Graduation: The Samples

Hunting down the samples for Kanye West’s latest album, Graduation, hasn’t been too extremely difficult. This is because Kanye chose to sample quit a few well known records by artists such as Elton John, Michael Jackson, and Steely Dan. There are a few samples that I have not been able to get a hold of yet, but I got about 3/4 of them. I’ll update this post as I come across the others.

*edit* I think the samples here are complete!  If I’ve missed any, let me know.

Just as a reminder: the format for Diggin’ in the Crates is basically a sample by example type of article. This isn’t the place to get free downloads, but merely where you can hear a 30 second snippet of the sample and how it was used in the song that sampled it. Graduation is a great album; go out and buy it. With that being said, enjoy the samples!

 

Sample:
“Someone Saved My Life Tonight” by Elton John
Preview

Used in:
“Good Morning” (produced by Kanye West)
Preview

 

Sample:
“Kid Charlemagne” by Steely Dan
Preview

Used in:
“Champion” (produced by Kanye West & Brian “Allday” Miller)
Preview

 

Sample:
“Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” by Daft Punk
Preview

Used in:
“Stronger” (produced by Kanye West)
Preview

 

Sample:
“My Song” by Labi Siffre
Preview

Used in:
“I Wonder” (produced by Kanye West)
Preview

 

Sample:
“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson
Preview

Used in:
“Good Life” (produced by Kanye West & DJ Toomp)
Preview

 

Sample:
“I Got Money” by Young Jeezy
Preview

Used in:
“Can’t Tell Me Nothing” (produced by Kanye West & DJ Toomp)
Preview

 

Sample:
“Long Red” by Mountain
Preview

Used in:
“Barry Bonds” (produced by Nottz & Kanye West)
Preview

Also Used in:
“The Glory” (produced by Kanye West, Gee Robertson & Patrick Reynolds)
Preview

Sample:
“Sing Swan Song” by Can
Preview

Used in:
“Drunk and Hot Girls” (produced by Kanye West & John Brion)
Preview

Sample:
“If We Can’t Be Lovers” by Phillip Mitchell
Preview

Used in:
“Everything I Am” (produced by Kanye West)
Preview

 

Sample:
“Bring the Noise” by Public Enemy
Preview

Used in:
“Everything I Am” (produced by Kanye West)
Preview

 

Sample:
“Save The Country” by Laura Nyro
Preview

Used in:
“The Glory” (produced by Kanye West, Gee Robertson & Patrick Reynolds)
Preview

Sample:
“Wake The Town” by U-ROY
Preview

Used in:
“Goodnight” (produced by Kanye West)
Preview

Sample:
“Nuff Man A Dead” by Super Cat
Preview

Used in:
“Goodnight” (produced by Kanye West)
Preview

Sample:
“Bittersweet” by Charimen of The Board
Preview

Used in:
“Bittersweet Poetry” (produced by Kanye West & John Mayer)
Preview

 

BONUS

Sample:
“The Eraser” by Thom Yorke
Preview

Used in:
“Us Placers (CRS)” (produced by Kanye West)
Preview

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