SAMPLED examines the skeletal production of a contemporary rap, R&B, hip-hop or pop song — Where did the loop, sample, or chopped up vocal providing the backbone originate? SAMPLED gives you the history, the context, and the insight.

This week, we’re breaking down the sample used in Cam’Ron’s “Golden Friends,” the debut single from his long-awaited comeback record Killa Season 2:

You might recognize Andrew Gold’s chart-topper “Lonely Boy,” based on soundtrack appearances in Boogie Nights, and The Water Boy, but chances are, you’re familiar with his work via one particular television theme song. Gold penned “Thank You For Being A Friend” in 1978, and while it was relatively successful on the charts, its potential was fully realized in 1985 when Cindy Fee re-recorded the vocals for a version that would act as the theme song to a wildly popular sitcom called The Golden Girls. It might not contain Gold’s original vocals, but his song will forever be associated with the antics of Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and the always-fiery Sophia.

“Thank You For Being A Friend” was recently sampled by up-and-coming Toronto-based producer KinSmuv on the beat for Cam’Ron’s appropriately-titled “Golden Friends”:

If anyone can make the Golden Girls sound tough, it’s Killa Cam. It’s just too bad that nothing rhymes with Zbornak.

Toronto-based rapper/producer KinSmuv goes in on the instrumental for “Golden Friends,” increasing the pitch considerably and letting the original intro play out before introducing some heavy-hitting drum samples, and orchestral string stabs over a chopped up Andrew Gold vocal sample. The verses are underscored with the piano progression from the first two bars of “Thank You For Being A Friend,” giving Cam plenty of space for verses giving thanks to cocaine, God, his friends, and family.

But does it go hard enough to secure his comeback? Wait a second — “comeback” sorta rhymes with “Zbornak”! What a missed opportunity, Cam’Ron. SMH.