When Rap Songs Are Flipped Into Hot R&B Jams

Melodic interpretations of hip hop classics.

A Tribe Called Quest “Bonita Applebum” – Tyrese “Dumb S**t“   - Twenty-four years after ATCQ’s 1990 hip hop smash “Bonita Applebum” rocked clubs from shore to shore, singer/actor Tyrese appropriated the beat for his latest R&B hit expressing his regrets about blatantly screwing up a relationship because of, well, ya know.  (Photos from left: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images, Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET)

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A Tribe Called Quest “Bonita Applebum” – Tyrese “Dumb S**t“ - Twenty-four years after ATCQ’s 1990 hip hop smash “Bonita Applebum” rocked clubs from shore to shore, singer/actor Tyrese appropriated the beat for his latest R&B hit expressing his regrets about blatantly screwing up a relationship because of, well, ya know. (Photos from left: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images, Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET)

A Tribe Called Quest “Hot Sex” – Mary J. Blige “Love @ 1st Sight”  - The queen of hip hop soul has built a career on converting classic rap songs into R&B bangers. And for her 2003 LP Love & Life she, too, dug into ATCQ’s beat bag, lifting the rhythm of their 1992 hit “Hot Sex (On a Platter)” from the soundtrack for the film Boomerang.   (Photos from left: John Sciulli/Getty Images for Samsung, C.Smith/ WENN.com)

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A Tribe Called Quest “Hot Sex” – Mary J. Blige “Love @ 1st Sight” - The queen of hip hop soul has built a career on converting classic rap songs into R&B bangers. And for her 2003 LP Love & Life she, too, dug into ATCQ’s beat bag, lifting the rhythm of their 1992 hit “Hot Sex (On a Platter)” from the soundtrack for the film Boomerang.  (Photos from left: John Sciulli/Getty Images for Samsung, C.Smith/ WENN.com)

Notorious B.I.G. “Juicy” – Tamar Braxton “The One”  - When Grammy-nominated R&B diva Tamar Braxton wanted to add that smooth hip hop flavor to her 2013 cut “The One,” she went to the sampled magic of Big Poppa’s 1994 rap music classic “Juicy.”  (Photos from left: David Corio/Redferns, D Dipasupil/Getty Images for BET)

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Notorious B.I.G. “Juicy” – Tamar Braxton “The One” - When Grammy-nominated R&B diva Tamar Braxton wanted to add that smooth hip hop flavor to her 2013 cut “The One,” she went to the sampled magic of Big Poppa’s 1994 rap music classic “Juicy.” (Photos from left: David Corio/Redferns, D Dipasupil/Getty Images for BET)

Jay Z “Song Cry” – Keyshia Cole “You’ve Changed”  - Jay Z’s expression of reflection and regret on his 2002 hit “Song Cry” showed the emotional vulnerability of a hustler. Three years later, the then new princess of hip hop soul flipped Jay’s track for her own single “You’ve Changed.”  (Photos from left: Ron Smits/London Ent/Splash News, Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

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Jay Z “Song Cry” – Keyshia Cole “You’ve Changed” - Jay Z’s expression of reflection and regret on his 2002 hit “Song Cry” showed the emotional vulnerability of a hustler. Three years later, the then new princess of hip hop soul flipped Jay’s track for her own single “You’ve Changed.” (Photos from left: Ron Smits/London Ent/Splash News, Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

Notorious B.I.G  “One More Chance” (Remix) – Ashanti “Foolish”  - For her debut as the first lady of the Murder Inc. family, singer Ashanti wanted to rock the boulevard as well as the pop charts. To do that, she put a softer edge on B.I.G.’s “One More Chance” remix with her 2002 breakout R&B hit “Foolish.”   (Photos from left: Chris Walter/WireImage, PNP/WENN.com)

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Notorious B.I.G  “One More Chance” (Remix) – Ashanti “Foolish” - For her debut as the first lady of the Murder Inc. family, singer Ashanti wanted to rock the boulevard as well as the pop charts. To do that, she put a softer edge on B.I.G.’s “One More Chance” remix with her 2002 breakout R&B hit “Foolish.”  (Photos from left: Chris Walter/WireImage, PNP/WENN.com)

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Biz Markie “Just a Friend” – Mario “Just a Friend” - In 1989, hip hop music’s crown prince of comedy Biz Markie scored his hugest hit with “Just a Friend,” a humorous look at getting played by a girlfriend. Thirteen years later, a young R&B up-and-comer named Mario borrowed the chorus of Biz’s classic for his debut single of the same name.   (Photos from left: Michael Buckner/Getty Images, Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

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Biz Markie “Just a Friend” – Mario “Just a Friend” - In 1989, hip hop music’s crown prince of comedy Biz Markie scored his hugest hit with “Just a Friend,” a humorous look at getting played by a girlfriend. Thirteen years later, a young R&B up-and-comer named Mario borrowed the chorus of Biz’s classic for his debut single of the same name.  (Photos from left: Michael Buckner/Getty Images, Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

Slick Rick "Children’s Story" – Montell Jordan "This Is How We Do It” - When Slick Rick released his cautionary classic “Children’s Story” in 1988, he had no idea how far the song’s beat could tear a club down. That is until 1994, when Los Angeles-raised singer Montell Jordan released the explosive “This Is How We Do It” and officially made Los Angeles the new center of the hip hop and R&B party.  (Photos from left: Ethan Miller/BET/Getty Images for BET, Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

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Slick Rick "Children’s Story" – Montell Jordan "This Is How We Do It” - When Slick Rick released his cautionary classic “Children’s Story” in 1988, he had no idea how far the song’s beat could tear a club down. That is until 1994, when Los Angeles-raised singer Montell Jordan released the explosive “This Is How We Do It” and officially made Los Angeles the new center of the hip hop and R&B party. (Photos from left: Ethan Miller/BET/Getty Images for BET, Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Phaycyde "Passing Me By" – Joe and Mystikal "Stutter" Remix   - To get new life from his 2000 hit “Stutter,” R&B heartthrob Joe recruited rap superstar Mystikal for some lyrical swag and added a sped up version of Pharcyde’s 1993 breakthrough smash “Passing Me By.”  (Photos from left: Mick Hutson/Redferns, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Phaycyde "Passing Me By" – Joe and Mystikal "Stutter" Remix   - To get new life from his 2000 hit “Stutter,” R&B heartthrob Joe recruited rap superstar Mystikal for some lyrical swag and added a sped up version of Pharcyde’s 1993 breakthrough smash “Passing Me By.” (Photos from left: Mick Hutson/Redferns, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Slick Rick "Hey Young World" – Lloyd “Hey Young Girl”  - To craft a track about hollering at the young ladies, singer Lloyd found inspiration for his 2004 song “Hey Young Girl” from the chorus of rap veteran Slick Rick’s 1989 cautionary hit “Hey Young World.”  (Photos from left: Brad Barket/PictureGroup, C Flanigan/WireImage)

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Slick Rick "Hey Young World" – Lloyd “Hey Young Girl”  - To craft a track about hollering at the young ladies, singer Lloyd found inspiration for his 2004 song “Hey Young Girl” from the chorus of rap veteran Slick Rick’s 1989 cautionary hit “Hey Young World.” (Photos from left: Brad Barket/PictureGroup, C Flanigan/WireImage)

LL Cool J "Backseat (Of My Jeep)” – "Monica "Don’t Take It Personal (One of Dem Days)"  - In the hands of LL, the beat for his 1993 hit "Backseat (Of My Jeep)” was used to humorously discuss his inner-vehicle dalliances. But, two years later, when a very young Monica got hold of it for her debut hit, she used the rhythm to say, "Hey, I’m not in a great mood today…So, please, leave me alone."  (Photos from left: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For Chrysalis, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)

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LL Cool J "Backseat (Of My Jeep)” – "Monica "Don’t Take It Personal (One of Dem Days)"  - In the hands of LL, the beat for his 1993 hit "Backseat (Of My Jeep)” was used to humorously discuss his inner-vehicle dalliances. But, two years later, when a very young Monica got hold of it for her debut hit, she used the rhythm to say, "Hey, I’m not in a great mood today…So, please, leave me alone." (Photos from left: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For Chrysalis, Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images)