Roy Ayers, the legendary vibraphonist, is a man who needs no introduction. Renowned for his skills as a percussionist, master composer and a producer, his string of Soul and Funk classics are indelible to Hip Hop. His deep catalog of jazz-funk-fusion records are so stacked full of loops and melodious arrangements, that he may very well be the most important Jazz/R&B artist to bless the rap game.

In the 90′s, as the merger of Hip Hop and Jazz took hold, his music influenced everyone from Tribe Called Quest and Pete Rock & CL Smooth, to Nas and DMX. Ayers relationship with Hip Hop grew from sampled artist to participant, and in ’93, Ayers contributed greatly to Guru’s seminal Jazzmatazz album and toured throughout New York with Guru and Trumpeter Donald Byrd.

Today marked Ayers’ 72nd Birthday. And as those glorious days of the 90′s slip farther and father away, we figured we would pay homage to both the man and the music he’s inspired. We curated a list, one for every year, of classic Ayers’-sampled productions.

Trapped In The 90′s: Roy Ayers by upnorthtrips

Year: 1990
A Tribe Called Quest – ‘Description of a Fool’
Producer: Q-Tip
Sample: “Running Away”, Lifetime

Year: 1991
Ed O.G & The Bulldogs – ‘Be A Father To Your Child’
Producer: Joe Mansfield
Sample: “Searching”, Vibrations

Year: 1992
Showbiz & A.G. – ‘Hard To Kill’
Producer: Showbiz
Sample: “Ain’t Got Time”, He’s Coming

Year: 1993
Pharcyde – ‘Passin Me By’ (Fly As Pie Remix)
Producer: J. Swift
Sample: “The Third Eye”, Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Year: 1994
The Beatnuts – ‘Get Funky’
Producer: The Beatnuts
Sample: “Painted Desert”, Ubiquity

Year: 1995
Smif N Wessun – ‘Home Sweet Home’
Producer: BPzy (Beatminerz)
Sample: “We Live In Brooklyn Baby”, He’s Coming

Year: 1996
Redman – ‘Creepin”
Producer: Redman
Sample: “Shining Symbol”, Coffy OST

Year: 1997
Capone-N-Noreaga – ‘Capone Bone’
Producer: Marley Marl
Sample: “Step Into Our Life”, Step Into Our Life

Year: 1998
Puff Daddy ft. Mase & Carl Thomas – ‘Been Around The World’
Producer: Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie
Sample: “Feeling Good”, Feeling Good

Year: 1999
Nas – ‘Life Is What You Make It’
Producer: L.E.S
Sample: “Vittroni’s Theme – King Is Dead”, Coffy OST

Year: 2000
Prodigy ft. N.O.R.E – ‘What You Rep’
Producer: Hangmen3
Sample: “Vittroni’s Theme – King Is Dead”, Coffy OST