Classical Rap

September 22, 2007 4:45 PM

What are some good rap/hip-hop songs based on classical music?

I'm not the biggest rap or hip-hop fan but I do like hearing those sorts of songs when the beats are or are based off of classical music. The only songs that I can think of are Jedi Mind Tricks's On the Eve of War (based on Palladio) and Ivan Ives' Victory. That Read A Book song by D-Mite is another example. What are some other similar songs? I've tried Pandora and other similar services but its hard for it to match that criteria and find anything suitable.

posted by god particle to media & arts (18 comments total)

Nas - I Can (samples Für Elise)
posted by milarepa at 4:54 PM on September 22, 2007

Check out Busdriver - Imaginary Places and The Apologist - 53 Beads on a String. The latter one is Catholic rap, but I still like it (and I'm not Catholic).
posted by fishmasta at 4:54 PM on September 22, 2007

Check out Black Violin.
posted by effigy at 4:56 PM on September 22, 2007 [1 favorite]

That Apologist track was what immediately sprung to mind for me too!
posted by Ted Maul at 5:15 PM on September 22, 2007

This isn't restricted to hip-hop, but Wikipedia has a list of songs based on classical music. Also check out the track "Moosebumps" from Dr. Octagon's Instrumentalyst.
posted by sanko at 5:25 PM on September 22, 2007

There's that recent Nike commercial (discussed with YouTube link here) with rap music by Juelz Santana. The sample is of the Dies Irae theme from the 5th movement of Hector Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique.
posted by lorenzism at 5:29 PM on September 22, 2007

don't ask why I remember this but... Coolio had a song called "I'll see you when you get there" (I think) that sampled the Pachabel Canon (I think).
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:31 PM on September 22, 2007

Does Robin Thicke's When I Get You Alone (which indirectly samples Beethoven's 5th via Walter Murphy's A Fifth of Beethoven) count?
posted by forallmankind at 5:32 PM on September 22, 2007

Sample tracker the-breaks.com has a list.
posted by hydrophonic at 5:38 PM on September 22, 2007

This excellent mashup by A plus D: Beethoven's Fifth Gold Digger.
posted by maxpower at 5:49 PM on September 22, 2007

The orchestra blast that is heard all over 1980s hip-hop and techno was ORCH5, a Fairlight Synthesizer preset sampled from Stravinsky's ballet Firebird.

There is an article by Robert Fink in the journal Popular Music (2005), 24: 339-356 outlining the history of its use.
posted by umbú at 5:59 PM on September 22, 2007

Virtuosity by Chops
posted by sneakin at 6:17 PM on September 22, 2007

Stylus Magazine recently had a list. Should I be embarrassed to admit I really like the Kelis song, silly lyrics and all?

I would also add AZ's "Enjoy Yourself", which samples Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven" to excellent effect.
posted by sappidus at 6:50 PM on September 22, 2007

You should check out The Seduction of Claude Debussy by Art of Noise. It's kind of a little of everything, but "Metaforce" is one track that fits the bill. (There are others). Obviously the album samples Debussy.
posted by cmgonzalez at 6:51 PM on September 22, 2007

Nas' Hate Me Now uses part of O Fortuna from Carmina Burana. I've always considered it almost a sacrilege and wonder how much money Carl Orff"s widow accepted to allow them to desecrate Orff's masterpiece.
posted by fuse theorem at 7:07 PM on September 22, 2007

PDQ Bach's 'Classical Rap' from the album 'Oedipus Tex and Other Choral Calaimites' contains quotes from Pachelbel's Canon and many others that I forget at the moment.
posted by mkb at 7:08 AM on September 23, 2007

From "The Rapsody Overture, Hip hop meets classic", "Prince Igor", by Warren G and Sissel, based on "Prince Igor" by Alexander Borodin.
posted by iviken at 8:48 AM on September 23, 2007

Oooh. Just heard another one:

"Move, Pt. 2"
Oh No, J Dilla, Roc C
Track 12 on Stone's Throw: 10 Years

uses phrases from both the Tocatta and the Fugue from JS Bach's BWV 565
posted by lorenzism at 2:51 PM on October 13, 2007