Remembering Ahmad Jamal: Hip-Hop Tracks That Sampled Him

The music world is mourning the loss of iconic jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, who passed away this past weekend at the age of 92. His daughter, Sumayah Jamal, confirmed his April 16 passing to NPR, following a battle with prostate cancer. A prodigy that began playing piano at just 3 years old, the Pittsburgh native’s influence has stretched far and wide, beyond the realms of Jazz. The Hip-Hop community has especially embraced his work, as it has been sampled several times over the years. From De La Soul and Common to Nas and Rick Ross, the music of Ahmad Jamal has been sampled hundreds of times, according to WhoSampled. Here are a few of our favorites that solidifies Ahmad Jamal’s impact on the culture! RELATED: Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who We’ve Lost In 2023

1. The Original: "Swahililand"

2. The Sample: De La Soul's "Stakes Is High"

3. The Original: "I Love Music"

4. The Sample: Nas' "The World Is Yours"

5. The Original: "The Awakening"

6. The Sample: Teedra Moses' "Be Your Girl"

7. The Original: "Ghetto Child"

8. The Sample: Common's "They Say" (with Kanye West & John Legend)

9. The Original: "Pastures"

10. The Sample: Jay-Z's "Feelin' It"

11. The Original*: "I'll Never Stop Loving You"

* Instrumental version of Doris Day’s track

12. The Sample: J. Cole's "ATM"

13. The Original: "April in Paris"

14. The Sample: Earl Sweatshirt's "Solace"