MJ Reworked: 15 Great Samples Of Michael Jackson Songs

A simple search on the amount of musicians who’ve sampled the late, great Michael Jackson will garner a whopping 2,703 results. For now, we’ll just stick to 15 really good ones!

As we commemorate The King Of Pop with countless fans today on what would’ve been his 66th birthday, it was only right to look back on MJ’s immense effect on the musical output of others.

…and betcha by golly, wow — what a catalog he has!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RELATED: The Way He Moves – Michael Jackson’s 5 Best Dance Music Videos

Michael Jackson, both as a solo star and the lead singer of The Jackson 5, released decades of timeless hits that still find a home in the work of his many successors across all genres. In hip-hop and R&B specifically, his work was embraced from generation to generation by artists who couldn’t help it if they wanted to when it came to sampling his music. Be it the cultural connection or just a similarity in the rhythm, the rap kings and R&B queens of past and present have all seemed to do MJ justice in the best way. The best part? It appears he had no issues sharing the wealth for the most part.

As Taj from SWV told Atlanta Black Star back in 2021, the group got their sample free of charge for the fan-favorite “Human Nature Remix” of their debut single, “Right Here” (which you’ll see in the list below), telling the outlet SWV was “one of the first artists who he allowed to use his sample.” Fellow member Lelee followed suit by adding, “He gave it to his homie Teddy Riley (music producer), who gave it to us.”

A generous king, indeed!

Happy heavenly birthday, Michael Jackson! Keep scrolling for 15 musicians who we think sampled MJ the best. Sound off and let us know if we missed a few:

 

1. Whitney Houston – “Queen of the Night” [1992]

Michael Jackson sample: “Dirty Diana” (1987)

 

 

2. Kris Kross – “Jump” [1992]

Michael Jackson sample: “I Want You Back” (by The Jackson 5) [1969]

 

 

3. SWV – “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)” [1992]

Michael Jackson sample: “Human Nature” (1982)

 

 

4. De La Soul – “Breakadawn” [1993]

Michael Jackson sample: “I Can’t Help It” (1979)

 

5. Nas – “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” [1994]

Michael Jackson sample: “Human Nature” (1982)

 

6. LL Cool J (feat. Boyz II Men) – “Hey Lover” [1995]

Michael Jackson sample: “The Lady in My Life” (1982)

 

7. Grand Puba – “I Like It (I Wanna Be Where You Are)” [1995]

Michael Jackson sample: “I Wanna Be Where You Are” (1972)

 

8. Aaliyah (feat. Slick Rick) – “Got to Give It Up” [1996]

Michael Jackson sample: “Billie Jean” (1982)

 

9. Big Pun – “You Ain’t a Killer” [1997]

Michael Jackson sample: “With a Child’s Heart” (1973)

 

 

10. Jay-Z – “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” [2001]

Michael Jackson sample: “I Want You Back” (by The Jackson 5) [1969]

 

 

11. Ashanti – “Rock Wit’ U (Awww Baby) (Remix)” [2003]

Michael Jackson sample: “Rock With You” (1979)

 

12. Kanye West (feat. T-Pain) – “Good Life” [2007]

Michael Jackson sample: “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” (1982)

 

 

13. Rihanna – “Don’t Stop the Music” [2007]

Michael Jackson sample: “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” (1982)

 

14. Q-Tip – “Move” [2008]

Michael Jackson sample: “Dancing Machine” (by The Jackson 5) [1973]

 

 

15. Teyana Taylor (feat. Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah)

– “Gonna Love Me (Wu-Tang Remix)”  [2018]

Michael Jackson sample: “Ain’t No Sunshine” (1972)

 

 

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