Sampling in Hard Dance: Where do your favourite vocals come from?

Within the entire catalogue of diverse and different genres that fall under the electronic music spectrum, what do they all have in common? Yes, you guessed it, they all use samples! Producers sometimes find that their track needs that cherry on-top of the cake, which is usually found in a catchy hook-line which will inevitably get stuck in listeners’ heads.

Out of all electronic genres, Hard Dance music is evidently a movement that heavily relies on samples. Unlike genres such as Techno or Deep House that are quite comfortable with instrumentals, Hardstyle or Hardcore producers thrive using vocals in their tracks. They may find themselves inspired by a scene in a film, song or speech, leading them to use that line or lyric in their track.

Some producers also find their samples from a sample pack. A prime example is that god damn “everybody fucking jump” sample, which I refer to as the ‘lazy producer’ sample that should never be used unless you want to die a shameful, embarrassing death.

Sampling something ‘generic’ and boring can make your track sound generic and boring, so with that in mind, I figured it would be a good idea to take a look at some tracks that have utilised the concept of sampling effectively and have made clever masterpieces from it.

Angerfist & Tieum – Sock It

90’s kids would surely be able to appreciate this one. When I first heard “Sock It” I knew that something sounded familiar, but it wasn’t until I did some digging to find that Angerfist and Tieum indeed used a sample from Missy Elliot’s 2002 hit “Gossip Folks.” I think the guys have done a rather spectacular job blending the sample into this aggressive and awesomely crunchy banger.

Taken from: Missy Elliot – Gossip Folks (2002)

  

Regain – Broken

It’s not unusual Raw Hardstyle and Hardcore producers to use samples from punk rock/screamo tracks; it’s just something about the brutality in the vocals that really fits in with those rougher sounds. My favourite by far is Regain’s “Broken,” we can all agree that the Polish legend made a huge track out of Attack Attack’s “Smokahontas.”

Taken from: Attack Attack! – Smokahontas (2011)

  

Crypsis & Luna – Torture

Who likes to aggressively scream this one out loud? I know for sure that I do! Crypsis and Luna had (and still have) an absolute masterpiece on their hands and it’s all thanks to Onyx’s 1993 track “Shiftee.” The guys have made an absolutely smashing track around these vocals and everything fits together so perfectly that you’d never even think twice about where the vocals came from.

Taken from: Onyx – Shiftee (1993)

  

Phuture Noize – Hope

Disco anyone? With most raw artists veering towards old rap anthems, Phuture Noize went down to the 90’s disco to find vocals for his track “Hope.” Despite being pitched up quite a bit, you’ll still recognise the vocal. Hey, maybe this was your parents’ jam back in the day? I just asked my mother and she’s definitely heard it before…

Taken from: Blackout – Gotta Have Hope (1998)

  

Gunz For Hire – May God Be With You All

The one thing I love about G4H’s track “May God Be With You All” is that you’d never even know it was a sample, unless you’ve watched The Purge. The way the guys made an entire track that revolves around the concept of the quote is incredibly clever and showcases an immense effort to create something so beyond simply using a sample.

Taken from: movie ‘The Purge’

  

Phuture Noize – Terrordome

Both Phuture Noize and AniMe used the sample from Public Enemy’s “Welcome To The Terrordome” and in both instances, made great tracks out of it. It’s the perfect hook-line that has the track caught in your head, so no complaining here.

Taken from: Public Enemy – Welcome To The Terrordome (1990)

  

Chain Reaction – Lellebel

One thing I find particularly interesting about “Lellebel” is that the singular line “stay away, motherfucker!” comes from Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff,” whilst the other lyrics come from “Rollin.” I mean, it’s that little hook line that makes the track that much better. Nevertheless, this is still my favourite Chain Reaction track, it’s simply perfection.

Taken from: Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff” and “Rollin”

  

Chain Reaction – Like A Boss

This track makes me want to watch the film Full Metal Jacket. Yeah, I know, it’s shameful that I haven’t already got around to doing so.

Taken From: the movie ‘Full Metal Jacket’ (1987)

Adaro & Digital Punk – Whiplashed

Not only have Adaro & Digital Punk used samples from the film ‘Whiplash,’ but Mad Dog also used them in his track “Not My Tempo.” “Whiplashed” has a lot of vocal in it, which runs the risk of the track becoming ‘slow’ or disjoined, however the guys blended it all together in a perfect bangin’ package which works extremely well on the dance-floor.

Taken from: the movie ‘Whiplash’

  

Gunz For Hire – Swagger

Recreated by G4H, the guys took the lyrics of “Swagger” from M.I.A’s 2007 track and huge hit “Paper Planes.” Again, you’d never know this was sampled from M.I.A because it all fits together so perfectly.

Taken from: M.I.A. – Paper Planes

  

Radical Redemption – East Side Connection

Radical Redemption is no stranger to sampling, actually, come to think of it, a handful of Raw Hardstyle producers frequently use rap/hip-hop vocals. One particular track off his One Man Army album that I loved was “East Side Connection,” which has vocals taken from a 1997 track by Ice Cube and DMX.

Taken from: Ice Cube & DMX – We Be Clubbin

  

Noisecontrollers – Down Down

It’s quite rare to have an artist take a sample and create a track that’s better than the original. In this case, Noisecontrollers made one of his biggest hits to date from using the vocals from Dhruba Aliman’s “Bottom Of The Sea.” Personally, I feel that the supernatural, ‘watery’ vibe Noisecontrollers’ created in “Down Down” compliments the vocals better than the original.

Taken from: Dhruva Aliman – Bottom of the Sea

  

Dr. Peacock & Sefa – This Life Is Lost

Dr. Peacock & Sefa used two speeches to create the vibe around their track “This Life Is Lost.” Conveniently enough, Damon’s speech points out various problems in the world which folds in perfectly with the slightly nostalgic ambiance and sound of this Frenchcore track. The “that is a glorious feeling” line taken from McConaughey’s speech is the perfect amp-up before the drop.

Taken from: Matthew McConaughey’s Sag Awards Speech 2014 (2:16)

Matt Damon from Howard Zinn’s speech: The Problem is Civil Obedience

  

2 Best Enemies – Phases

Even the classics were sampled! This massive Hardstyle anthem uses vocals from 90’s house anthem “The Warning” and if I must go off on a little tangent here, the original track was most likely a source of inspiration for modern Deep House and Techno producers. A timeless masterpiece and true essence of house music.

Taken From: Logic – The Warning

  

DJ Stephanie – Groovin To The Beat

Let’s finish this article on a high note. Now that we’re on the topic of old-school deep house/house, I thought I’d dig up a track with some amazing vocals. Stephanie must have been quite inspired by the 1992 house anthem “Kickin In The Beat,” using the sample in one of my personal favourites “Groovin To The Beat.”

Taken from: Pamela Fernandez – Kickin In The Beat 

  

 

Got any more sample suggestions that you’d like to share? Leave them in the comments below! P.S, “everybody fucking jump” will not be tolerated or accepted as a suitable sample. On a side note, for those curious about where the original vocal source is, check out https://www.lololyrics.com/ and https://www.whosampled.com/