SAMPLESAMPLESAMPLE

Who sampled · 1990s · expert crate

Mr. Nigga samples Legend In His Own Mind

Mos Def’s “Mr. Nigga” (1999) is built on Gil Scott-Heron’s “Legend In His Own Mind” (1980) — a sample that travelled 19 years to get there. In SAMPLE SAMPLE SAMPLE we spin the original and ask you to name the hit that flipped it. This one lives in the expert crate, worth 3 points in party mode.

The original record

Legend In His Own Mind

Gil Scott-Heron · 1980

plays 00:00–00:21 · open on YouTube

The hit that sampled it

Mr. Nigga

Mos Def · 1999

plays 00:00–00:40 · open on YouTube

Where to hear it

Cue up “Legend In His Own Mind” and listen at 00:00–00:21 — that’s the passage Mos Def lifted. Old-school source, 1990s flip.

Liner notes

Think you’d have caught it?

Every day we spin one original record. Five guesses, hints unlock as you miss, streaks and a shareable score — same puzzle for everyone on the same calendar day.

▶ Play today’s Sample of the Day

More from the crate