The β90s were an extremely exciting and diverse decade for popular music. Yeah sure, we were occasionally plagued with βartistsβ like Rednex and Nickleback but we were also spoiled to death by the likes of; Nirvana, Pulp, Massive Attack, Biggie, Beck, Prodigy, Radiohead, Beastie Boys, the list just goes on and onβ¦ You may or may not be surprised to find out that many of your favourite β90s tunes were either covered, borrowed, or just simply stolen from other artists. I’m sure there are some I’ve forgotten, but here are my βTop Ten Covers, Rip Offs and Sampled ’90s Tracksβ…
10. Coolio – β1 2 3 4 (Sumpin New)β
Sampled. It was a tough choice between this or Gangstaβs Paradise. This dance-floor filler sampled bits from Tom Browne β βThighs Highβ and The Evasions βWikka Wrapβ. Sounds like he borrowed bits from Chicβs βGood Timesβ too. However, he put his own stamp on it with lyrics like βIf ya got beef then nigga eat a pork chopβ. Pure genius.
9. The Source Feat. Candi Staton – ‘You’ve Got The Love’ (Now Voyager Mix)
Sampled. I like Candi Staton’s original from ’86 but the production’s a tad on the cheesy side. I also like the The Source’s mix in ’91 with the Frankie Knuckles ‘Your Love’ sample, but the Now Voyager Mix kicks it up a couple of notches further for me. A mind-blowingly good remix!
8. Happy Mondays β βStep Onβ
Cover. One of the best party tunes of the β90s. I love John Kongosβ original recording βHeβs Gonna Step On Youβ but with Ryderβs snarl and added lyrics, ‘You know you talk so hip man, you’re twistin’ my melon man. Call the cops!β, it feels like the Mondays may have bettered the original, just.
7. Eminem β ‘My Name Is’
Sampled. A Dre production. Here he sampled British artist Labi Siffreβs βI Got Theβ¦β. Make sure you skip to the middle of the song to hear the sample though, the beginning sounds more like P Diddyβs βBad Boy For Lifeβ.
6. Radiohead β ‘Creep’
Rip Off. Yep, The Hollies even sued Radiohead for ripping off their 1972 hit, βThe Air That I Breatheβ.
5. Biggie – ‘Juicy’
Sampled. This song contains a sample of Mtume‘s ‘Juicy Fruit‘. Without a doubt one of the greatest rap tunes of all time.
4. Oasis β ‘Cigarettes and Alcoholβ
Rip Off. Now we all know Noelβs self-confessed to stealing melodies and riffs from many songwriters in his career, but none are as blatant as this one. He totally stole the riff from T Rex‘s βGet It Onβ, which was one of Bolanβs biggest hits. Funnily enough, Bolan admitted himself that he stole the riff from Chuck Berry. Thereβs too much thievery going on here!!!
3. 2pac – ‘California Love’
Sampled. Another great Dre production. He sampled Joe Cokerβs βWoman To Womanβ, βWest Coast Poplockβ by Ronnie Hudson, brought in Roger Troutman of Zapp & Roger in on vocals, and gave it to arguably the most poetic rapper of all time. Colossal tune!
2. Verve β βBittersweet Symphonyβ
Sampled. The band wouldβve felt bitter (sorry) having to split their royalties 50/50 with The Rolling Stones for sampling the strings from Adam Loog Oldhamβs orchestral version of the Stones’ hit, βThe Last Timeβ. 50 Mick, 50 Keith that is, thanks to their manager Alan Klein. Itβs an even bigger bitter pill to swallow considering The Stones ripped off The Staple Sisters song, βThis May Be The Last Timeβ, in the first place, and the fact that Oldham’s version sounds nothing like the original Stones track. However, Verve enjoyed the sweetness of success, this was the song that launched them to the masses and helped their album, Urban Hymns, sell over ten million copies.
1. Nirvana β βCome As You Areβ
Rip Off. They completely thieved the bass line from Killing Jokeβs hit βEightiesβ here. Like one of the YouTube commenter’s wrote, Nirvana shouldβve called it βNinetiesβ!
George Runciman is an open-format DJ, vocalist and producer from East London, who goes under the name Just George.
For more info and to listen to Just George’s mixes visit www.justgeorge.dj
Words: George Runciman