Reggae singer Sister Nancy’s 1982 track Bam Bam is said to be the most sampled reggae song of all time. 

It has been sampled over 80 times across genres, though she has begun collecting royalties more than 30 years later.

Back in 2016, Kanye sampled “Bam Bam” for his Life of Pablo single “Famous.” 

JAY-Z also used the hit in his 4:44 track “Bam” featuring Damian Marley. 

Lauryn Hill – “Lost Ones” and many others. 

But how did Sister Nancy create the iconic Bam Bam? – according to several reports and interviews, the chorus was inspired by the 1966 song of the same name, by The Maytals and Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.

While the instrumental samples the 1974 song “Stalag 17”, by Jamaican musician and producer Ansell Collins, well known for working with Lloyd Parks, Sly Dunbar, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and many others. 

Also, Sister Nancy has said in several interviews that the song was inspired when she heard her friend and collaborator Yellowman recording his version of “Bam Bam”.

She also told several media houses that she did not write it, she went into the studio and just let things go with the flow and made the most recognizable version of “Bam Bam” that was ever created. 

In 2016, Sister Nancy told Billboard that when asked about having her song sampled so many times, said: “I don’t know if I hear all of them. They sample it so many times but none of them is my favorite. The reason why I say that, is they know how to contact me. They know I live in the U.S. and nobody tries to contact me to do it in person. They always sample the tune. If they had contacted me, I would do it for them live, then I would have a favorite.”

“Bam Bam” was used in the soundtrack for the “Belly” movie in 1998. A crime drama-packed film with the most-known rappers of that time, like Nas, DMX, and Method Man. 

Since then, the BBC has labeled Sister Nancy’s song a “well-known reggae anthem.”