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Nigerian artists who brilliantly sampled from old Nigerian records on their songs.
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Popular Nigerian songs that have sampled classic hits from the past
The Nigerian music scene is rich with a thriving culture which is no surprise why a lot of modern-day age artists sampled old Nigerian records in their songs.
Sampling is the act of taking parts from an existing song and using them to make a new one. This could be verses, choruses, or instrumental bits. Sampling demonstrates a global appeal, with musicians from different continents utilising Nigerian music to create music for a global audience.
Sampling amplifies the underlying connection between classic and modern artists.
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Or this article, Mp3bullet.ng takes a look at Nigerian songs that contain samples of Old Nigerian records.
“Sare” (2021) by Ayra Starr
Sample: “Orere Elejigbo” by Lijadu Sisters (1979)
From her debut EP, Ayra Starr jazzed up “Sare” with a sample of “Orere Elejigbo” by the illustrious Afrobeats duo, Lijadu Sisters.
The sample was well matched and gave her song a beautiful melody to go.
Aimasiko- Simi
Sample: Aimasiko by Ebenezre Obey (1987)
The song “Aimasiko” from Simi’s “Simisola” album is among the album’s most sentimental tracks. It is a straightforward excerpt from the timeless masterpiece “Aimasiko” by Chief Ebenezer Obey. The record, along with a few others, was released in 1987.
Obey, on the other hand, is well known for his use of Christian spiritual themes in his songs and has since retired into a ministry of Nigerian gospel music in the early 1990s.
Jaiye Jaiye- Wizkid feat. Femi Kuti
Sample: “Lady” by Fela Kuti (1972)
WizKid looked determined to pay full respect to Fela with his 2013 track, in which he sampled an apparently random Fela track.
Without caring whether or not it fits with his song, Starboy incorporated Fela Kuti’s “Lady” into his 2013 hit track “Jaiye Jaiye.”
Mercy- Adekunle Gold
Sampel- Dem Go Pose by Baba Fryo (Mid 1990s)
Adekunle Gold kicked started his 2022 with the melodious song, “Mercy” off his album, “Catch Me If You can”. “Mercy” is a pop record that samples Baba Fryo’s Denge Pose lyrics.
On it, Adekunle Gold prays for God’s mercy in order to identify fake friends with fake love and overcome his enemies.
Opotoyi(Marlians) – Naira Marley
Sample: “Papa Worldwide” by Obesere
Naira Marley’s “Opotoyi” was released during the time the singer was having arguably the biggest challenge of his career.
At this time, he was fighting a battle to avoid going to jail after being arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in relation to internet fraud. This challenge, however, did not deter him from going about his primary duties as he dropped “Opotoyi” on June 7, 2019.
The song which was a hit despite its vulgar lyrics has an interpolation of Obesere’s hit track, “Papa Worldwide”
PBUY- Asake
Sample: “Shakomo” by The Remedies (1998)
Asake is currently one of the Nigerian music Industry’s favoured sons as he keeps rising out hits after hits. One fo his hits, “Peace Be Unto You(PBUY)” is an uptempo Afro-Amapiano tune produced by Asake’s favourite producer, Magicstick.
The song samples “Shakomo” by the defunct Hip-Hop music group, The Remedies which was one of the biggest songs in Nigeria in the ’90s.
My Love- DJ Tunez ft Adekunle Gold
Sample: Can’t Just Stop Thinking about You by KWAM 1
In this collaboration with DJ Tunez, Adekunle Gold sings about happiness and love in a song titled ‘My Love” that samples KWAM 1’s Can’t Just Stop Thinking about You.
Anifowose- Olamide
Sample: “Orin Abode Mecca Medley” KWAM 1
Off Olamide’s Baddest Guy Ever Liveth Album, “Anifowose” is a sombre melodious track that draws listeners in whether or not you understand Yoruba.
The song was sampled off KWAM 1′s 1989 hit record, “Orin Abode Mecca Medley”.
Baby Answer- Runtown
Sample: “Eddie Quansa” by The Peacock highlife band
In 2014 at the peak of his career, Runtown dropped the song, ‘Baby Answer‘. Runtown samples Peacock highlife band’s The Masquerade soundtrack and brought in more flavour, modernizing it to fit with the recent times.
Temper remix – Skales ft Burna Boy
Sample: “Sorrow, Tears and Blood” by Fela Kuti
One of the hits of 2017 is Skales’s Temper remix featuring Burna Boy. The song which is on his “Never Say Never Guy” samples Fela Kuti’s “Sorrow, Tears and Blood” song.
Bank Alert- P-Square
Sample: Iyogogo by Onyeka Onwenu
“Bank Alert” is a 2016 song by Nigerian pop duo P-Square. It was recorded in Igbo and Pidgin English and samples lyrics from “Iyogogo” by Onyeka Onwenu.
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If- Davido
Sample: “Gra Gra” by Lagbaja
Davido’s “If” has risen to become of the biggest songs to have come out of Nigeria. The song sampled lyrics from Lagbaja’s popular tune, ‘Gra Gra”.
Interestingly the track was produced by the talented Tekno who many at the time would consider his biggest competition for the chart.