Contemporary music that uses classical samples

[jontonal]

Hi

I'm new on here but have a question some of you may be able to help me with.

I'm going to be teaching piano at an inner city school here in the UK. I know the area where the school is very well as I lived there for 10 years. It's a deprived area with lots of desparate kids who have real needs - lots of guns and drugs on the streets - their musical influences are RnB and hip hop.

I am going to be guiding them through their gcse practical exams on the piano and I'd like to introduce them to classical music.

My question is, do any of you know of recent hiphop/RnB artists that have used classical samples in their productions? along with the names of the tracks?

It'd be much appreciated as I believe letting them know which of their favourite artistes have classical influences will be invaluable in gaining their trust and keeping their attention.

[aislingoc]

Hi Jontonal,

I think the use of contempoary music featuring classical samples is a great way of introducing kids to the classical genre. Luckily Hip-Hop and R'n'B both use a lot of samples. Here are a few recent examples that might be useful:

Alicia Keys: Songs in A Minor and Diary of Alicia Keys use a lot of piano as Keys is a classically trained pianist. The first song on Songs in A minor ('Piano and I') incorporates Moonlight Sonata with a Hip-Hop beat and soulful harmonies.

John Legend: Get Lifted. Similarly, John Legend is a classically trained pianist whose album is heavily influenced by classical and jazz piano as well as gospel.  Im not sure if he uses actual samples but the influences are clear.

Nas: I Can from the God's Son album if I remember correctly uses a Fur Elise sample.

Coolio: C U When I Get There used Pachelbel's Canon

A+: Enjoy Yourself. A 90s tune which I think sampled Beethovens 5th.

The Streets: Same Old Thing from  the Original Pirate Material album samples Dvorak's 9th Symphony I think..

Miri Ben Ari is a classically trained violinist who has released solo albums and has also featured on tracks by Kanye West (Jesus Walks, The New Workout Plan and more), Alicia Keys, John Legend and many others. You can hear her on any of their albums. Shes a good example of how classical training can be applied to contempoary music. The Gorrillaz also use a lot of classically influenced samples on their albums. 

Missy Elliot: All in my Grill from Da Real World Album. I dont think this uses an actual classical sample but rather a classically influenced sample. I think this is a great example though. Lots of artists use these kind of classically-based samples e.g. Jay-Z, Kanye West, P. Diddy etc.

There have been countless more over the past few years but these are what come to mind. Hope it helps.

Best of luck with teaching.

Aisling

[jontonal]

Aisling - Sorry I took so long to get back to you.

Some great tips there - thanks very much!