Known as the Godfather of Soul, James Brown influenced popular music as a singer, a songwriter, a dancer and bandleader through the 60′s and 70′s primarily. Already a prolific and accomplished force in his own right, Brown’s influence hit critical mass in the 80′s thanks to the popularity of digital sampling in Hip Hop.

Through sampled tracks James Brown has been a part of thousands of songs, reaching far beyond his own genres, or his own amazing 78 albums, helping hundreds of new artists and millions of listeners Get up, Say It Loud and Feel Good.

WhoSampled.com, a sample tracking website that “explores and discusses the DNA of Music,” has attempted to catalogue all the songs that sample James Brown’s music. So far they have found 1,114 songs that use samples from James Brown. These samples come from 92 different James Brown songs. Producing 92 songs in a career that people want to listen would be a feet for any artist. Producing 92 songs that people want to include in their own songs is much more impressive. No wonder James Brown was known as the Hardest Working Man in Show Business.

Some tracks get have gotten more sampling love than others over the years. Here are the top 10 most sampled James Brown songs:

#10 Escape-ism (1971)

Sampled 23 Times

This is a pre-rap rap, with a nice mid-tempo beat featuring a simple horn riff and James rapping over the top. First sampled by Heavy D & the Boyz in The Overweight Lover’s in the House (1987), and last sampled by Jigmastas in If (1999), this beat enjoyed moderate success in the hip hop realm.

#9 Get on the Good Foot (1972)

Sampled 23 Times

A fast and energetic beat, with a frenetic guitar riff and super funky. First sampled by Double Dee & Steinski in their James Brown remix called Lesson 2 (1985) and last sampled by Bomfunk MC’s in Freestyler (1999). The best known use of this sample is probably in Gold by Grandmaster Flash (1988).

#8 Make It Funky (1971)

Sampled 31 Times

This song reminds us that whatever James Brown was going to play, he was going to “Make It Funky”. Brown usually played this song much faster live, but the original track was pretty slow, to maximize the funk. First sampled by Ice-T in a track by the same name (1988) and last sampled by 88-Keys feat. Redman in The Burning Bush (2008). This song has also been sampled by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince as well as by Public Enemy.

#7 Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine (1970)

Sampled 35 Times

Without this track how would any of us known to “stay on the scene like a sex machine”? Once again supper funky with call and response lyrics, an iconic piano break and a break down where they chant “shake your money maker.” This track was first sampled by Eddie Murphy in Singers (1983) and most recently sampled in Always (Smile) by Muhsinah (2010).

#6 Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud (1968)

Sampled 41 Times

One of Brown’s signature songs and an important Black Power Anthem addressing prejudice and the need for empowerment, Say it loud was first sampled by Jazz Legend Miles Davis in Yesternow (1971) and most recently in Peanuts Club by Noob (2009). Others to use this song include 2 Live Crew, Public Enemy, Salt-n-Pepa, and Cypress Hill in Insane in the Brain. This song is the first place where Brown started using the reappropriated sobriquet, “His Bad Self”.

#5 Get Up Offa That Thing (1976)

Sampled 44 Times

A brief foray into self-help, this track encourages you to “Get Up Offa That Thing and Dance ’til you feel better.” Sound words from the Godfather of Soul which got him to #4 on the R&B charts that year. First sampled by Ministry in Everyday is Halloween (1984) and most recently by Adam & Joe in 80′s Song (2010).This song’s beat was regularly featured in tracks by Jazzy Jay, Public Enemy and DJ Jazzy Jeff.

#4 Get up, Get Into It, Get Involved (1970)

Sampled 73 Times

This is one of the first tracks released by Brown specifically to be sampled. Polydor Records wanted him to capitalize on his popularity in the hip hop circles. First Featured in Eric B is President by Eric B. & Rackim in 1986, and most recently by Nas in Where are they now (2006) Other artists to sample this track include Public Enemy, 2 Live Crew, MC Shan, Crazy 8 Posse, Technotronic and the Beastie Boys.

#3 The Payback (1973)

Sampled 81 Times

Title track to an album by the same name, the Payback was supposed to be featured in Hell Up in Harlem, a blaxploitation film. The song was rejected for not being James Brown Enough. What? Nevertheless, The Payback was a #1 R&B hit and the 3rd most sampled JB song. First sampled in Whodini’s Be Yourself (1987) and most recently by Superstition in Bad Blood (2007). Honorable sample mentions also include R Kelley, Mary J Blige, The Notorious B.I.G. and Shaquille O’Neal.

#2 Funky President (1974)

Sampled 143 Times

Number 4 on the R7B chart in 1974 Funky President (People It’s Bad) is about how hard times were, referring to President Gerald Ford. It has a simple but groovy beat which is why it has leant itself to more than 140 songs, most of which are hip hop. First sampled by Red Alert in Hip Hop on Wax (1984) it has graced the song beds of Grandmaster Flash, Salt-n-Pepa, DJ Jailbreak, Kid ‘N Play, Dr Dre, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Boys II Men, The Black Eyed Peas all the way up to Kane West in Live Fast, Die Young (2010).

#1 Funky Drummer (1970)

Sampled 252 Times

The song is a simple two chord vamp. The drum breaks in between the vamps, played by Clyde Stubblefield (the funky drummer in question) are some of the most sampled rhythmic breaks in all of hip hop, making this the most sampled song by James Brown and one of the most sampled recordings ever. It was originally recorded in 1969 but didn’t get a full album release till In The Jungle Groove in 1986. MC Quick Quintin and MC Mello J were the first to realize the sampling possibilities of this track in 1985 on The Classy M.C.’s. Since then everyone from Public Enemy, INXS and Run DMCin the 80′s, LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Vanilla Ice, Kriss Kross, Naughty By Nature and Duran Duran in the 90′s and Mos Def, Ludacris, and Kylie Minogue in the millennium. It was even used in the Powerpuff Girls Theme, an application I am sure the Minister of the New New Super Heavy Funk would appreciate.

About the author: When he’s not out skiing the Utah powder, Greg Jensen is a writer and blogger for Comcast.USDirect.com – home to Comcast Cable Deals.