Various Artists – Gold Digging: As Sampled By Jay-Z (Harmless) Released 07/08/06

Following hot on the heels of the hugely successful 'Gold Digging: As Sampled By Kanye West' comes a double disc compilation dedicated to the records used to create some of the hottest Jay-Z hits.

Joints like Al Green’s 'Free At Last' (used for 'Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)') and Jackie Moore’s 'If' (sampled on 'The Ruler’s Back') go together like beans and toast. All tracks featured on the compilation have a soul/Motown feel to them (apart from Hossam Ramzy’s 'Khusara Khusara' which Timbaland used to create 'Big Pimpin’') which is why it’s so easy to jump from song to song with ease, rather than bulldozing through various different styles and types of music just to put together Jay-Z’s greatest sampled hits.

Album key points include Rick James & The Stone City Band’s 'Give It To Me Baby'as well as the David Ruffin hit 'Common Man'. Fans of Jay-Z and indeed his 'Blueprint' album have to own this album even if it’s just to put a face to a sample. There are a few tracks included that are designed to get you going when it comes to guessing the record like the Jackson 5 hit 'I Want You Back', which in all honesty sounds nothing like the cut from which the sample was used, 'H.O.V.A.'. Jay-Z is one of the world’s biggest rap stars and every superstar has a formula that works for them, and in Jigga’s case it’s the sample game. This album is a must for all sample fans.