12 Remixes Better Than The Original Song

The value of a remix can not be overstated. It can rework a song to show another person’s vision of what could have been. The idea of a remix originated from reggae (specifically dancehall) in the 1960s, where Jamaican dj’s mixed the acapella of one song with the instrumental of another. When this idea first came on the scene in The States, you could only find remixes on a b-side of a hit single. But then, Bad Boy Records came along. Diddy, the mastermind of the label, decided to market remixes as A-sides, with new lyrics and even guest features accompanying the new beat. Then, the remix fully took off in the pop space, with several remixes eclipsing the popularity of the originals. Why am I telling you this, well, because we need an intro.

Here’s my take on a dozen remixes that are better than the original song. Also, there will be no freestyles, mashups, or reprises (sorry to Black Thought’s Hot 97 masterclass, Symba’s freestyle on LA Leakers, the “Rich Flex” mashup with the big 3, “The Choice is Yours (Revisited)” by Black Sheep, and “A.N.G.E.L. (Reprise)” by Dwele). And, I want to try and steer away from the obvious (see: “All I Need”, “Flava In Ya Ear”, “Only You”, “WORK”). Anyways, no time for dilly-dallying, let’s get to it.

#1 –  “The Right Time” by Tuxedo (Remixed by KAYTRANADA)

It’s crazy it took this long for me to talk about the genius of KAYTRANADA, but, better late than never. First off, I’d like to say that I really enjoy the original version of “The Right Time”. It is very Chic-inspired with the heavy emphasis on bass and a simple drum pattern. But, KAYTRA blows the original out of the water. The drums are so good, and I love whatever instrument plays during the chorus and post-chorus. I think the reason why I like it so much is because KAYTRA switches the song’s genre from Disco to House, and it’s crazy how he still keeps some disco elements (the bassline especially), without sacrificing the song’s identity. Don’t worry my fellow Haitians, this won’t be the only KAYTRANADA entry on here.

#2 – “Love No Limit” by Mary J. Blige (Remixed by Puff Daddy/Diddy)

The album version of “Love No Limit” is a fine song, but it felt more like “Every Breath You Take” type love if you get what I’m saying (the f**king Mad Lion version is more pleasing). But the remix version is superior in every way. The remix samples the iconic bassline from Keni Burke’s “Risin’ To The Top” and has Mary re-record her lines to sound way more uplifting than in the original, and make it actually sound like she loves you without a limit. I have absolutely no idea why Columbia didn’t use the eventual remix version on the album, but at least we have it on streaming services.

#3 – “THat Part” by ScHoolboy Q (additional verses added by Black Hippy)

Have you ever wondered what “THat Part” would sound like without Kanye’s god-awful verse? Well, you don’t have to. Because not only does Kanye get the boot, but, he gets replaced by the other members of ScHoolboy Q’s group: Black Hippy (Jay Rock, Ab-Soul & Kendrick Lamar). And, safe to say, it lives up to the expectations. Ab-Soul, while having the weakest verse, experiments with a cool cartoony flow. Jay Rock comes out swinging on his verse, and Kendrick decides to absorb the powers of Andre 3000 and have the craziest flow and rhyme scheme of his career. But somehow, the version where Kanye just screams the word ok 10+ times has more streams. 

#4 – “I Don’t Like” by Chief Keef (additional verses added by Ye, Pusha T, Big Sean, & Jadakiss)

After slandering Ye for the last section, I thought it was only fair to include a fire remix of his on this list. The remix for “I Don’t Like” is still one of the most beloved songs in Chicago Drill history. Do you understand how crazy it is to get a co-sign from rap veterans like Jadakiss and Pusha T. Not only that, but they are rapping over a beat from a whole new sub-genre that was developed a couple months before. People need to remember this as one of the moments that put drill above the underground streets in Chicago and into the mainstream. Props to Kanye for even having this idea in his crazy a** mind. Verse ranking goes: Push, Jada, Keef, Kanye, and then Big Sean.

#5 – “Right Here” by SWV (Remixed by Teddy Riley)

Think about this: when was the last time you heard the original version of “Right Here”? Either it be on the radio or you going out of your way to listen to it. If you had to think about it, then it was probably a long time, which tracks, as I think the “Human Nature” mix is the culturally accepted version. I mean, it was produced by Teddy Riley (the producer for Bobby Brown that made “My Prerogative” “Remember the Time” and “Every Little Step”), sampled Michael Jackson, and went to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It also just sounds way better, in my humble opinion. But, it gets super-charged when you hear the demolition 12” mix, which includes the vocals from the original MJ song.

#6 – “I Got ‘Cha Opin” by Black Moon (Remixed by Da Beatminerz)

If there is one thing that can make a hip-hop song better, it is a soul sample. And this remix features not just any sample, but a snippet from a classic from the legendary Barry White. The track used for “I Got ‘Cha Opin” is “Playing Your Game, Baby”, which incorporates a terrific sax line and some strings. But, my favorite part about the song is Buckshot’s performance. His smooth voice works so well on this beat, and it’s a shame that most of Black Moon’s material is so rough, because Buckshot has some of the best verses of his career on this more mellow track. 

#7 – “Light It Up” By Major Lazer

I seriously don’t understand why this wasn’t the original version. The remix screams Major Lazer, with the horns and the beat drop for a chorus. And, the original is a mix between EDM and afro beats, and it’s an experiment that did not work, as the song didn’t even chart. Meanwhile, the remix was a huge hit, with its peak position being #73 and having stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 20 weeks.

#8 – “Alright” By Janet Jackson (Remixed by KAYTRANADA)

I think we can all agree that the original version of Janet Jackson’s “Alright” is not just a New Jack Swing classic, but an ‘80s classic (It played at the Old Navy in NYC one time and I started vibing tremendously). It’s very reminiscent of Toni! Tony! Tone! and Bobby Brown with production by the legendary Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. But, I like the KAYTRA remix better. The intro sounds like the theme to an old ‘70s game show, which adds to the nostalgia factor, and the drums, like any KAYTRA track, are superb. But, I can’t really put a finger on why it is so spectacular. Maybe it’s the fact that it is versatile in a way that you can throw it on in either a party or a chill setting and both parties will like it or the fact that the beat is really bouncy. I don’t know and I don’t really care, because it is great music nonetheless. (Fun fact: KAYTRANADA also produced “Alright” by Victoria Monet, which has a music video that pays homage to Janet.)

#9 – “Rigamortus” by Kendrick Lamar (Additional verse by Busta Rhymes)

If you can pinpoint the exact song where the hip-hop community figured out that Kendrick Lamar would be one of the game’s greatest MC’s, it would be “Rigamortis”. The track includes a sample from Willie Jones III’s “The Thorn” at 13 seconds, and it is flipped beautifully by Willie B. The song’s climax is at the end, where Kendrick goes full “Rap God” and spits so fast that the beat can barely keep up with him. This caught the attention of Busta Rhymes, who recently spit a fire 16 for Chris Brown’s “Look at Me Now”. Busta, as expected, also goes super saiyan, as the track has to literally stop for him to finish his verse. Sadly, the song isn’t on streaming services, but you can listen to it here, as well as the extended version with Conway the Machine. 

#10 – “Special Delivery” by G. Dep (Additional verses by Ghostface Killah, Keith Murray, & Craig Mack)

If I said it before, I’ll say it again: no one does remixes like Bad Boy Records. They can get the best rappers at one specific aspect, put them together, and make an absolute banger out of it. Ghostface has the best feature verse of his career, as he verbally strangeles the beat with one of his best flows (up there with “One”). Keith Murray does normal Keith Murray things on his feature. And Craig Mack has one of the funniest opening lines I’ve heard (“Ayo, you must wanna be in the Guinness Book of World Records as the dumbest motherf***er alive”). The music video is also a reference to “Flava In Ya Ear”, and how Diddy and his son have grown up since ‘94. This is a must have on your hardcore hip-hop playlist, and it is also a beautiful treadmill song, as well as Lil Wayne’s “Uproar”, which samples “Special Delivery”.

#11 – “We Run e Grung” by NADG (Remixed on top of Busta Rhymes’s “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See”

In most of these segments, I try to compare the remix with the original. But, the problem with this track is that the original is unreleased. So I just have to talk about the remix, and how great it is. One, the beat is from the Busta Rhymes classic “Put Your Hands where My Eyes Could See” which has already been used in a dancehall track (the remix to “Goggle” by Tanya Stephens), and had a revival due to the remix of Coi Leray’s “Players” and Ski Mask The Slump God’s LA Leakers Freestyle. And two, even though I have barely any idea on what NADG is saying, I think his voice goes well with the beat, and the hook is very catchy.

#12 – “Let’s Get Married” by Jagged Edge (Remixed by Jermaine Dupri)

In the 2000s, after Bad Boy, there was a new king in the remix game. And the crown belonged to So-So Def Records, owned by Jermaine Dupri. They were the heads behind remixing “Welcome to Atlanta”, making a part two for Usher’s “Confessions”, and more. But, their best remix was Jagged Edge’s “Let’s Get Married”. The original isn’t bad by any means. It’s a ballad with soft piano keys and no snare. But the remix switches up the vibe tremendously, as it lifts the instrumental from Run-DMC’s classic song “It’s Like That”. Not only that, but Run himself makes an appearance, rapping about his lover and how he wants to marry her so badly. Overall a great remix, and one of the best of the 2000s decade.

So, how were my picks? Did I miss any great ones? Leave a comment below for any criticisms. And, if this gets a good reception, I might do the inverse (remixes that ruin the original song).