10 Hip-Hop Tracks That Sample George Duke

Earlier this week Billboard reported that legendary jazz pianist, producer and composer George Duke died of leukemia at the age of 67. He leaves behind a dense and varied body of work. In addition to working with artists like Frank Zappa and Michel Jackson (on his iconic Off The Wall record), Duke also released a steady stream of imaginative and innovative solo albums that dabbled in jazz fusion, R&B, soul, funk and disco.

Unsurprisingly, those records have proven to be a treasure trove for crate-digging hip-hop producers looking for odd sounds, samples and inspiration. Duke's impact on hip-hop is immeasurable, but we thought we'd take a look at 10 essential tracks that show off Duke's musical legacy. - Compiled By Eric Diep And Dan Jackson

"Midnight" - A Tribe Called Quest
Sample: "North Beach"

On A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders, Ali and the boys sampled a George Duke riff from his song “North Beach” for “Midnight.” If you listen closely, you can hear the odd riffing that provides the backdrop for Q-Tip’s narrative about roaming around the streets.

"Operation Lifesaver A.K.A. Mint Test" - Madvillain
Sample: "Prepare Yourself"

Madvillain, which consists of MF Doom and Madlib, released their debut album Madvillainy to nearly unanimous reviews. The entire LP is an underground phenomenon, backed by Madlib’s thick and woozy production that sounds so adventurous. “Operation Lifesaver AKA Mint Test” stands out for its use of two George Duke’s songs. “Prepare Yourself” and “I Love The Blues, She Heard My Cry” are epic samples for Doom’s hilarious storyline about checking if a girl’s fresh (figuratively and literally) or not.

"True To The Game" - Ice Cube
Sample: "Reach For It"

Ice Cube kicks some vintage rhymes about staying loyal to your soil in “True To The Game.” The lyrics addressed rappers who became “record sellers.” The perfect sample came from George Duke’s “Reach For It,” where the funky rhythms gave an added measure to the message at hand. Despite the track being the final single for 1992’s Death Certificate, it’s one of those timeless rap songs that need no introduction.

"Let Me Roll" - Scarface
Sample: "Dukey Stick"

Scarface follows up his strong Mr. Scarface Is Back with The World Is Yours. His second effort was a huge leap forward for him both in terms of rhyme and production. “Let Me Roll” was one of the singles that was made for riding around in the cutlass. The thumping bass line was courtesy of George Duke’s “Dukey Stick,” which contained jazz-funk and soul elements. It gives more layers to an already aggressive banger.

"Theolonious" - Common Featuring Slum Village
Sample: "Vulcan Mind Probe"

Common’s Like Water For Chocolate marked a noticeable shift in his sonic direction. The late J. Dilla produced the bulk of the album, so it made sense that he invited Slum Village to appear on “Thelonious.” It’s one of the deeper cuts on the album—landing as No. 12—and sticks out for its mix of basslines and piano keys. Wrapped around the choice sample of George Duke’s “Vulcan Mind Probe,” it’s one of Dilla’s best productions.

"Break My Heart" - Common
Sample: "Someday"

It's no surprise that Kanye West would be a George Duke fan: both have a taste for broad gestures, humorous asides and potentially cheesy earnestness. On this track off Common's Finding Forever, the follow-up to 2005's creatively rejuvenating Be, West flips Duke's smooth ballad "Someday" into a hypnotic beat for Common to do his lover-boy routine over.

"Yesterday" - Big K.R.I.T.
Sample: "Seeing You"

This nostalgic cut from Big K.R.I.T.'s 4eva N A Day takes the syrupy sweet sounds of Duke's "Seeing You" and turns them into something more regretful and mournful. While the character in Duke's song is reluctant to fall in love but powerless to his beloved's charms, K.R.I.T.'s protagonist has lost a loved one and now only has his memories of better times.

"On Some Other Shit" - Black Hippy
Sample: "Seeing You"

Before K.R.I.T. turned Duke's "Seeing You" into a warm remembrance, in 2010 Black Hippy turned the song into a triumphant posse cut celebrating the group's ascendence. The smooth sound of Duke and a rumbling beat provide the perfect backdrop for the group's boastful wordplay, like when Kendrick Lamar raps, "I freak a beat like a nympho when I speak/And so a syllable is like a sex between the sheet."

"Don't Give A Damn" - MC Ren
Sample: "Reach For It"

The joyful exuberance of Duke's "Reach For It" gives this tough-talking song off MC Ren's second solo album, The Villain In Black, a touch of menacing glee. Ren throws out violent threats and bravado-filled proclamations—"Get the hell away from my throne," he raps at one point—over a rattling beat.

"I Hear Voices" - MF Doom & MF Grimm
Sample: "For Love (I Come Your Friend)"

MF Doom and George Duke were made for each other. This song, which appeared as the last track on the remastered 2001 version of Operation: Doomsday, finds the masked and mysterious rapper dropping paranoid rhymes over a luxurious and indulgent Duke instrumental. "Do yourself, I will continue to do my thing," raps Doom. That's a sentiment the trail-blazing Duke could definitely get behind.