Harry Belafonte’s songs have been a part of history for decades. The legendary Jamaican-American singer is one of the few entertainers to EGOT. This means he is among a handful of entertainers to receive Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. This achievement solidifies his place in entertainment and, most importantly, Black history.
Outside of the entertainment world, Belafonte was also an outspoken voice in the civil and political sphere. This is where he placed his focus after releasing his last album in 1974. Belafonte’s music made an impact during its original run as he helped bring calypso music to American audiences. Not only was it well received, but it helped get him a myriad of performance opportunities. His music lives on through sampling in modern songs; we’ve gathered several of them in this list.
“6 Foot 7 Foot” – Lil Wayne feat. Cory Gunz (2010)
This is the most popular rap song that sampled Harry Belafonte. This song was produced by Bangladesh who sampled Belafonte’s classic song “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song).” In this version of the sample, the vocals are sped up and pitched higher. The sped-up vocals play throughout the verses, giving the song a fun and fast-paced feeling. Things slow down between verses where the sample serves as a creative and brief hook. Both Wayne and Cory Gunz drop colorful and punchline-filled verses on the track, whose booming bass helps bring the energy they bring to an even higher level. This goes double for Gunz, whose rapid fire flow in the second half of his verse is a highlight for many listeners.
“Burnt” – Del The Funky Homosapien feat. Hieroglyphics (1991)
This song borrowed from Harry Belafonte during the peak time for sampling – the ’90s. However, it does not sample the instruments from the original song. It interlopes one of the most popular lines from it. Del opens the five-verse track, and he’s the one who uses lines from Belafonte. However, instead of using it for a hook, he effortlessly weaves it into his verse.
It fits so well that you wouldn’t even know it came from a different song. However, Del ensures he still pays homage as he enunciates “Day-O” just as Belafonte did in the original track. Furthermore, he drops a few more bars before returning to the interpolation. This is an example of how sometimes a song can transcend generations in a subtle but effective way.
“G. Thang” – Ginuwine feat. Magoo & Missy Elliott (1996)
This is another song where Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O” comes through interpolation. Timbaland is on production here, however, he does not pair any elements from Belafonte’s original song with his signature drums. Missy Elliott is the one who brings Belafonte’s influence into the smooth track. After her opening verse, we come to the hook which she sings. She brings the lyrics of the past to the present by using them about being out at the club all night. Missy’s pen has always been slick. This interpolation sounds right on target for her.
She also mirrors Belafonte’s delivery style while making it her own. Had a listener not known better, this would have sounded like something Missy wrote herself. All artists set out to make timeless music, but the passage of time is the only way to determine if they were successful.
“Shake Senora” – Pitbull feat. T-Pain and Sean Paul (2011)
This song samples Harry Belafonte in the most direct way. Not only is the song’s melody sampled, but the hook is also too. This time, the sample comes from his song “Jump in the Line.” Considering the original track would have fit in a party setting, it’s only suitable three people known for party music to utilize it for a sample.
Producers Clinton Sparks and DJ Snake take the tropical melody from the original song and pair it with glitzy synth melodies to give the song a modern feel while keeping the spirit of the original alive. Regarding the hook, T-Pain and Pitbull rap-sing it and combined Belafonte’s original lyrics with some updated ones that fit a modern party scene. This track is one where the inspiration from Harry’s original track is clear, and they paid homage in a fun and respectful way.
“Won’t Bite” – Doja Cat feat. Smino (2019)
This Harry Belafonte song sample is one of the more sentimental ones on our list. The song “My Angel (Malaika)” is a duet with singer Miriam Makeba. The track that samples it features Smino, although we would classify his presence as a typical feature, not a duet partner. However, Doja’s song contrasts the tone of the original song in almost every way. The guitar melody from the original is sampled and sped up. It’s paired with skittering trap drums that give the song a much faster pace than the drumless original. Doja’s vocals float between being rapped and sung as her vocalizations line up more with the sentimental tone of the original song, while her rapped verses do not. Smino’s creatively rapped verse keeps the energy alive and brings its own creative melody.
“Don’t Wanna Go Home” – Jason Derulo (2011)
This way this Harry Belafonte song was used makes it one of the most direct ones on our list. Even the song title is a direct connection to the original classic. Jason Derulo takes the most recognizable part of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and uses it for the hook. Like one of the previous entries, Jason modernizes it by bringing the lines to the club. Considering this, he connects people’s memories of the original song to new memories they created while listening to his song. He does this by simply swapping out a few words; his delivery aligns with his singing style. The feeling of happiness associated with the original version and his song is another aspect that connects them across generations.
Did you recognize any of these songs or their samples? Let us know in the comments section.
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