In my house, Alicia Keys has always managed to remain in heavy rotation. From my younger days when my sister and I would bicker about who is the biggest Keys fan, to the release of her 20th Anniversary album in 2021. Following that, in October, Keys took to Instagram to announce her upcoming two-version album KEYS, which would include the Originals and the Unlocked. The Originals showcase her classic sound—a homecoming, as she called it—and the Unlocked, a collection of remixed and sampled songs for a “whole other sonic experience” made by herself and Mike WiLL Made-It. As a sample finder fanatic—seriously, whosampled.com is forever open in my browser—I was enthralled by the second half of the KEYS album. In the spirit of celebrating her now released album and her career, I thought it would be appropriate to unpack five samples, championed by Alicia Keys.

“If I Ain’t Got You (Radio Mix)” by Kanye West Remixes “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys

I still listen to this radio mix like it was released yesterday. So, naturally, when I heard Alicia Keys was releasing half an album abundant with remixes and samples, this immediately came to the forefront of my mind and memory. The Diary of Alicia Keys had been released in late 2003, the production mainly handled by Keys herself, with contributions from Kanye West. At the time, “If I Ain’t Got You” spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, one of the longest stays of any songs released that year. I was looking for reasons to keep obsessing with the song without driving my family mental. And there it was on the special edition bonus album. The “If I Ain’t Got You” Kanye West Remix. I’m still grateful to this day.

“You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keys Samples “Let Me Prove My Love To You” by The Main Ingredient

As the resident sample aficionado, I’ve accumulated knowledge of music eras and genres that are beyond my time. In this, I’ve concluded two undeniable tidbits: Firstly, that the congenial quality of samples is that they defy and bend time. A real philosophical undertaking. The second being the art of sampling wouldn’t be where it is today without early RnB and Soul music. “You Don’t Know My Name” is a great example of that, sampling The Main Ingredient’s “Let Me Prove My Love To You”. The original song was created in Harlem in 1974 and then sampled in another NYC studio sometime in 2003 by Alicia Keys—an attribute that makes it inherently rich in music history specific to New York. And ultimately, really wholesome and cute. It’s moments like these that I recognize how music bonds communities and cultures and how important that really is.

“Comfortable” by Lil Wayne Samples “You Don’t Know My Name” by Alicia Keys

For continuity purposes, it’s only natural that I follow with a sample of “You Don’t Know My Name” by Lil Wayne on his—arguably—most prominent album Carter III, on a song called “Comfortable.” Reminiscent to how I felt when I heard the Kanye radio edit, my heart lifted out of my chest when I heard the sounds of Alicia Keys. I’ve been given another opportunity to enjoy this song that meant so much to me, all over again with a new flare. “Comfortable” is also an exemplary case study of layering, including additional samples of Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” and Outkast’s “Player’s Ball.” Nothing can trigger a nostalgia trip in me the way that a sample does *cries in reverb.*

“Empire State Of Mind” by Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys Samples “Love on a Two Way Street” by The Moments

It’s the song you can’t help but belt out at the top of your lungs. And despite it being released in 2009, you can guarantee if someone takes a trip to New York and posts about it on Instagram, their caption will reference it. But how well do we really know the workings of “Empire State Of Mind”? Let’s unpack! The piano component that runs throughout the song is actually a sample of the 1970 single “Love On a Two-Way Street” performed by The Moments and exudes R&B and Soul sound from the 60s. And if that wasn’t enough to enrich the song with music history specific to The Big Apple, well, how about a little Frank Sinatra? Yes, the song also samples the classic, iconic “Theme From New York, New York”—the cherry on top of the Empire State Building.

“Best Of Me (Unlocked)” by Alicia Keys Samples “Cherish The Day” by Sade

When I think of flawless blending of the smooth jazz and RnB genres, two queens come to mind: Sade and Alicia Keys. They both exude effortless perfection and ambition. This Unlocked song specifically stood out to me while listening to KEYS because her lyrics and melodic interpolation of “Cherish The Day” seem to gracefully embody the spirit of the album. I felt the impact and solidified in my mind that Alicia Keys is a skillfully detail-oriented artist who embarked on an ambitious project to expand boundaries of genre constraints.

All this to say, samples and remixes are important to our music culture and legacy, and Alicia Keys tapped into that, like the observational and attuned music authority she is. Artists have a chance to build upon the great works of other artists, and it is this spirit of collaboration that bonds the industry. In turn, listeners are given a chance to transport themselves to eras in music they remember fondly and feel deep appreciation for, or even from before their time. Nothing beats that music moment where you’re listening to a new album with your friends and you turn to them and say excitedly, “wait, do you hear that!?”