Is there any living artist who is more definitively Canadian than Celine Dion? Though she’s currently in Las Vegas completing a lengthy residency at Caesars Palace, the Quebec-born songstress remains one of the most popular Canadian recording artists of all time.
The same way Celine’s influence transcends geography, it also transcends genres. Thanks to WhoSampled, we tracked down five different rappers who have flipped Queen Celine’s songs and turned them into beats—let’s be honest—with varying degrees of success.
Here are five rap songs that sample Celine Dion.
1. Lil B, “3 Stacks” (Samples “My Heart Will Go On)
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The Based God has rapped over some strange things over the years, including the Robocop theme song, Andrea Bocelli, Kraftwerk, and Coldplay, so it should be no surprise that he’s touched a Celine Dion track. Actually, he’s touched at least two. Near, far, wherever you are, we must protect Lil B at all costs.
2. Chinx Drugz, “How Can I Lose?” (Samples “Us”)
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If there’s any producer who could flip a Celine Dion sample and turn it into absolute fire, it’s Harry Fraud. On “How Can I Lose?,” the Brooklyn beatmaker chops a vocal from one of Celine’s biggest power ballads, and weaves it seamlessly into a massive arrangement for the Coke Boys affiliate.
3. Ras Kass, “Gotten By On My Own” (Samples Celine Dion’s Cover of “Alone” by Heart)
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The chorus from “Alone” by Heart is a legendary chorus, so much so that it’s been sampled at least six different times. West coast legend Ras Kass decided to flip Celine Dion’s 2007 cover of “Alone” on his 2009 album The Quarterly.
4. Dods, “Try And Forget Me” (Samples “My Heart Will Go On”)
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What is it about the flute melody in “My Heart Will Go On” that seems to attract rappers and producers? This could be the G.O.A.T. flute-rap melody, unless you count “Big Pimpin’.” There’s a chance that’s just Timbaland tooting on a recorder or a piccolo, though.
5. Struka, “Platinasti Status” (Samples “D'amour Ou D'amitié”)
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Struka is Serbia’s answer to Eminem. The Belgrade-based rapper gives one of Celine’s earlier cuts the chipmunk soul treatment on this beastly track. Serbia doesn’t publish official music charts, but if this Balkan rapper’s passionate delivery is any indication, it’s pretty safe to assume that Celine Dion is extremely ‘round those parts.
6. Celine Dion Trying To Rap
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Aaand, this is just a video of Celine Dion trying to rap. Nothing more, nothing less.
