The Most Sampled Songs in Music History: The Beats That Built Genres

The DNA of Your Playlist: Why 5 Songs Are Responsible for Half the Music You Love

If you’ve ever had a weird sense of déjà vu while listening to a brand-new track, you aren’t losing it. You’re just hearing the echoes of 1970.

Music isn’t built in a vacuum; it’s built on top of other music. While “sampling” sometimes gets a bad rap as “stealing,” it’s actually the greatest recycling program in history. But what’s wild is that out of the millions of songs ever recorded, producers keep coming back to the same handful of tracks.

Here’s the story of the most sampled songs ever—the ones that basically built hip-hop, jungle, and pop from the ground up.

1. The 7 Seconds That Changed Everything: “Amen, Brother”

Back in 1969, a soul group called The Winstons released a B-side. Tucked in the middle was a 7-second drum solo by Gregory Coleman.

That little snippet, known as the “Amen Break,” is the most sampled piece of audio in history. If you’ve ever listened to N.W.A, The Prodigy, or basically any Drum & Bass track, you’ve heard it. It’s been used over 5,000 times. It’s snappy, it’s versatile, and it’s the literal backbone of rave culture.

2. The “Woo! Yeah!” Heard ‘Round the World: “Think (About It)”

You know that high-pitched “Woo!” and the sharp “Yeah!” that pops up in almost every dance track from the 90s? That’s Lyn Collins.

Produced by James Brown (who shows up on this list a lot), this track gave us the “Think Break.” It’s the energy behind Rob Base’s “It Takes Two” and has been sliced up by everyone from Kanye West to Jamie xx. It’s the ultimate “instant party” button for producers.

3. Giving the Drummer Some: “Funky Drummer”

James Brown famously told his band to “give the drummer some,” and boy, did Clyde Stubblefield deliver. The break in “Funky Drummer” is masterclass in restraint. It’s not flashy, but it has a “swing” that digital drum machines can’t quite mimic.

It’s the beat behind Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” and Dr. Dre’s “Let Me Ride.” It’s gritty, it’s funky, and it’s essentially the blueprint for the “Boom Bap” era of hip-hop.

The “Sample Hall of Fame”

If you looked at a producer’s hard drive, you’d almost certainly find these folders:

  • “Change the Beat” by Beside: That “Ahhh, this stuff is really fresh” scratch sound you hear at the start of old-school hip-hop tracks? That’s this song.

  • “La Di Da Di” by Slick Rick: Ever heard a rapper say “Mirror, mirror on the wall”? They’re quoting Slick Rick. This is the most sampled vocal performance ever.

  • “Impeach the President” by The Honey Drippers: One of the cleanest kick-and-snare combos ever recorded. It’s the heavy, thumping heart of 90s New York rap.

Why these songs?

It’s usually a mix of two things: Space and Soul. Producers love these tracks because they have “open” sections—moments where the singer stops, the bass cuts out, and the drummer just grooves. That silence makes it easy to loop. But more than that, these records have a “warmth” from the analog tape they were recorded on. You can’t just program that kind of soul into a laptop.

The Bittersweet Reality

The crazy part? Most of the musicians who played these legendary breaks never saw a dime in royalties. Because of how copyright laws worked (and didn’t work) back then, many died in poverty while the songs built on their backs made millions. It’s a reminder that while the music is immortal, the people behind it weren’t always taken care of.

Next time you hear a beat that makes your head nod, try to listen for the “Amen” or the “Think” break. It’s like finding a hidden Easter egg in the history of sound.