Know About the top 5 Bob Marley samples in hip hop! Bob Marley was one of the most influential artists to ever grace our planet. His music distilled profound ideas into simple universal truths. His voice and the Wailers’ infectious reggae beats are among the most loved music of all time. Seriously, have you ever met anyone that actually disliked Bob Marley’s music?
His songs stand the test of time and continue to resurface in modern music quite often. Let’s take a look at the top 5 Bob Marley samples in hip hop.
1. Could You Be Loved
Bob Marley’s music reverberated throughout Jamaica. In his country, he was a semi-religious icon and the country’s most beloved artist. He was also an activist and political figure. His song “Could You Be Loved” affected listeners on and off the track, making him a global symbol of love and unity. The track was a God-send, comforting listeners in times of war and racial tensions.
Bob Marley and the Wailers weren’t shy about showing their affection for love and compassion. This 1980 single fuses rock ‘n’ roll with calypso and other Afro-Caribbean styles. The song’s sinewy groove helped to define reggae as a genre. And its lyrical message made it an instant transcendental classic.
The legendary Bob Marley song later became a huge inspiration in hip hop beats and sample sources. It reappeared in samples by lyrical wordsmiths like Mos Def, Common, and even Tupac and Biggie.
The track is a perfect showcase for the ethereal beauty of Marley’s voice. Few tracks display the range of Marley’s musical interests better than this one. He encourages people to not only love but allow themselves to be loved, which is even harder. The resulting sound echoes a distinctive bop sound with a therapeutic, cathartic, and relaxing melody.
2. One Love/People Get Ready
This cult classic, at first, was a ska track by Marley and the Wailers’ earliest formation. They later rerecorded it with a more rocksteady feel for the band’s album All in One. The message of peace and unity resonates among all people of all cultures. The song’s catchy melody contains a political undercurrent accompanied by chill vibes.
This was the first single to roll off Marley’s Studio One production line. It features a lean lineup of the Wailers. It combined a light spiritual message with a suave early dancehall vibe. The result was a track that topped the charts in Kingston in the mid 70’s.
The Bob Marley track appeared in hip hop sample sources by The Roots, De La Soul, and Mos Def again. Mos Def loves Marley’s music for their melodic riffs and emotion.
3. No Woman, No Cry
In the 1975 hit “No Woman No Cry,” Marley opened up yet again. He sang about his experiences in the ghetto and how life could be hard, especially in Jamaica. The song was a top hit for the late Jamaican artist and his band, the Wailers. Though it’s one of his most popular songs, there are actually some things about it that most fans don’t know.
One of the most common misconceptions about the song is that it’s a call for men not to abuse their women. A closer listen reveals that the lyrics focus more on the plight of poor communities in general. The song calls for compassion and understanding for those who struggle, especially women.
While other reggae songs related the experiences of poor Jamaicans, ‘No Woman No Cry’ portrayed a genuine concern for those he was singing to. This was one of the many important points Marley made.
This version of the song was recorded at Harry J Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, for the album Natty Dread. The legendary Bob Marley track revived itself in hip hop sample sources by Diddy, Lauryn Hill, and even his son, Damian Marley. Hip-hop beats continuously draw from Bob Marley’s work.
It was the first time that Marley and the Wailers recorded without Peter Tosh or Bunny Wailer. They left the group earlier that year. It’s a more stripped-back version of the song, featuring Marley singing alone. The sound is raw and beautiful, and it’s a great way to see how the song came together.
4. Get Up Stand Up
This anthem of revolutionary Pan-African unity shines a light on the struggle. Marley performed it as the first official celebration of Zimbabwe’s independence. It was also allegedly the last song he ever sang on stage before his unfortunate death. This track comes from the Wailers’ early album Catch a Fire. It combines elements of Richie Havens’ “Indian Ropeman” with the acoustic sounds of African drums and wistful lyrics. It spawned the iconic thought that the remembrance of today is the sad feeling of tomorrow.
Get Up Stand Up sampled in songs by Public Enemy, Nas, and again, Damian Marley and Lauryn Hill. Hip hop can’t stay away from his classics, often combining them with a hard beat and modern vocals, creating more Bob Marley-inspired hip hop remixes and tracks.
The 1973 release of this song established an anti-imperialist tone for the Rastafari movement. It encouraged people to fight for their rights rather than rely on religion or the government for support. The powerful language in this song makes it one of the most militant-sounding Bob Marley songs. Marley and the Wailers used instruments, repetition, and their signature sound to deliver the message.
The beloved song’s message is just as important today as it was then. People everywhere, especially young men, need to counter injustice with courage and kindness. With its exuberant illustrations, this is a perfect reminder that everyone has the power to make a difference in their own way!
Don’t roll over and accept the wrong that is happening to you, for you, or anyone you love. Get up and fight for your rights and what you believe in! it’s no wonder why this Bob Marley track is a target for so many hip-hop-inspired remixes.
5. War
The yearning in Bob Marley’s voice reached far beyond Jamaica’s borders. Like much of his music, artists across generations and genres can’t help but sample this work of art. While some bands and groups adhere to straightforward Reggae, others incorporate elements of his music into rock, punk, hardcore, hip-hop, and even heavy metal. Rappers and groups continue to sample this masterpiece, from Public Enemy to Biggie, Nas, and even The Beastie Boys.
The title track from the acclaimed Exodus album is one of Marley’s most powerful songs. Recorded in 1971 at Kingston’s Musick studio, the song helped to define reggae’s sinewy groove. The Wailers backed the song with Bunny and Tosh’s piercing harmonies. They gave it an emotional power like many other Bob Marley recordings and influenced even more hip hop beats.
The song’s lyrics reference the speech Haile Selassie delivered on October 4, 1963. It called for world peace at the Organization of African Unity conference in New York City. It was his last address before accepting Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity eight months later.
Marley’s death without a will and his habit of rewarding friends who contributed ideas for compositions led to legal battles over the copyright of several tracks on Exodus, including “War.” The tracks saw Bob Marley-inspired hip hop remixes in 2010 by EMI for the double CD anthology Legend: Remixed and remastered again by the British dubstep group Massive Attack in 2011.
The Massive Attack version features yet another sample from “War” that carries over a few lines from the original recording. It also adds a new vocal snippet featuring a female voice that accentuates the lyrical call for unity.
