Last night I catched on TV a clip from Janet Jackson's last album "Damita Jo". Don't know the name of the song, but it begins with the so-remembered funk riff of "Hang up your hang ups", a song Herbie Hancock recorded in 1976. Then, when I was fearing the worst (the sample is long and not altered), the song hides it and segues with some trancey keyboards and Janet's usual whispering. Then the sample returns for the chorus.
I won't say it's a great song, but it seems to get off with the challenge of sampling a song so popular in its time. Even as I would like they've chosen something more obscure to rip off.
I remember another song where Janet's producers sampled Joni Mitchell (my all-time fave white singer) with a rap over it, somehow the sample sounded a bit innecessary and there was no other melody. This new one certainly improved. And I say this knowing "Damita Jo" was thrashed by the critics. :)