VMP Magazine

Nina Simone remains one of the most respected and celebrated artists in American history, but she may go down as one of the most sampled as well. Her musings on life, love, liberty, and the Black body have been repurposed and reenvisioned for decades now; such a long line of artists attempting to keep her legacy alive by building upon her blueprint for music that can love you with a clenched fist.

Kanye West is a walking embodiment of the idea, comparing his own music to the morning coffee as a way to kickstart one’s confidence to push through their existence. But the political implications have always been present throughout his catalog too. Perhaps it’s fate that he’s sampled Nina five times in his career, each moment more purposeful and distinct than the last. How does he call upon her, and why? Do his methods change? How is he dialoguing today with yesteryear in an inventive fashion?

In celebration of this month’s VMP release, I dug into those five Kanye records with Nina Simone samples in search of a thread of commonality in their activism for the people and their connection to the spirit as well. There’s times to fight, to retreat, to demand more from oneself as much as the world. I found all of the above to be true, and much more when reflecting on the growth of his oeuvre by the way Ye calls on Nina to frame the power of his words. You’ll find him at his most enraged, dejected, hopeful, and untouchable with Ms. Simone guiding his hand.