Kanye West's 10 Greatest Samples Of All-Time
5. Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield
As one of the most popular classic soul songs of all-time, Curtis Mayfield’s 1970 single Move On Up is certainly a bold choice to sample.
However, West’s use of the song in Touch The Sky from his sophomore album Late Registration breathed new life into the song and brought Mayfield’s classic to a whole new audience.
The track, which featured the career debut of US rapper Lupe Fiasco, slowed down Mayfield's original composition and added Latin horns to the track to produce arguably one of West's most upbeat songs.
Similarly the song's lyrics, in which West offers listeners encouragement to obtain the same level of self-confidence as him, were widely praised as an inspirational and life-affirming.
Fiasco's verse was specifically singled out by critics as one of the best features on any of West's records and his appearance significantly boosted his fledgling career.
The song's music video also demonstrates West's penchant for an homage. In the video, directed by Chris Milk, West parodies US stunt performer Evel Knievel's iconic 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon.
Despite the video receiving significant praise from critics, Knievel failed to see the funny side of West's satire and attempted to sue the musician.
The case was later settled amicably for an undisclosed sum days before Knievel's death in 2007.