04/25/2025
Most heads know The 5th Dimension for their sunshine soul and layered harmonies, but what if I told you some of your favorite deep cut hip-hop joints sampled them? No chart-toppers here. This is for the real diggers and loop scientists.
Here are 6 rare or overlooked hip-hop tracks that pulled grooves, moods, and melodies from the 5th Dimension’s iconic catalog:
🔊 Kenn Starr feat. Melanie Rutherford – “The Definition”
💿 Sampled: “California Soul”
🔊 Phife Dawg feat. Slick & Rose – “Love According to Dexter”
💿 Sampled: “Stoned Soul Picnic”
🔊 Beastie Boys feat. Q-Tip – “Get It Together”
💿 Sampled: The Moog Machine’s version of “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In”
Not a direct 5th Dimension sample, but this Moog cover of their hit track was twisted into a lo-fi banger.
🔊 Dr. Octagon – “Blue Flowers Revisited”
💿 Sampled: “Up, Up and Away”
🧬 Kool Keith at his weirdest and most brilliant. Dan the Automator flips the sunshine-soaked optimism into a dystopian dream.
🔊 Kurious – “Nikole”
💿 Sampled: “Stoned Soul Picnic”
🔊 Spectac – “Mama Say (9th Wonder Remix)”
💿 Sampled: “Up, Up and Away”
The remix never blew up like it should’ve.
Soul runs deep and hip-hop's been sipping from that well for decades.
🎧 Which one’s your favorite flip? Drop a comment if you’ve got another deep sample to add.
