N.Y. State of Mind

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"[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] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [14] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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. Archived from the original on February 19, 2011. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
  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 . Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  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 29, 2024.
  14. ↑ "American single certifications – Nas – N.Y. State of Mind". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 12, 2019.
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