N.Y. State of Mind

Last updated

"[Illmatic] was to be an album steeped in the rich traditions of hip-hop history, mixed with the most advanced verbal styles and fat beats that could be put on wax. And if it couldn't be set off any more right already, the DJ Premier produced "N.Y. State of Mind" was designed to knock you right off your feet. Primo's knack for finding the illest piano loops and matching them to pounding beats was perfected in this track, and paired with a Rakim sample on the chorus that provided the mental link for an analogy most rap heads had already made by now: Nas was the NEW Rakim on the block. [9]

The song is included on the soundtrack of video games True Crime: New York City and Saints Row 2 , [10] [11] and was featured in Season 4 Episode 8 of the Netflix show Ozark, which borrowed its title "Cousin of Death" from a lyric in the song. [12]

Certifications

"N.Y. State of Mind"
Nas - N.Y. State of Mind.png
Side A of the Nas x Wu-Tang Clan: N.Y. State of Mind / Protect Ya Neck - Picture Disc Vinyl 7" Single
Song by Nas
from the album Illmatic
ReleasedApril 19, 1994
Recorded1992
Genre
Length4:54
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) DJ Premier
Audio videos
Nas – "N.Y. State of Mind" on YouTube
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [13] Silver200,000
United States (RIAA) [14] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nas</span> American rapper (born 1973)

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, known professionally as Nas, is an American rapper and entrepreneur. Rooted in East Coast hip hop, he is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas began his musical career in 1989 under the moniker "Nasty Nas", and recorded demos under the wing of fellow East Coast rapper Large Professor. Nas first guest appeared on his group, Main Source's 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric B. & Rakim</span> American hip hop duo

Eric B. & Rakim were an American hip hop duo formed on Long Island, New York, in 1986, composed of DJ Eric B. and rapper Rakim. They first received acclaim for their 1987 debut album Paid in Full, which featured versions of the popular singles "Eric B. Is President" and the title track. They followed with three successful albums: Follow the Leader (1988), Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (1990), and Don't Sweat the Technique (1992).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kool G Rap</span> American rapper from New York

Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American rapper. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, and a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content and multisyllabic rhyming. On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the "G" in his name stands for "Giancana", but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for "Genius".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Premier</span> American record producer and DJ (born 1966)

Christopher Edward Martin, known professionally as DJ Premier, is an American record producer and DJ. He has been frequently lauded as one of hip hop's greatest producers by publications such as Vibe. He formed the hip hop duo Gang Starr alongside American rapper Guru, with whom he has released seven albums. He formed another hip hop duo, PRhyme–with American rapper Royce da 5'9"—in 2014, with whom he has released two albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rakim</span> American rapper (born 1968)

William Michael Griffin Jr., better known by his stage name Rakim, is an American rapper. He is one half of golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, with whom he released four albums: Paid in Full (1987), Follow the Leader (1988), Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (1990), and Don't Sweat the Technique (1992). He also released four solo albums: The 18th Letter (1997), The Master (1999), The Seventh Seal (2009), and G.O.D.'s Network: Reb7rth (2024).

<i>Gods Son</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Nas

God's Son is the sixth studio album by American rapper Nas. It was released on December 13, 2002, by Ill Will and Columbia Records. Production took place during 2001 to 2002, and was handled by several producers, including Salaam Remi, Chucky Thompson, Ron Browz, Eminem, and The Alchemist. The album also includes guest appearances from artists such as Alicia Keys, Kelis, and a posthumous feature from 2Pac. Musically, God's Son blends hardcore hip hop with elements of soul and jazz. Partly inspired by the death of his mother in early 2002, God's Son covers lyrical themes such as religion, violence, grief, redemption and his own emotional experiences. It has been recognized by critics as some of Nas' most personal work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large Professor</span> American rapper and producer

William Paul Mitchell, better known by the stage name of Large Professor, is an American rapper and music producer. Based in New York City, he is known as a founding member of the underground hip hop group Main Source and as a mentor and frequent collaborator of Nas. About.com ranked Large Professor at No. 13 on its Top 25 Hip-Hop Producers list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Love (Nas song)</span> 1994 single by Nas

"One Love" is a song by American rapper Nas, released October 25, 1994 on Columbia Records. It was issued as the fifth and final radio single in promotion of his debut studio album Illmatic (1994). The song was produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, who also contributed vocals for the chorus line. According to Nas, the title of the song originates from Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician Bob Marley's song of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nas Is Like</span> 1999 single by Nas

"Nas Is Like" is the first single from Nas' third album I Am.... The song is the sixth collaboration between Nas and producer DJ Premier. It was well received by critics as it was a change from the more commercial and pop-oriented singles from It Was Written and Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature Present The Firm: The Album. The song contains a combination of braggadocios and introspective lyrics over a choppy string sample.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Mic</span> 2002 single by Nas

"One Mic" is a song by American rapper Nas, released April 16, 2002 on Columbia Records and distributed through Ill Will Records in the United States. It was issued as the third single from his fifth studio album, Stillmatic (2001). The single peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Nas's third top-fifty hit on the chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halftime (song)</span> 1992 single by Nas

"Halftime" is a song by American rapper Nasty Nas, who would change his name to Nas after the release of the song. The song was released as his debut single, the sole single from the Zebrahead soundtrack album and the lead single from his debut album Illmatic, on October 13, 1992. "Halftime" was produced by Large Professor and features samples of drums and vocals from "Schoolboy Crush" by Average White Band, horns from "Soul Traveling" by Gary Byrd, and the bassline from "Dead End" from the Japanese cast recording of the musical Hair. The song was the first song created for Illmatic, and was released circa one and a half years earlier than the album.

<i>Wanted: Dead or Alive</i> (Kool G Rap & DJ Polo album) 1990 studio album by Kool G Rap & DJ Polo

Wanted: Dead or Alive is the second album by the hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo. The album was released a year after the duo's debut, Road to the Riches, and received greater acclaim from most music critics. The singles "Streets of New York" and "Erase Racism" received notable airplay on Yo! MTV Raps and the former is credited by Nas as being influential on his song "N.Y. State of Mind" from his critically acclaimed album Illmatic.

<i>Illmatic</i> 1994 studio album by Nas

Illmatic is the debut studio album by the American rapper Nas. It was released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records. After signing with the label with the help of MC Serch, Nas recorded the album in 1992 and 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. The album's production was handled by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself. Styled as a hardcore hip hop album, Illmatic features multi-syllabic internal rhymes and inner-city narratives based on Nas' experiences growing up in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, New York.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Nas album) 2007 greatest hits album by Nas

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by rapper Nas released through Columbia Records on November 6, 2007. It features twelve of Nas' singles from his Columbia releases from Illmatic to Street's Disciple and two new tracks. Nas' 2006 studio album Hip Hop Is Dead was overlooked because it was released by Def Jam and not Columbia. Nastradamus and The Lost Tapes were also left out. The collaboration made with Cee-Lo for the Rush Hour 3 soundtrack is also included on the album. Greatest Hits debuted at No. 124 on the Billboard 200, selling about 6,800 copies, and No. 20 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. As of August 2008 the compilation has sold over 20,000 copies in the US.

"One Time 4 Your Mind" is the eighth song on Nas' debut album Illmatic. It is produced by Large Professor who provides the song with a mellow beat and a deep bassline. Nas raps two verses on the song and contributes to the call and response chorus with Grand Wizard. The song's lyrics deal with what Nas does in his leisure. Nas sampled a lyric from "One Time 4 Your Mind" on his song "Fetus". Termanology references a lyric from this song on "Stop, Look, Listen" by Statik Selektah. Steve Juon of RapReviews.com describes it as a "somber and slow-rolling banger." Marc Hill of PopMatters boasts the song's lyrics saying: "the laid back 'One Time 4 Your Mind' demonstrated a level of technical precision and rhetorical dexterity that [is] now requisite for inclusion among hip-hop's elite."

"Represent" is the ninth song on Nas' debut album Illmatic. It is produced by DJ Premier who samples Lee Irwin's "Thief of Baghdad" for the song's beat.

"Surviving the Times" is a 2007 hip hop song by Nas from his Greatest Hits album. The song's lyrics focus on Nas career before and just after Illmatic. The song makes reference to Nas' signing with Columbia Records, being turned down by Russell Simmons for Def Jam and him meeting Large Professor and Kool G Rap for the first time. The song also samples Nipsey Russell's song "What Would I Do If I Could Feel" from the musical The Wiz in the intro and chorus. A different version of this song appeared on Nas and DJ Green Lantern's Nigger Tape. It contains the same lyrics but is produced by Cool & Dre.

<i>It Was Written</i> 1996 studio album by Nas

It Was Written is the second studio album by American rapper Nas, released on July 2, 1996, by Columbia Records. After the modest commercial success of his debut album Illmatic (1994), Nas pursued a more polished, mainstream sound for It Was Written. Produced largely by Trackmasters, it departed from the debut's raw, underground aesthetic and embraced mafioso and gangsta themes.

<i>I Am...</i> (Nas album) 1999 studio album by Nas

I Am... is the third studio album by American rapper Nas, released on April 6, 1999, by Columbia Records. Following the commercial and critical success of 1996's It Was Written, Nas put to work on a double album that merged the styles of his first two albums and detailed entire aspects of his life. Although he was able to use most songs, other songs that would have made I Am… a double album leaked onto the internet in MP3 format, forcing him to record new material for two separate single-disc releases. The album features guest appearances from Puff Daddy, Scarface, DMX, and Aaliyah.

Impact and legacy of <i>Illmatic</i> Legacy of the 1994 album

Illmatic, the 1994 debut album by Nas, made a significant impact on the hip hop genre. The album has been credited as one of the pivotal works that returned East Coast hip hop, particularly Queensbridge's hip hop scene, to prominence in a time when public attention was focused on West Coast releases. Nas' lyricism and storytelling on Illmatic has been regarded as setting a new standard for lyrical sophistication in major hip hop releases. The production of Illmatic has also been viewed as influential in cementing the characteristic sound of New York hip hop.

References

  1. UltraGraphik.com Sampleur: "NY State of Mind" Search [ permanent dead link ]
  2. Scratchfaq.com: "N.Y. State of Mind" Search [ permanent dead link ]
  3. Cho, Jaeki. "DJ Premier Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records". complex.com. Complex. Retrieved 2018-11-03.[ dead link ]
  4. Top 100 Rap Songs.
  5. "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. June 2, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  6. "ROCK THE BELLS RADIO NAMES "SHOOK ONES PT. II" GREATEST HIP-HOP BEAT". Rock The Bells. January 2, 2024.
  7. Hill, Marc. "Illmatic (Anniversary Edition) Review". PopMatters . Retrieved January 18, 2008.[ dead link ]
  8. "Contents | The Norton Anthology of African American Literature | W. W. Norton & Company". books.wwnorton.com.
  9. Juon, Steve. "Nas' Illmatic at RapReviews.com" . Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  10. "Saints Row 2 Soundtrack Songlist revealed". videogamesblogger.com. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  11. "True Crime: New York City Soundtrack Revealed". IGN . IGN . Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  12. "The 'Ozark' Season Premiere Is Completely Soundtracked By 'Illmatic'". GQ. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  13. "British single certifications – Nas – N.Y. State of Mind". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  14. "American single certifications – Nas – N.Y. State of Mind". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 12, 2019.