Rapper VS. Sample
 

A staple of hip-hop is sampling other people's music, often not hip-hop at all. A good rapper would be able to improve upon the sample. A bad one? Not even close. This thread is basically like "song wars", but instead, it pits rappers against the samples they use. If you guys have any idea's, just drop me a PM.

First Matchup

2pac- Changes



(Sorry, I couldn't find the studio version. I think this is lip-synced though.)

2pac 1
Bruce Hornsby 0

Edit: 12/5/10
Record


2pac- Changes 3
Bruce Hornsby- The Way it Is 0

Aerosmith- Dream On 3
Eminem- Sing for the Moment 2

Weezer- Say it Ain't So 3
Spose- Drugs, Girls, Money, Liquor 2

Sugarhill Gang- Rapper's Delight 1
Chic- Good Times 1

Beastie Boys- Slow Ride 0
War- Low Rider 1

Wait how can you give Pac a point for using someone else's song idea? I mean there snothing wrong with that but at the end of the day Bruce Hornsby still wrote it.

Hell All Along the Watchtower is the best ****ing Hendrix song imo, but even though I find it 10x more listenable than Dylans, its a losing battle.

It's basically a cover. I'm not denying that. Bruce Hornsby wrote it. Yes, you can legitimately vote for him because of that, even if you prefer 2pac's version. I'm personally judging based on pure quality here, not ethnicallity, and for me, it's not even close.

2pac's lyrics and rhythm/flow>Bruce's lyrics and voice
Talent's chorus>Bruce's chorus.
And, for some reason, 2pac's version doesn't sound as dated. I don't know why.

I agree with your for sure. Although comparing these is apples to oranges. The genres are so far apart.

Most sampling wouldn't be considered "covers" though. Sampling is born of deejaying culture and it reflects the ideal of using what's at hand to create something new. Basically, a good producer will either put things together that never would have been, or an artist/producer may enjoy a particular piece of music so much that they want to perform their take on it. Basically a cover, but a bit different because it does involve writing a lot of original material.

Also, it's not "stealing" anything because everybody knows it's a sample.

I like this thread idea.
I prefer 2pac's. It feels more modern and more genuine.

2pac 2
Bruce Hornsby 0

Wouldn't it be
2pac 2
Bruce Hornsby 1
because of Rezz?

@Rezz, I saw that as a vote. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Well by this threads terms I actually vote for Pac. I was defending the songwriter but I like Pacs song way more.

Okay, for the sake of the thread
2pac 3
Bruce Hornsby 0

Right?

Sorry for being off the net for a while, I've been super busy. Anyways, I'm above putting up one match and ditching the thread. Looks like 2Pac won, and, uh, looking at how active this thread is, it doesn't seem like there's gona be a dramatic comeback anytime soon, so I'm moving on to the next match.

Next match:
Aerosmith- Dream On


Eminem- Sing For the Moment


Aerosmith 1
Eminem 0

Aerosmith 1
Eminem 1

I dislike Aerosmith, but I found that the sample and guitar solo really worked well. Also really like the message of the latter song, so Eminem wins this one for me.

Aerosmith 1
Eminem 2
Because my attention span let me listen to the whole Eminem song but only half of the Aerosmith one.

Aerosmith 2
Eminem 2

Because anything is better than Eminem.

Eminem is amazingly talented, but I'll go with Aerosmith here. Sing For The Moment isn't great in my opinion, Em has a ton of better stuff and I just never really liked that song.

Aerosmith 3
Eminem 2

Alright, Aerosmith wins it.


The next battle:
Spose- Drugs, Girls, Money, Liquor


Weezer- Say It Ain't So


Spose 1
Weezer 0

Spose 1
Weezer 1

Spose took away the best parts of the song.

Spose, because He's Awesome.

Spose 2
Weezer 1

Weezer crafted a good pop song (with a great hook), Spose just rapped some forgettable verse.

I liked the Spose song, but Weezer's is a classic... Gotta go with Weezer, amazing hook

Please make sure you keep score, guys.

Spose 2
Weezer 3

No one's voted for five days, six if you count the day they voted.

I think it's safe to say Weezer won. (What is wrong with you guys?)

Alright, to the next match

Sugarhill Gang- Rapper's Delight


Chic- Good Times

Gaah, hard. The overall feel of both songs is similar and I love them both but I like Chic a little bit better because its less repetitive.

Chic 1

I'm voting for the rapper yet again, because Rapper's Delight is a classic that has far outlived it's sample.

Chic 1
Sugarhill Gang 1

So I guess it's a... tie? Here's the next one:

Beastie Boys- Slow Ride



War- Low Rider




War 1
Beastie Boys 0

I don't know if its cool if I post this but even though this isn't rap and there doesn't seem to be much interest in this thread, I think this is a sample that was knocked out of the park and I'd like to see if people agree.
Rapper: Amy Winehouse-Tears Dry on Their Own


Sample: Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell-Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Amy Winehouse: 1
Marvin Gaye-0

Not really, considering Winehouse is awful, and Marvin Gaye is a god.

Also, that's not really a sample. It's more like using the exact same instrumentation. (i.e. copying/stealing)

Amy Winehouse is not awful. She sucks live and she eats heroin but her recorded stuff is tops.
I guess I don't know what a sample is though so Fasho: 1

Amy Winehouse: 1
Marvin Gaye- 2

Amy Winehouse: 1
Marvin Gaye: 2

I like both, but I'm just feeling Marvin Gaye more.

Amy Winehouse: 1
Marvin Gaye: 3

My bad. I don't know how to count.

'sall good :)