Toppa Top 10: Reggae Samples In Rap Songs

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May 7, 2010


Words by Jesse Serwer

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Hip-hop’s been borrowing from reggae since Jamaican-born Kool Herc updated the soundsystem throwdown for his new home in the Bronx. But the reggae references, both sonic and otherwise, that inform so many of rap’s biggest tunes have a way of flying under many hip-hop listeners’ radars. Here’s a cheat sheet: 10 (well, 14) classic rap tracks that get their sound from both classic and obscure yard productions.