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The Secret Sauce Behind Some of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Hits

The Secret Sauce Behind Some of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Hits

Isaac Hayes Ike's Mood I (Edit) (1970)

Sampling has become one of the most influential yet at times risky techniques in music production. Legalities aside, sampling isn’t just about borrowing, it's a way of reshaping what came before and weaving it into something entirely new.

One track that has proven to be a true sampling goldmine is our song of the day: Isaac Hayes’ 1970 instrumental “Ike's Mood I (Edit).” It’s been sampled in at least 183 tracks by artists like Mary J. Blige, Nas, Big Pun, Styles P and Mos Def. Its soulful groove has echoed through decades, constantly being reinvented—but the original? 

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