The world is reeling from the death of the iconic David Bowie. Nicknamed the Thin White Duke, Bowie influenced music across genre boundaries. Here are seven hip-hop tracks that make use of the legend’s catalog compiled by Billboard.
Jay Z – “Takeover”
Hov’s Blueprint track makes us of Bowie’s “Fame,” which hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. Bet Bowie never thought his music would be used for a diss track against Nas and Prodigy.
Vanilla Ice – “Ice Ice Baby”
The world was first introduced to the white rap phenom when he put out a track sampling Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure.” The future reality-TV star didn’t credit Bowie or Queen at first but soon listed them as co-writers.
Crooked I – “Rap or Die”
The Long Beach rapper and Slaughterhouse member jacked the melody for “Rap or Die” from Bowie’s “Opening Titles Including Underground” from the Labryinth soundtrack.
Public Enemy – “Night of the Living Baseheads.”
Before Hov did it, Chuck D and Flavor Flav beat him to the punch by sampling “Fame.”
MC Lyte – “Put It on You”
The Queens MC also made use of “Fame,” not for a diss track like Jay Z, but for a steamy love song.
Ol’ Dirty Bastard – “Dirty Run”
The Wu-Tang Clan member’s posthumous mixtape saw him putting bars over the guitars featured on the “Fame” beat.
Puff Daddy and the Family featuring Notorious B.I.G. and Mase – “Been Around the World”
One of the kings of sampling larger-than-life tunes, Puff Daddy made use of Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” for the foundation of a new party anthem.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/6836517/rap-songs-sampled-david-bowie
