (unknown)

Almost everyone in Hip-Hop has used this beat, including J.Cole, Biggie, Nas, LL Cool J, 2Pac, N.W.A and Jay Z. Soul singer Roy C. Hammond discovered a group of high-school musicians, whom he later named “The Honey Drippers.” They acted as his backing band whilst recording the track, which was written about the impeachment of American president Richard Nixon. It’s a classic funk groove featuring a punchy bass drum complimented with a smooth open hi-hat on the ‘and’ of three (also played on the ‘and’ of one later on).

Initially, Hammond didn’t think much of the drummer. He spent hours pushing him harder than the others until he captured the desired drum sound. Impeach the President was released as a B-side and remained relatively unknown due to its limited release. It was only until DJ & producer Marley Marl got hold of it that the song became what it is today. In fact, Hammond didn’t name the drummer when interviewed about the song. None of the musicians are listed on the credits, making them virtually anonymous.

The Dark Side:

I’m not sure about Synthetic Substitution, but all the tracks above have one thing in common; the drummers never received any royalties when their beats became sampled.

Back in the day, session musicians were often paid a one-off fee for recording their parts. However, the artist or record labels often claimed the songwriting credits/recording rights of the song. For example, Clyde Stubblefield was paid for the recording of “Funky Drummer,” but James Brown secured ownership of the part – even though he didn’t invent it. It was a similar case with John “Jabo” Starks too.

As for Roy C and the anonymous Honey Drippers, they weren’t aware of the sampling craze. It wasn’t until later down the line that Roy realised how much the song had been used. He hired multiple lawyers to try and salvage something, but none of them could win his case.

Still, there’s one beat I’ve yet to mention that has had the biggest impact on sampling…

5. Amen, Brother – The Winstons (G.C Coleman)

Last but not least, we have the most sampled loop ever – The Amen break. It’s estimated that this track has been sampled almost 6,000 times. Skip ahead to 1:26 and you’ll recognise it instantly.

Another B-side release, Amen, Brother was overshadowed by the Grammy-award-winning “Color Him Father” for years. Even the singer disregarded it as a “throwaway piece.” However, New York DJ Breakbeat Lou managed to popularise the song by featuring it on his “Ultimate Breaks & Beats” compilation in 1986. From the intro to N.W.A’s “Straight Outta Compton,” to The Prodigy’s “Firestarter,” the beat can be found widely throughout Rap, R&B and DnB music.

Although the Amen Break is the most sampled beat in music history, the story behind it is the most tragic yet. Once again, drummer G.C Coleman never received any royalties for his part. Worse still, Coleman passed away homeless on the streets of Atlanta in 2006. Frontman Richard Spencer wasn’t aware of the song’s success until 1996 when a record label enquired about buying the tapes. By then, any chance of earning royalties had come and gone. It took until 2015 that the Winstons received any commission, coming from a crowdfunding campaign launched by two British DJs.

Conclusion:

While the influence of sampling had a profound impact on modern music, the dark side of the industry has been played down. Many artists have received zero royalties for the unwarranted use of their work. At the very least, they deserved some recognition. As Clyde Stubblefield said, “I prefer to get my name on the record – the money isn’t the important thing.” On a brighter note, a documentary is being made to honour Stubblefield’s legacy. I hope this article does the same for all those guys.

All I ask is that you take away two things. Number one – always save a dated copy/copyright your music. This is a complicated and messy subject, but one that you shouldn’t ignore. Registering with collection societies is equally important when receiving royalties too. For more information on this, click here.

Number two – go and listen to the aforementioned drummers above. Check out their beats, watch their playing on YouTube and be inspired. These guys didn’t set out with the intention of becoming sampled by the masses; they just laid down genuine drumbeats. It was all about sound and creativity – that’s all it takes to produce something truly great. Whether you’re a drummer or a bedroom producer using samples, everyone can learn something from these legends. Just don’t forget to credit them if you become successful!

Did we miss any classic drum samples that you know and love? Who do you think has made the most sample beats? Let's keep the conversation going on our socials; find us everywhere @auxdotapp.