There is much to consider when examining a cover and its original. Completely changing the feel of a song, but maintaining the exact lyrics is a hard task to accomplish, and is always vulnerable to criticism and sometimes controversy. In some instances, many covers sound the exact same as the original, leading to a boring repeat of a song that was previously effective. On the flip side, an artist sampling a piece or section of an original song, in my opinion, is less risky. Using a line or two and remixing the sound behind that lyric allows for more unique creative expression from the new artist. With more room to alter and expand the selected part of the song, artists can create something truly unique. An example of an extremely effective, fun, and energetic sample is Drake’s “Nice for What,” where the dynamic pop/rap/r&b artist brilliantly samples Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” and turns its catchy hook into an even more catchy song.
Lauryn Hill’s hit song, “Ex-Factor,” is full of soul and feeling as she dives into her own love story and the internal struggles she faces in her relationship. The song is on the “slow-side” but still maintains a head-bobbing rhythm behind its meaningful lyrics. Its hook “I keep letting you back in, how can I explain myself?” doesn’t come for two and a half minutes into the song. However, it is definitely the most recognizable lyric in the song. Drake begins “Nice for What” with this line and hits the listener with a strong, up-tempo beat directly after the sample. The feeling of the song immediately makes you want to get up and move, dance, and become lost in the music. Although the theme of “Ex-Factor” deals with is not the happiest of sorts, Drake “[holds] onto the spirit and joy of the original” as the rhythm of the song is still energetic. However, Drake’s creative spin is “designed to get you moving and smiling” and “adds a new dimension” to the previously more lyrical driven song. After the hook, Lauryn Hill adds some more rhythm to the song, repeating lines with more emphasis and flow. Drake uses this repetition later in his sample, adding choppy fast beats to really get his listeners moving.
Drake beautifully uses “Ex-Factor” to create a song everybody can enjoy. While Hill focuses on the meaning of her lyrics and the message behind them, Drake turns her stunning voice into a song full of flow and tempo that really anyone can enjoy. As said and focused on in many of the analyses regarding covering and sampling, “there’s nothing wrong with putting your own spin on something,” and Drake does so with enthusiasm and positivity, bringing the best out of Lauryn Hill’s already beautiful song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9BwWKXjVa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V89ZjRwMlvM
