10+ Times BTS Sampled American Songs, And You Didn't Even Realize

Many K-Pop artists sample music from other artists, both domestic and international and BTS is no exception. “Sampling” refers to when short audio clips are used to recreate one’s own work, typically after gaining permission and paying royalties.

Plagiarism, on the other hand, refers to when an artist imitates or duplicate’s one’s work and takes credit for it, which is not the case here. Here are both well-known and unknown examples of BTS “sampling” from American songs.

1. “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” – James Brown in “Agust D” (by Agust D)

1. Agust D – Agust D sampling from James Brown – It's a Man's Man's Man's World

This is a very well known sample and many people know of Yoongi taking these samples but I made a video of the specific parts he extracted: pic.twitter.com/NtL0DLYyC9

— lorde in 16 days (@MYMYMYsaved2018) January 4, 2018

2. “Get Ur Freak On” – Missy Elliot in “MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)”

2. BTS – MIC Drop/MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix) sampling from Missy Elliot – Get Ur Freak On

It is more clear to hear in the remix version but this sample is quite noticeable but the way the producer(s) were able to shape it to fit MIC Drop is amazing: pic.twitter.com/bYNV3jigXy

— lorde in 16 days (@MYMYMYsaved2018) January 4, 2018

3. “Am I Wrong” – Keb’ Mo’ in “Am I Wrong”

3. BTS – Am I Wrong sampling from Keb' Mo' – Am I Wrong

I remember when it first came out, literally everyone was like "who is that dude at the start?!" but now I know and I'm sharing it with you guys. The sample continues throughout the whole song but I picked out the primary. pic.twitter.com/RYlXg30K2S

— lorde in 16 days (@MYMYMYsaved2018) January 4, 2018

4. “Crazy German Kid (viral video)” in “Not Today”

4. BTS – Not Today sampling from Crazy German Kid

No you saw right. I am not shitting you. Right after Namjoon's "FIGHT" and right before Yoongi's verse begins, we hear a scream. Listen closely. Only BTS can use such an iconic viral video in one of their hit songs! pic.twitter.com/lVl5zzMYHL

— lorde in 16 days (@MYMYMYsaved2018) January 4, 2018

This song has sampled from a clip of the Crazy German Kid. The Crazy German Kid became famous for his viral video, which shows him bursting with anger in front of his computer screaming at his monitor and pounding on his keyboard.

5. “Here We Go (Live at the Funhouse)” – Run-DMC in “War of Hormone”

7. BTS – War of Hormone sampling from Run-DMC – Here We Go (Live at the Funhouse)

All they needed was an "ah yeah!" and for that they sampled it from the live performance of a song lmfao. I mean… it's a pretty good "ah yeah!" if you ask me. pic.twitter.com/1vUH97GaVL

— lorde in 16 days (@MYMYMYsaved2018) January 4, 2018

6. “Major Lazer” – Aerosol Can (ft. Pharrell Williams) in “Do You” (by RM)

8. RM – Do You sampling from Major Lazer – Aerosol Can (ft. Pharrell Williams)

This song from Namjoon's mixtape samples this track throughout while Namjoon spits his own rap over it. I think from a creative standpoint "Do You" was very well done, song and music video both. pic.twitter.com/zaay3u1Udx

— lorde in 16 days (@MYMYMYsaved2018) January 5, 2018

7. “El Chapo” – The Game & Skrillex in “1 Verse” (by J-Hope)

9. J-Hope – 1 Verse sampling from The Game & Skrillex – El Chapo

Like Namjoon did with Do You, Hoseok sampled this track with some editing to make it his own, dropping his own bars on top of it. Hixtape is coming soon so there is bound to be a sample or two in it. I might add… pic.twitter.com/Hw4VerTWw2

— lorde in 16 days (@MYMYMYsaved2018) January 5, 2018

8. “Born Sinner” J. Cole (ft. James Fauntleroy) in “Born Singer”