It was announced yesterday that Ron Howard of all people will be directing a concert documentary about Jay-Z's upcoming Made in America festival in Philadelphia, which is set to go down on September 1 and 2. Because obviously, when you think of rap music (and, um, the Hives?), you think of the guy who played Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham and directed How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the crappy one with Jim Carrey, not the original).
It's a bizarre fit, to say the least, but rap artists have always had a strange fascination with — shall we say? — less-than-hip white people. (Ron Howard is the only reason Arrested Development was ever made, so he deserves cool props for that, but c'mon, look at the guy.) Here are 10 amazing rap tracks that sample lame songs by even lamer artists. Sorry, Billy Squier fans.
Song: "The City Is Mine" by Jay-Z (In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.)
Sample: "You Belong to the City" by Glenn Frey
Song: "Everyday Struggle" by Notorious B.I.G. (Ready to Die)
Sample: "Either Way" by Dave Grusin
Song: "We Can Get Down" by A Tribe Called Quest (Midnight Marauders)
Sample: "The Big Beat" by Billy Squier
Song: "Car Thief" by Beastie Boys (Paul's Boutique)
Sample: "Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan
Song: "Method Man" by Wu-Tang Clan (Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers))
Sample: "Method of Modern Love" by Hall and Oates
Song: "Something Like That" by NWA (Straight Outta Compton)
Sample: "Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band
Song: "Plug Tunin'" by De La Soul (3 Feet High and Rising)
Sample: "Stiletto" by Billy Joel
Song: "Dark Fantasy" by Kanye West (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy)
Sample: "In High Places" by Mike Oldfield
Song: "Ready or Not" by the Fugees (The Score)
Sample: "Boadicea" by Enya
Song: "Rainy Dayz" by Raekwon (Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...)
Sample: "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand
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talk shit about hall and oates ONE MORE TIME and see what happens!
I was about to say the same thing.
All Hall and Oates slander is void
Some have debated whether City Is Mine is a lame Jay song, because of that sample. However, that same album also samples I Know What Boys Like, and there’s no debating the awfulness there.
I’m not gonna lie, that was one of my favorite Jay-Z songs. Maybe it was the Usual Suspects-aping music video. Maybe I was going through a Blackstreet phase (I was). But I loved that song.
I just watched the first episode of Season 2 of Miami Vice, where the original “You Belong To The City” played very prominently throughout the episode. And I loved every moment of it. Fuck Jay Z and fuck Rap.
You besmirch the good name of You Belong to the City again, and I’ll find you!
Calling Hurdy Gurdy man lame after that song was made ridiculously frightening in Zodiac? How dare ye.
“Take the Money and Run” is a lame song? I think not, Sir.
I second My safe word is Whiskey. Steve Miller is pretty much awesome in his over the top FMness.
“Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Donovan isn’t a lame song either.
Take the Money and Run? NO NO NO NO NO. that NWA song is the one that sucked. Don’t you ever disgrace The Steve Miller Band again