16 Years After Its Release, Fans Still Hail Kanye West’s Use of Michael Jackson Song’s Sample for Graduation

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NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 11: Kanye West performs during Kanye West Yeezy Season 3 on February 11, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Yeezy Season 3)
Some music is timeless, especially when it’s by a legend like Michael Jackson. While the king of music left behind a legacy, artists still look up to his songs for recreation. Music sampling is the term used in the industry for such a thing, and Kanye West made successful use of Jackson’s hit song for his own album back in 2007. Sampling basically means using part or parts of an existing song to create a new one, preferably with permission from the rightful owners. It helps keep the original music alive while being able to recycle and innovate.
Recently this came into highlight when one Twitter user asked to give examples of the best use of a music sample. A fan replied stating that Ye using Michael Jackson’s ‘Pretty Young Thing’, was the best example. On the right was the album cover of Ye’s 2007 ‘Graduation’ album, pointing at the ‘Good Life’ song. The original song was part of the world-renowned ‘Thriller’ album released in 1982, and Ye chopped up the music for his own song.
Kanye West really took a small part of the end of PYT and literally expanded it and chopped it into this crazy beat. Amazing. pic.twitter.com/usugQpB2CN https://t.co/2LGjC2TUG2
— Veezy World Peace 🌎 (@DaNotoriousVIC_) May 16, 2023
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T-Pain and Ye both worked on their song by breaking down the sample in the studio. ‘Good Life’ is about Ye singing the glory of his successful future. The lyrics of which certainly proved to be right when it came to his music.
Even today, fans hail it for being one of the best use of a sample. When the discussion about this surfaced, this is what they had to say.
What Twitterati have to say about Kanye West sampling a Michael Jackson song
Ye first began his career as a producer, which would explain the success behind sampling the Michael Jackson song. Both T-Pain and his fans still praise him for his experimentation with music.
Greatest producer of all time
— Possessed Seahawks Fan (@recklessracoonn) May 18, 2023
While his rapping is appreciated, his producing skills have been long used by fellow artists as well.
Might be the most aesthetically pleasing breakdown of a hit song and the sample it used ever.
— Veezy World Peace 🌎 (@DaNotoriousVIC_) May 17, 2023
This how you sample.. instead of taking the ENTIRE BEAT.
— AB-Stackz (@StackzVA) May 17, 2023
One fan even pointed that out, calling it ‘aesthetically pleasing.’ Another hailed Ye for sampling it by putting on his own work instead of simply copying the beat.
🐐
— ##yl (@ylmpaige) May 18, 2023
This was so genius. Kanye is the Goat producer of all time
— No Jive (@no_jive_) May 17, 2023
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Too bad he hasn’t made music like this in 10+ years lol
— JT/JB SZN 🔥❄️☘️ (@Banner18INBOUND) May 18, 2023
Ye was also lovingly tagged as ‘the goat’ for his skills, as fans were reminded of his genius. Although there are those who wish he would come back to music. The ‘Gold Digger’ singer has been absent from the limelight for a while now.
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Which Kanye West song do you think makes the best example of his music sampling? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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