Prince will go down as perhaps one of the most protective artists of all time. He released over 50 albums and influenced artists of every genre, but he wasn’t too keen on his music or likeness being sampled or used without his say so, even if you asked nicely or wanted to pay tribute.
So needless to say, there aren’t many times where Hip-Hop artists sampled Prince and got it cleared. That didn’t stop some of them from using his work for mixtape tracks though.
Peep this list of the few times the Purple One’s sounds were worked into Hip-Hop.
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2 Pac “To Live & Die In L.A.” (1996)
On this track from 2 Pac‘s Makaveli album, Prince’s “Do Me Baby” is sampled.
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MC Hammer – “Pray” (1990)
The third out of five singles to be released from MC Hammer‘s diamond-selling album Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em, “Pray” samples Prince’s “When Doves Cry.”
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Cam’Ron – “Diamonds & Pearls” (2004)
Cam’Ron blended his pink swag with Prince’s purple swag for this joint that popped up on one of the numerous mid-2000s Dipset tapes.
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Nice & Smooth – “No Delayin'” (1989)
This gem from the late 90’s flipped “Starfish & Coffee” from Prince’s Sign O The Times album. We’re going to guess it was never cleared.—Ålvin aqua Blanco
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8 Ball – “Starships & Rockets” (1997)
In his solo song on the 1997 Suave House compilation, 8 Ball borrows and flips the hook from Prince’s “Starfish & Coffee.”
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Raheem The Dream – “The Most Beautiful Girl In the World” (1998)
Atlanta Bass and Hip-Hop legend Raheem The Dream had the clubs going crazy with this underground classic that sampled “The Beautiful Ones.”
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Shawty Redd feat. Pastor Troy, Daz and Big Kuntry – “What’s The Deal” (2008)
Shawty Redd sampled Prince’s “Beautiful Ones” to craft this song that was a strip club anthem in Atlanta a few years back.
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Lil B – “Fed Time” (2012)
Buried deep in Lil B’s catalog you can find the time he sampled “I Will Die 4 U” for his “Fed Time” song that appeared on the White Flame mixtape.
Did we miss any? Let us know.
