When most people think of samples in Hip-hop, they think of classic soul and funk records. A beautifully haunting vocal sample from a singer lost in the shuffle, a recognizable James Brown drum break, or even a floating horn sample from jazz’s Golden Age. Sometimes, an obscure moment in a record can catch the right producer at the right time, and a melody from another sonic universe can become synonymous with Hip-hop. Such is the case for the thought-provoking prog-rockers Vanilla Fudge.
While Vanilla Fudge may not get the credit they deserve within the rock world, Hip-hop has seemingly taken a liking to one particular track from their 1967 self-titled debut. “Bang Bang,” a five-minute piece of head-spinning psychedelia that swells with dramatic guitars and weeps with nimble vocals, has become the centerpiece of some memorable Hip-hop tunes. In particular, those eerie, almost piercing keys that appear in the middle of “Bang Bang.” Below, you can hear how producers like The Alchemist and Cool & Dre turned Vanilla Fudge into a golden nugget of Hip-hop.
Original Sample: Vanilla Fudge – “Bang Bang”
Produced by Shadow Morton
The Alchemist – “Bangers” Feat. Lloyd Banks
Produced by The Alchemist
Cypres Hill – “Bang Bang”
Produced by B-Real
Fat Joe – “So Much More”
Produced by Cool & Dre
