They both exude effortless perfection and ambition. When I think of flawless blending of the smooth jazz and RnB genres, two queens come to mind: Sade and Alicia Keys. “Best Of Me (Unlocked)” by Alicia Keys Samples “Cherish The Day” by Sade And if that wasn’t enough to enrich the song with music history specific to The Big Apple, well, how about a little Frank Sinatra? Yes, the song also samples the classic, iconic “Theme From New York, New York”-the cherry on top of the Empire State Building. But how well do we really know the workings of “Empire State Of Mind”? Let’s unpack! The piano component that runs throughout the song is actually a sample of the 1970 single “Love On a Two-Way Street” performed by The Moments and exudes R&B and Soul sound from the 60s. And despite it being released in 2009, you can guarantee if someone takes a trip to New York and posts about it on Instagram, their caption will reference it. It’s the song you can’t help but belt out at the top of your lungs. Alicia Keys Samples “Love on a Two Way Street” by The Moments “Comfortable” is also an exemplary case study of layering, including additional samples of Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” and Outkast’s “Player’s Ball.” Nothing can trigger a nostalgia trip in me the way that a sample does *cries in reverb.* I’ve been given another opportunity to enjoy this song that meant so much to me, all over again with a new flare. “Comfortable” by Lil Wayne Samples “You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keysįor continuity purposes, it’s only natural that I follow with a sample of “You Don’t Know My Name” by Lil Wayne on his-arguably-most prominent album Carter III, on a song called “Comfortable.” Reminiscent to how I felt when I heard the Kanye radio edit, my heart lifted out of my chest when I heard the sounds of Alicia Keys. It’s moments like these that I recognize how music bonds communities and cultures and how important that really is. And ultimately, really wholesome and cute. The original song was created in Harlem in 1974 and then sampled in another NYC studio sometime in 2003 by Alicia Keys-an attribute that makes it inherently rich in music history specific to New York. “You Don’t Know My Name” is a great example of that, sampling The Main Ingredient’s “Let Me Prove My Love To You”. The second being the art of sampling wouldn’t be where it is today without early RnB and Soul music. In this, I’ve concluded two undeniable tidbits: Firstly, that the congenial quality of samples is that they defy and bend time. “You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keys Samples “Let Me Prove My Love To You” by The Main IngredientĪs the resident sample aficionado, I’ve accumulated knowledge of music eras and genres that are beyond my time. The “If I Ain’t Got You” Kanye West Remix. And there it was on the special edition bonus album. I was looking for reasons to keep obsessing with the song without driving my family mental. At the time, “If I Ain’t Got You” spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, one of the longest stays of any songs released that year. The Diary of Alicia Keys had been released in late 2003, the production mainly handled by Keys herself, with contributions from Kanye West. So, naturally, when I heard Alicia Keys was releasing half an album abundant with remixes and samples, this immediately came to the forefront of my mind and memory. I still listen to this radio mix like it was released yesterday. “If I Ain’t Got You (Radio Mix)” by Kanye West Remixes “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys In the spirit of celebrating her now released album and her career, I thought it would be appropriate to unpack five samples, championed by Alicia Keys. As a sample finder fanatic-seriously, is forever open in my browser-I was enthralled by the second half of the KEYS album.
The Originals showcase her classic sound -a homecoming, as she called it-and the Unlocked, a collection of remixed and sampled songs for a “whole other sonic experience” made by herself and Mike WiLL Made-It. Following that, in October, Keys took to Instagram to announce her upcoming two-version album KEYS, which would include the Originals and the Unlocked. From my younger days when my sister and I would bicker about who is the biggest Keys fan, to the release of her 20th Anniversary album in 2021. In my house, Alicia Keys has always managed to remain in heavy rotation.