B.B. King's Influence on Hip Hop

The legendary Bluesman's mark on the rap game.

All Hail the King - Legendary bluesman B.B. King went on to glory yesterday, but his music will live on forever. Some of his funky guitar rhythms have been the backdrop to numerous hip hop staples and his vibes were felt throughout the rap game. Read on now and check out a few MCs who sampled The King and got a chance to jam with him and lady Lucille. —Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photos from left: Brad Barket/Getty Images for Electus Digital, Jeff Sedlik/Corbis, Chris Weeks/Getty Images for Reebok)

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All Hail the King - Legendary bluesman B.B. King went on to glory yesterday, but his music will live on forever. Some of his funky guitar rhythms have been the backdrop to numerous hip hop staples and his vibes were felt throughout the rap game. Read on now and check out a few MCs who sampled The King and got a chance to jam with him and lady Lucille. —Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photos from left: Brad Barket/Getty Images for Electus Digital, Jeff Sedlik/Corbis, Chris Weeks/Getty Images for Reebok)

Ice Cube - Ice Cube's took B.B. King's "Chains and Things" and weighed the pros and cons of America with his 1991 jam "Bird in the Hand," off the classic album Death Certificate, and the funky guitar riffs had you thinking and grooving at the same damn time. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for CinemaCon)

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Ice Cube - Ice Cube's took B.B. King's "Chains and Things" and weighed the pros and cons of America with his 1991 jam "Bird in the Hand," off the classic album Death Certificate, and the funky guitar riffs had you thinking and grooving at the same damn time. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for CinemaCon)

Kendrick Lamar and MC Eiht - Paying tribute to Ice Cube as the torch was passed, Kendrick also flexed over "Chains and Things" with "m.A.A.d City" as it paid homage to Cube's "Bird in the Hand."(Photo: Chris Weeks/Getty Images for Reebok)

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Kendrick Lamar and MC Eiht - Paying tribute to Ice Cube as the torch was passed, Kendrick also flexed over "Chains and Things" with "m.A.A.d City" as it paid homage to Cube's "Bird in the Hand."(Photo: Chris Weeks/Getty Images for Reebok)

Big Daddy Kane - The Brooklyn don spit his Asiatic rhymes from "Who Am I" over B.B.'s "Ain't Nobody Home" in 1990 and made the world feel the wrath of Kane.(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch)

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Big Daddy Kane - The Brooklyn don spit his Asiatic rhymes from "Who Am I" over B.B.'s "Ain't Nobody Home" in 1990 and made the world feel the wrath of Kane.(Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch)

Ghostface Killah - Ghostface dug in the crates and pulled out "Hold On (I Think Our Love Is Changing)" by The Crusaders and B.B. King when he delivered his own ode to a lost love on 2006's "Hold On," from his album More Fish.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images) 

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Ghostface Killah - Ghostface dug in the crates and pulled out "Hold On (I Think Our Love Is Changing)" by The Crusaders and B.B. King when he delivered his own ode to a lost love on 2006's "Hold On," from his album More Fish.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images) 

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Kool G Rap and DJ Polo - Kool G Rap delivered his "Jive Talk" on 1990's Wanted Dead  or Alive while DJ Polo cut up The King's "You're Losin' Me."(Photo: PNP/WENN)

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Kool G Rap and DJ Polo - Kool G Rap delivered his "Jive Talk" on 1990's Wanted Dead  or Alive while DJ Polo cut up The King's "You're Losin' Me."(Photo: PNP/WENN)

50 Cent and Tony Yayo - 50 Cent and Tony Yayo let those clips loose in 2008 on "The Mechanic" and B.B. King's "Chains and Things" was the perfect canvas for the lyrical warfare.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

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50 Cent and Tony Yayo - 50 Cent and Tony Yayo let those clips loose in 2008 on "The Mechanic" and B.B. King's "Chains and Things" was the perfect canvas for the lyrical warfare.(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

RZA - B.B.'s ill riffs from "Chains and Things'" were cherry picked by many hip hop producers, and Bobby Digital proved he "Can't Lose" when he kicked knowledge with the melody.(Photo: Rommel Demano/Getty Images)

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RZA - B.B.'s ill riffs from "Chains and Things'" were cherry picked by many hip hop producers, and Bobby Digital proved he "Can't Lose" when he kicked knowledge with the melody.(Photo: Rommel Demano/Getty Images)

Masta Ace - B.B. King's funky rhythms from "The Thrill Is Gone" were the backdrop for Masta Ace Incorporated's "Style Wars" in 1993 as the Brooklyn crew caused wreck.(Photo: Gonzales Photo/Lasse Kofod/The Hell Gate/Corbis)

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Masta Ace - B.B. King's funky rhythms from "The Thrill Is Gone" were the backdrop for Masta Ace Incorporated's "Style Wars" in 1993 as the Brooklyn crew caused wreck.(Photo: Gonzales Photo/Lasse Kofod/The Hell Gate/Corbis)

UGK and Devin the Dude - UGK slowed down the King's "Chains and Things" as their Texas homeboy Devin the Dude joined them on "Ain't That a B***h (Ask Yourself)," where they broke down their problems with the IRS and scandalous women. (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

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UGK and Devin the Dude - UGK slowed down the King's "Chains and Things" as their Texas homeboy Devin the Dude joined them on "Ain't That a B***h (Ask Yourself)," where they broke down their problems with the IRS and scandalous women. (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

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Sir Mix-A-Lot - Sir Mix-A-Lot had the dance floor moving in 1988 with his funky bass and guitar driven "Dance Floor Rap." The Seattle MC chopped up B.B.'s "Rock Me Baby," which helped his debut Swass nab him and his posse their first platinum plaque.(Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Fast Company)

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Sir Mix-A-Lot - Sir Mix-A-Lot had the dance floor moving in 1988 with his funky bass and guitar driven "Dance Floor Rap." The Seattle MC chopped up B.B.'s "Rock Me Baby," which helped his debut Swass nab him and his posse their first platinum plaque.(Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Fast Company)

Big K.R.I.T. - Big K.R.I.T. has paid homage to his O.G. statesman on several occasions in his rhymes, and on Curren$y's "Skybourne," he rhymed, "Mississippi country bumpkin with nothing to lose / I be be a king, let me sing you the blues."K.R.I.T. took it even further when he had the legendary bluesman play some licks and sing the hook on "Praying Man," from his 2012 album Live From the Underground.   (Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for Electus Digital)

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Big K.R.I.T. - Big K.R.I.T. has paid homage to his O.G. statesman on several occasions in his rhymes, and on Curren$y's "Skybourne," he rhymed, "Mississippi country bumpkin with nothing to lose / I be be a king, let me sing you the blues."K.R.I.T. took it even further when he had the legendary bluesman play some licks and sing the hook on "Praying Man," from his 2012 album Live From the Underground.   (Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for Electus Digital)