Reggae has always been part of Kanye West’s music creation process. His last reggae collaborations were in 2021 with Buju Banton and Shenseea for the songs Believe “What I say,” “Ok Ok Pt2,” and “Pure Souls” for his 10th studio album “Donda.”
Both of these songs hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart, giving Buju and Shenseea their chart debut and first Gold certification for Pure Souls.
The Billboard chart-topping rapper has incorporated reggae and dancehall music as a foundation for some of his most prominent works despite having no direct family ties to Jamaican music or culture, creating some of the most memorable and iconic tracks in his production discography.
Here is a look at the top 10 most streamed tracks by Kanye West where he has sampled and interpolated elements of dancehall and reggae, drawing inspiration from veterans like Sister Nancy, Super Cat Max Romeo and Noel Ellis.
1| Famous (2016)- 606 Million
Sampled: “Bam Bam” (1982) by Sister Nancy
“Famous,” a 2x Platinum hit from Kanye’s 2016 album The Life of Pablo, features Rihanna and samples Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam.” Kanye looped Nancy’s chant and trumpet arrangements from the Stalag Riddim, produced by Winston Riley, to bridge the final performance of the chorus.
2| Mercy (2012)- 393 Million
Sampled: “Dust a Sound Boy” (1976) by Super Beagle and “Cu-Oonuh” (1991) by Reggie Stepper
In “Mercy,” a collaboration with Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz, Kanye sampled the voice of the late Fuzzy Jones from the intro of “Dust a Sound Boy” and the chant “Believe! Believe!” from the intro of “Cu-Oonuh.” The Grammy-nominated song peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is certified 7x Platinum in the United States.
3| Chief Keef’s I Don’t Like It – The Remix (2013) – 218 Million
Sampled: “Under Mi Sensi” (1985) by Barrington Levy
Barrington Levy’s distinct ad-libs from “Under Mi Sensi” are featured throughout Kanye’s remix of Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like.” The remix, with contributions from Big Sean, Pusha T, Jadakiss, and others.
4| All Day (2015)- 161 Million
Sampled: “Dance With Me” by Noel Ellis
Kanye’s “All Day” samples Noel Ellis’s “Dance With Me.” The 2015 track, featuring Paul McCartney, Allan Kingdom, and Theophilus London, was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance at the 58th Grammy Awards.
5| I Am A God (2013)- 77 Million
Sampled: “Forward Inna Dem Clothes” (2001) by Capleton
Capleton’s “Forward Inna Dem Clothes” anchors the opening of Kanye’s “I Am A God.” The track, part of Harvel ‘Gadaffi’ Hart’s Heatwave Riddim, celebrates modesty and conservatism, themes Kanye twists to underscore his provocative assertion of divinity.
6| Send It Up (2013)- 66 Million
Sampled: “Memories” (1996) by Beenie Man
“Send It Up” samples the intro and chorus of Beenie Man’s “Memories.” Beenie Man’s recognizable laugh and lines set the tone for Kanye’s reflection on fleeting high-life experiences.
7| Jay-Z’s Lucifer (2003)- 49 Million
Sampled: “Chase The Devil” (1976) by Max Romeo
When Kanye collaborated with Jay-Z in 2003 on “Lucifer,” from Jay-Z’s triple Platinum project, The Black Album, he sampled Max Romeo and The Upsetters’ “Chase The Devil,” produced by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. The track expanded on Romeo’s holy war against the Devil, highlighting Kanye’s burgeoning reputation as a musical genius.
8| The Morning (2012)- 46 Million
Interpolates: “I’m Getting Married In The Morning” (1982) by Yellowman
From the compilation album Cruel Summer, “The Morning” features artists like 2 Chainz and Pusha T, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Common, D Banj, Raekwon.
Interpolating Yellowman’s “I’m Getting Married In The Morning.” D’Banj’s chorus in “The Morning” closely follows Yellowman’s original melody.
9| Good Night (2007)- 31 Million
Sampled: “Nuff Man A Dead” (1992) by Super Cat and “Wake The Town” by U-Roy
On his album Graduation, Kanye’s “Good Night” features Mos Def and Al Be Back, and samples Super Cat’s “Nuff Man A Dead.” The track, over a mellow hip-hop beat, reflects Kanye’s reluctance to say goodbye to cherished life moments.
10| Jay-Z’s Encore (2003)- 25 Million
Sampled: “I Will” (1973) by John Holt
In “Encore,” another production for Jay-Z’s The Black Album, Kanye sampled the trumpets from John Holt’s cover of The Beatles’ “I Will.” The song, featuring vocals from John Legend, Don Crawley, and GLC, highlighted Kanye’s knack for blending regal sounds with hip-hop.
