It was announced yesterday that Ron Howard of all people will be directing a concert documentary about Jay-Z’s upcoming Made in America festival in Philadelphia, which is set to go down on September 1 and 2. Because obviously, when you think of rap music (and, um, the Hives?), you think of the guy who played Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham and directed How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the crappy one with Jim Carrey, not the original).
It’s a bizarre fit, to say the least, but rap artists have always had a strange fascination with — shall we say? — less-than-hip white people. (Ron Howard is the only reason Arrested Development was ever made, so he deserves cool props for that, but c’mon, look at the guy.) Here are 10 amazing rap tracks that sample lame songs by even lamer artists. Sorry, Billy Squier fans.
Song: “The City Is Mine” by Jay-Z (In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.)
Sample: “You Belong to the City” by Glenn Frey
Song: “Everyday Struggle” by Notorious B.I.G. (Ready to Die)
Sample: “Either Way” by Dave Grusin
Song: “We Can Get Down” by A Tribe Called Quest (Midnight Marauders)
Sample: “The Big Beat” by Billy Squier
Song: “Car Thief” by Beastie Boys (Paul’s Boutique)
Sample: “Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Donovan
Song: “Method Man” by Wu-Tang Clan (Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers))
Sample: “Method of Modern Love” by Hall and Oates
Song: “Something Like That” by NWA (Straight Outta Compton)
Sample: “Take the Money and Run” by Steve Miller Band
Song: “Plug Tunin'” by De La Soul (3 Feet High and Rising)
Sample: “Stiletto” by Billy Joel
Song: “Dark Fantasy” by Kanye West (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy)
Sample: “In High Places” by Mike Oldfield
Song: “Ready or Not” by the Fugees (The Score)
Sample: “Boadicea” by Enya
Song: “Rainy Dayz” by Raekwon (Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…)
Sample: “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” by Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand
