10 Best Rock Samples In Hip Hop

This wasn't the first time Aerosmith's music had been used in hip-hop. Back in 1986 Run-DMC covered a version of the track Walk This Way, despite that being one of the definitive moments in rock/rap crossover, it was a collaboration, with members of Aerosmith performing on the record, rather than it just being a sample.

But when Eminem sampled Aerosmith's power balled Dream On, he used the power of Steven Tylers vocals and the emotive melody of the music as a canvas to express his confusion and frustration at how the rap and hip-hop industry was represented in the media.

In classic Eminem style, he eloquently rebutted the accusation that he promoted violence through his lyrics, whilst simultaneously commenting on the absurdity he felt at being idolised by young hip-hop fans. At the time, many journalists, campaign groups and even the FBI tried to paint Eminem as a negative effect on American society due to the huge influence he had on his fans.

All grist for the mill for Slimy Shady, though. Juxtaposing the two ideas; he recognised and felt uneasy with his idolisation but rejected the idea that individuals who commit crimes are void of accountability just because they listen to hip-hop.

It was one track in a list of many, that cemented Eminem as one of the greatest social commenters in music. But the impact of it was in no small part attributed to this clever use of sampling.