ICONIC SAMPLES VOL. 1: SUMMER IN THE CITY
Got the idea for this when I realized just how many songs I love that have this particular sample. This is my favourite flip of all time and it's easy to see why when you look at the list... Inspired me to rank my top ten (or so) favourite instances of various iconic samples that pop up a lot in the music I listen to and make an extended playlist of those and other solid instances of its usage. Thanks to whosampled.com for helping me make sure I didn't forget anything and for helping me discover new examples for the extended playlist in the comments. |
| 1 |  | Quincy Jones
You've Got It Bad Girl
"Summer In The City" AKA THE GOAT SAMPLE. There are multiple sections of this song that get sampled throughout the playlist, but the iconic sample in question starts at the 0:54 mark for reference. We will call this sample A. The second most common sample from this song can be heard right at the beginning of the track. We will call this sample B. |
| 2 |  | Black Moon
Enta Da Stage: The Complete Edition
"Reality (Killing Every...)" AKA THE HIP-HOP CLASSIC. The best utilization in hip-hop and one of my top 5 hip-hop songs of all time. After spending so much time with "Exchange" off Mezzanine, this was immediately recognizable and was kind of the track that sparked my interest in exploring the origins and journeys of specific samples in sample-based music. This song is the epitome of Da Beatminerz quintessential bottomless bass and boom bap master-craft. |
| 3 |  | Massive Attack
Mezzanine
"Exchange" / "(Exchange)" AKA THE OG. Not OG in being the first instance of this song being sampled, but in that it was my introduction to this sample, a much needed interlude / outro pairing on what is easily my favourite album and the most important Trip-Hop classic of all time. The added instrumentals such as stand up bass really elevate this instance, and immediately contrasts "Reality (Killing Every...)" and shows the versatility of sampling and just how much even a different kind of percussion can completely alter the tone of a sample. |
| 4 |  | Cut Chemist
The Audience's Listening
"The Garden" AKA THE OUTLIER. The really weird one. This is a masterclass in turntablism and a instrumental hip-hop / trip-hop / bossa nova / world music who fucking knows psychedelic journey. |
| 5 |  | Da Youngsta's
No Mercy
"Illy Filly Funk" AKA THE UNDERDOG. Da Youngsta's released their first album when they were, what, toddlers? That shit was whack. But they quickly became teens and those teens quickly became one of the all-time classic Philly Hip-Hop groups, and "Illy Filly Funk" might be their quintessential jam. It's the only instance of vocal hip-hop that ~almost~ steps out of the shadow of "Reality (Killing Every...)" apart from... |
| 6 |  | Peanut Butter Wolf
My Vinyl Weighs a Ton
"Run The Line" AKA THE INSTRUMENTAL GAWD. It doesn't even matter who ended up rapping on this track, that flip is just TOO FUCKING SICK. It sproings, it boings, and it absolutely fucking slaps your dads dick off. Definitely one of the most creative flips on the hip-hop side of things. |
| 7 |  | The Pharcyde
Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
"Passin' Me By" AKA THE A-LIST B-SIDE. The first instance of this list to utilize SAMPLE B instead of SAMPLE A. It's an inferior sample, imo, but The Pharcyde manage to flip it into one of their most recognizable songs. |
| 8 |  | The Roots
Illadelph Halflife
"Clones" AKA THE SIKE. Blink and you just might miss it. Most of the song is completely free of "Summer in the City" samples. It only appears as a brief bridge that dupes you into thinking a change of direction is in store, only to drop right back into the unforgettable piano driven beat that screams WU-TANG more than even Wu-Tang themselves have since 36 Chambers. |
| 9 |  | Nightmares On Wax
Smoker's Delight
"Nights Introlude" AKA THE THEME. One of three instances of Nightmares On Wax offering variations on this sample, all nearly as good as one another, but none as good as what Massive Attack or Cut Chemist had to offer in the way of Trip-Hop or Downtempo adjacent examples. "Nights Introlude" operates as a breezy sunset jam with added keys and synths taking the lead. |
| 10 |  | Kruder and Dorfmeister
Conversions
"Searchin' (by Dead Calm)" AKA THE BREAKS. The sample introduces like a drum and bass variant of "Run the Line", sproinging and boinging around the breaks and liquid vocal track, but the tweaks and pitch changes as the song progresses really differentiate the flip and make this a pretty one of a kind utilization. Eventually, the sample drops all together as "Searchin'" completes it's journey in an entirely different place than where it began. |
| 11 |  | DJ Cam
Underground Vibes
"Dieu Reconnaitra Les Siens" AKA THE INCEPTION. Not only does this track montage a deep well of other iconic samples in its length, but "Dieu Reconnaitra Les Siens" actually doesn't sample "Summer in the City" at all. Instead, it samples a sample of "Summer in the City", in the form of "Nights Interlude"by Nightmares On Wax. |
| 12 |  | Main Source
Fuck What You Think
"Set It Off" THE B-LIST B-SIDE. A competent Hip-Hop flip of SAMPLE A, but just not on the same level as the other Hip-Hop artists here. Main Source did it well, but others did it better. |
| 13 |  | Gramatik
Beatz & Pieces Vol. 1
"Portorose in July" AKA THE ELEVATOR JAM. A great coffee-shop flip that is a great addition to the list of downtempo tracks that utilize this track, but not quite the best of that bunch. Regardless, the organ and guitar notes and progressive nature set this apart from a lot of the other songs on this list and make it worth mentioning. |
| 14 |  | Brianna Castro
Numb
"Numb" AKA THE QUICKIE. The newest example on this list, released in 2020, and unique in that it is pretty firmly a pop / alt-r&b track that really doesn't sound like it has any business sampling "Summer in the City". It's a short little bop, only running 2:39, but the vocal hook and unexpected sample usage make it a solid summer ear-worm that is hard not to play on repeat. |
| 15 |  | Masta Ace
Slaughtahouse
"Who U Jackin'?" AKA THE "HEY I KNOW THAT SAMPLE". The focal point of this track isn't "Summer in the City" at all. In fact, the sample only appears for about ten seconds at the very beginning of the song and is even less relevant than it's inclusion in "Clones". But I couldn't help but highlight this track because it sikes you out with one notable sample only to hit you with another extremely iconic sample in the form of "Harlem Melody" by Galt MacDermont (you know it from "Discipline 99 Pt. 0" by Quasimoto). |
| 16 |  | VanJess
Silk Canvas
"Addicted" AKA THE SLAPPER. The second "new" track, this time using a brief stab of SAMPLE B to accent the deep bass and trap snare that carries the song. This is a much less straightforward example than the Brianna Castro song which pretty much just loops a few seconds of the track, and it's interesting to hear it recontextualized to such an extreme. Funny how it's still so noticeable once you know it's there. |
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