Kanye West ascended to the zenith of rap mastery by curating a sonic palette that echoed innovation. Especially in the realm of production, he used samples to create compositions that resonated far beyond conventional boundaries. However, his meteoric rise was never just about beats and verses well-delivered. It is a saga of audacious sample choices that redefine hip-hop’s DNA, like the latest one through Backstreet Boys’ ‘Everybody’. Never limited by the boundaries of genres, he fused soul, rock, and obscure gems with his uniquely talented touch over the years.

Here are some of his most transcendent tracks that emerged from the kaleidoscope of his sample mixes.

The latest: A listening party kicks off with a familiar Backstreet Boys track

When West held his first-ever listening party for an album in 2021, it would get etched into the annals of rap history as legendary. So, as he geared up to repeat that legendary scene for his upcoming ‘Vultures’ album last week, the hype was palpable. 

As the night progressed and crowds awaited him at the Miami venue, the ‘Donda’ rapper marked his entry with a rap rendition of the 90s classic ‘Everybody’ by Backstreet Boys. With lyrics as sharp as the beats that accompanied them, West quickly won over the crowds that were now cheering him on. Still, it may not be West’s best sample to date for this reason. 

The reason: Not ‘everybody’ is not pleased at Ye’s technicality play

While Ye may have managed to successfully transport the audiences into over two decades in the past in a wave of nostalgic appreciation, he employed some sneaky means to do so. Since the track did not really use any particular bits from the original Backstreet Boys’ track, it was not even technically a sample. 

For the vocals in the chorus, West roped in Charlie Wilson to do a cover version of ‘Everybody’. This meant that he technically did not owe the original’s artists credits. However, that in no way diminished the supremacy of the pristine quality track that he delivered to keen listeners.

Out of the times when West officially did use samples, here are some of the most mind-blowing ones. 

The first: When Kanye West incorporated Chaka Khan’s best

For his debut track, ‘Through The Wire’ Ye had some help from 70s ‘Queen of Funk’ Chaka Khan. As seen amongst the many touching moments from Netflix’s Jeen Yuhs, the then-budding rapper from Chicago beat all odds as he created ‘Through The Wire’  despite having a misaligned jaw post his accident. 

He symbolically named the single after Khan’s track that he had heavily sampled in it, ‘Through The Fire’. Like the original, his track also featured self-reflective themes with Khan’s iconic tunes reverberating in the background. Its success indicated to him the powers of a female’s vocals, which he then went on to incorporate a lot. 

Soul infusion: Sounds of the women from bygone era

In his debut album itself, Ye would infuse modified or as-is vocals from iconic female artists from decades before his time. These included Lauryn Hill’s ‘Mystery of Iniquity’ in ‘All Falls Down’, Aretha Franflin’s  ‘Spirit In The Dark’ in ‘School Spirit’. Yet, the most memorable was to come in his next one. 

The 40-year-old’s ‘Diamonds From Sierra Leone’ from his second studio album carried the iconic chorus from Shirley Bassey’s ‘Diamonds Are Forever’. Years later, the blues legend Nina Simone’s ‘Strange Fruit’ also appeared on his Yeezus alum’s ‘Blood On The Leaves’.

Not to forget the men who lent the 24-time Grammy many of Ye’s tracks their charm. 

70s and 80s blues: The Charm of the previous century’s male artists 

The majority of the OG names that emerged in the pantheon of the previous centuries’ most renowned artists at one point or another appeared on West’s songs. From Curtis Mayfield: ‘Move On Up’ to Otis Redding’s ‘Try a Little Tenderness’, Ye weaved many hits from that time into his music.  

However, the most popularly known one would go on to be Ray Charles’ ‘I’ve Got a Woman’, which made his ‘Gold Digger’ from ‘Late Registration’ an instant hit. By infusing Charles’ mellow melodies with Jamie Foxx’s, he created an indisputable chart-topping hit. Through his use of samples, one can even navigate the metamorphosis of Ye’s personality over time. 

The Kanye West transition: From funk to gospel

The Yeezy founder’s many fans are familiar with West’s increasing inclination towards creating religiously aligned music. While his earlier days were marked by funkier, fast-paced infusions like Daft Punk’s ‘Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger’ in ‘Stronger’ and Jackson 5’s ‘I Want’ in ‘Izzo’, the landscape of Ye’s music has changed lately.

West’s ninth studio album, ‘Jesus Is King’ reflects his spiritual state of mind. By using samples from gospel artists like James Cleveland And The Southern Community Choir and Pastor TL Bennet more frequently, the father of four began signaling a transition in his life. His latest sonic bravado through the Backstreet Boys feature is among the first breaks from the traditions he had set up lately. 

What do you think of the journey Kanye West has weaved through the samples he used over the years? Do you have a favorite among these? Share your thoughts in the comments.