The Queen of Soul has passed on, but Aretha Franklin's music is sure to endure long into the future.
In addition to Franklin's original recordings, her work has also been preserved in the form of hundreds of covers, reworks and remixes. Franklin's songs have also been sampled countless times — some more obviously than others — and we've pulled together a list of some of those tracks that might just surprise you.
10 Songs You Probably Didn't Know Sampled Aretha Franklin:
10. Kanye West "School Spirit"
The College Dropout (2004)
Samples: "Spirit in the Dark"
The opening piano chords are instantly recognizable, and somehow Franklin's iconic voice still works when sped up to chipmunk speed and buried beneath Kanye's bars.
9. Alicia Keys "Lovin U"
Songs in A Minor (2001)
Samples: "(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman"
A hidden track on Alicia Keys' debut album, she rides the melody of one of Aretha's biggest hits. Franklin didn't seem to have a problem with it, eventually even showering praise on the younger star.
8. Zeds Dead "Coffee Break"
Victor (2007)
Samples: "I Say a Little Prayer"
Dubstep wasn't even a thing when Franklin recorded "I Say a Little Prayer," but there's no denying the catchy dancefloor appeal of Toronto's Zeds Dead's rework.
7. Rapsody "Laila's Wisdom"
Laila's Wisdom (2017)
Samples: "Young, Gifted and Black"
Just last year, Rapsody dropped her debut album Laila's Wisdom, and it's no coincidence she chose to sample "Young, Gifted and Black" on the record's title track.
6. Handsome Boy Modeling School "Metaphysical"
So… How's Your Girl? (1999)
Samples: "Sweet Bitter Love"
Dan the Automator and Prince Paul adapted "Sweet Bitter Love" for "Metaphysical," which uses Franklin's croon of "It's a good day" as a hook between spoken word bits from Miho Hatori and the Beastie Boys' Mike D.
5. David Bowie and Tina Turner "Tonight"
Tonight (1984)
Samples: "Spanish Harlem"
Listen closely and you can hear a faint whiff of "Spanish Harlem" in David Bowie and Tina Turner's "Tonight" from Bowie's album of the same name. Franklin isn't the only one appreciated on the track — it was originally written and recorded by Iggy Pop on his Bowie-produced Lust for Life.
4. Mos Def "Ms. Fat Booty"
Black on Both Sides (1999)
Samples: "One Step Ahead"
We're not sure how Ms. Franklin feels about the name of the track, but Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty" chops up "One Step Ahead" and turns it into a seamless beat for the artist now known as Yasiin Bey to rap over.
3. Maestro Fresh Wes "Fortissimo"
Symphony in Effect (1989)
Samples: "Save Me"
A demonstration of Canada's finest turntablism of the time, Maestro's "Fortissimo" manages to showcase "Save Me" before putting a fresh literal spin on it.
2. "Weird Al" Yankovic "Polka Party!"
Polka Party! (1986)
Samples: "Freeway of Love"
It doesn't get much weirder than Weird Al, does it? Best known for parodying modern pop tunes, he did give a nod to an Aretha classic on "Polka Party!" Technically, it's not a sample as much as it's an interpolation of a line in her song, but it's an undeniable homage.
1. Crazy Penis "Heartbreaker"
When We On (2011)
Samples: "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
Turns out it does get weirder than Weird Al.
In addition to Franklin's original recordings, her work has also been preserved in the form of hundreds of covers, reworks and remixes. Franklin's songs have also been sampled countless times — some more obviously than others — and we've pulled together a list of some of those tracks that might just surprise you.
10 Songs You Probably Didn't Know Sampled Aretha Franklin:
10. Kanye West "School Spirit"
The College Dropout (2004)
Samples: "Spirit in the Dark"
The opening piano chords are instantly recognizable, and somehow Franklin's iconic voice still works when sped up to chipmunk speed and buried beneath Kanye's bars.
9. Alicia Keys "Lovin U"
Songs in A Minor (2001)
Samples: "(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman"
A hidden track on Alicia Keys' debut album, she rides the melody of one of Aretha's biggest hits. Franklin didn't seem to have a problem with it, eventually even showering praise on the younger star.
8. Zeds Dead "Coffee Break"
Victor (2007)
Samples: "I Say a Little Prayer"
Dubstep wasn't even a thing when Franklin recorded "I Say a Little Prayer," but there's no denying the catchy dancefloor appeal of Toronto's Zeds Dead's rework.
7. Rapsody "Laila's Wisdom"
Laila's Wisdom (2017)
Samples: "Young, Gifted and Black"
Just last year, Rapsody dropped her debut album Laila's Wisdom, and it's no coincidence she chose to sample "Young, Gifted and Black" on the record's title track.
6. Handsome Boy Modeling School "Metaphysical"
So… How's Your Girl? (1999)
Samples: "Sweet Bitter Love"
Dan the Automator and Prince Paul adapted "Sweet Bitter Love" for "Metaphysical," which uses Franklin's croon of "It's a good day" as a hook between spoken word bits from Miho Hatori and the Beastie Boys' Mike D.
5. David Bowie and Tina Turner "Tonight"
Tonight (1984)
Samples: "Spanish Harlem"
Listen closely and you can hear a faint whiff of "Spanish Harlem" in David Bowie and Tina Turner's "Tonight" from Bowie's album of the same name. Franklin isn't the only one appreciated on the track — it was originally written and recorded by Iggy Pop on his Bowie-produced Lust for Life.
4. Mos Def "Ms. Fat Booty"
Black on Both Sides (1999)
Samples: "One Step Ahead"
We're not sure how Ms. Franklin feels about the name of the track, but Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty" chops up "One Step Ahead" and turns it into a seamless beat for the artist now known as Yasiin Bey to rap over.
3. Maestro Fresh Wes "Fortissimo"
Symphony in Effect (1989)
Samples: "Save Me"
A demonstration of Canada's finest turntablism of the time, Maestro's "Fortissimo" manages to showcase "Save Me" before putting a fresh literal spin on it.
2. "Weird Al" Yankovic "Polka Party!"
Polka Party! (1986)
Samples: "Freeway of Love"
It doesn't get much weirder than Weird Al, does it? Best known for parodying modern pop tunes, he did give a nod to an Aretha classic on "Polka Party!" Technically, it's not a sample as much as it's an interpolation of a line in her song, but it's an undeniable homage.
1. Crazy Penis "Heartbreaker"
When We On (2011)
Samples: "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
Turns out it does get weirder than Weird Al.
