Sampling Done Right (Updated)

I just picked up the new Kanye West album, and was anxious to hear the album version of my favorite song this year “Devil In A New Dress.” Along with hearing the song, I’m a nerd for liner and production notes and wanted to see the several names behind these songs. When I saw that “Devil In a New Dress” samples Smokey Robinson’s version of Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” I couldn’t figure it out. I’m a fan of that song and especially Smokey’s version because of the smoothness of the vocals.

When I had another listen to the song I was amazed by what I heard. Smokey’s song is 4:44 long. Kanye takes 11 seconds of those 4:44 to create “Devil In a New Dress.” He grabs those 11 seconds and improves upon it. Try to test yourself. Listen to Smokey’s song and try to pick out which part Kanye takes. I’ll tell you after the video.

Did you find it? Listen to Kanye’s interpretation.

(This isn’t the whole Kanye song, but you can get an idea.)

So if you didn’t find it or just didn’t want to listen to the whole song, 2:06 – 2:13 and 3:53 – 3:57 are the parts Kanye took for his song.

There’s been sampling in Hip-Hop since the beginning, but the master at is has to be Kanye. As fans and listeners, we’ve put up with rappers and producers grabbing an entire song or the hook, add an electric drum kit and rhyme over it. We let them all do it and accepted it because no one pushed the boundary of sampling. I’m not going to lie. I love listening to Wyclef Jean’s “We Trying To Stay Alive,” and I put up with ever Diddy song in the 90′s, but after hearing this we should ask more of our producers and rappers. Kanye doesn’t take the whole song or even the hook. He grabs some of the baseline and a vocal improvisation, and creates one of the greatest tracks of the year. I hope Hip-Hop is taking notes.

I don’t even know if he had to legally give credit to Smokey Robinson in the production notes, but that’s the best part. Now kids who pick up Kanye’s new album will start looking up Smokey and keep the career of a legend alive.

RANT OVER.

Cheers!
UPDATE: Here you can see all the samples on the album. Although he does grab some hooks he makes it all new.

 

:: Note: You can read a great interview with Smokey Robinson by my friend Travis Atria in April’s issue of Wax Poetics ::