Five Songs from Pop Smoke, Polo G and Roddy Ricch with samples from R&B and Hip Hop Classics

Music influences. It inspires. It impacts. Every generation has its musical style and flavor. As I listen to the music around me, I hear so many influences and genres. Some songs remind us of hymns, Country music, or DooWop. Artists have been sampling lyrics and instrumentals or elements of both for many years. I love listening to the ZBVI Radio Oldie Goldie Show because I often comment on how the newer music contains elements of the classics.

My favorite genres are R&B, Hip Hop, Reggae, and Soca. It is common for artists from different genres to sample music or lyrics from other genres and or generations. I do not listen to Hip Hop as much as I used to ten years ago. Both music and performance have evolved in a way that I do not appreciate as I did before.

However, I have children, and they stay in tune with the music of today, as expected. I would hear them playing songs to which I would respond that the songs have a little piece of an older tune. Here are five (5) songs by popular artists that have sampled songs that I enjoy.


"Got It On Me" by Pop Smoke
Pop Smoke sampled the 2003 hit, Many Men by 50 Cent, in his 2020 release of "Got It On Me." 50 Cent sampled "Out of the Picture" by Tavares for his hit. Pop Smoke sampled the hook and the instrumental, and featured 50 Cent in other songs on the album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. Unfortunately, Pop Smoke died on February 19, 2020.

"What You Know Bout Love" by Pop Smoke
Pop Smoke sampled the 2001 release "Differences" by Ginuwine by using the instrumental in "What You Know Bout Love," which he released in 2020. Ginuwine was one of the popular solo R&B artists who had several hits on the charts, including "Pony" and "Last Chance."

"Ricch Forever" by Roddy Ricch
"Put That Woman First" was Jaheim's 2002 hit that encouraged ladies to hold the men accountable for their actions. Roddy Ricch sampled the instrumental and expressed his feelings about making money in his 2018 release, "Ricch Forever."

"Something Special" by Pop Smoke
In 1998, everyone was listening to Tamia's "So Into You" which was remade in 2003 by Fabolous featuring Tamia. Since this is the third song on this list from Pop Smoke, I think we can agree that he enjoyed R&B and Hip Hop because he sampled both the hook and instrumental from this classic.


"Wishing For A Hero" by Polo G
"Changes" was released in 1998 after 2Pac died in 1996. 2Pac had sampled Bruce Hornsby and the Range's 1986 hit, "The Way It Is," and the 1972 song "Changes" by Black Sabbath. 2Pac's "Changes" had a huge impact and is one of the greatest Hip Hop songs ever written. Polo G sampled the instrumental and hook and used it to spread a message of awareness about the ongoing struggles people are facing in his 2020 release, "Wishing For a Hero."

Some people say that the artists today are not as creative, but I commend them for showing their love for those musicians who have inspired them. It may be cliche, but "Imitation is the best form of flattery."