One Mic

Last updated
"One Mic"
One mic.jpg
Single by Nas
from the album Stillmatic
ReleasedApril 16, 2002
Recorded2001
Genre Hip hop
Length4:28
Label Ill Will, Columbia
Songwriter(s) Nasir Jones, Chucky Thompson
Producer(s) Nasir Jones, Chucky Thompson
Nas singles chronology
"I'm Gonna Be Alright"
(2002)		"One Mic"
(2002)		"Made You Look"
(2002)

"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.

Contents

Music and production

Production for "One Mic" was handled by Nas and hip hop producer Chucky Thompson. [1] Talking about the inspiration for the song, Nas stated: "I'm a huge fan of Phil Collins and I just wanted to take the vibe from 'In the Air Tonight'." [2] Steve Juon of RapReviews wrote that the song features a production technique previously implemented by such hip hop artists as Outkast and the Roots, which he described as "a quiet groove that steadily increases in energy and intensity until an increasingly amped Nas lets his lyrical rage boil over like a Final Fantasy fighter smacked ONCE too often." [1] According to Nick Butler, the song's structure "slowly build[s] up from a simple 'In the Air Tonight' sample toward the full production ... like hearing two mini hip-hop versions of 'Stairway to Heaven', before Nas flips the script for the third verse and does the same thing in reverse." [3]

According to Juon, the final verse has a reversal of this formula, in which Nas "goes from amped up to soft-spoken, drawing you even closer into his rap." [1] "One Mic" begins with a slow, deliberate flow and beat. [4] Music critic Brett Berliner wrote "'One Mic' starts out with a slow beat reminiscent of a crappy R&B song. Throughout the song, Nas' lazy flow turns into an angry rant over a fast paced beat, and finally a siren." [5]

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics of "One Mic" discuss Nas's desire for a simple life ("Only if I had one gun, one girl, and one crib/One God to show me how to do things his son did") and obstacles that prevent it ("[if] One ni**ga front, my face on the front page"), [4] and a lifestyle in which Nas proclaims "All I need is one mic - fuck the cars, the jewelry". [1] It has been noted by music writers for its political consciousness and dystopian themes. [6] [7] Keith Harris of City Pages described the lyrical structure of "One Mic" as "urban claustrophobia distilled and digitized, with Nas's reportorial eye zooming in on a detail, then pulling back to a panoramic overview." [8] Music critic Cynthia Fuchs described the song's lyrical scheme as "building slowly to a crescendo of declaration and rage, then coming back, to seek a way to make a difference, with that precious one mic." [9]

In an interview for Rolling Stone , Nas discussed the theme of the song, stating "'One Mic' is just about the power. It's almost like Hip Hop is Dead in its infant stages, saying how much this is a blessing to be out here, speaking about what's happening in my neighborhood, having the whole world understand and relate." [2] He also referred to commentator Bill O'Reilly's criticism of "Shoot 'Em Up", a song from Nas's fourth album Nastradamus (1999), as he stated "If I didn't have a microphone, I could never talk about 'Shoot 'Em Up', and I was talking about Queens, New York, being shot up. What do I have to do to get somebody to turn around and hear what I'm saying and take it serious? I'm not here just to be in your face talking nonsense, we're talking about reality. For him to be upset or people like him to be upset is insane to me. It just shows how ignorant people are." [2] In the interview, Nas continued to discuss his inspiration and the song's lyrical theme, stating:

'One Mic' just gives me the ability, no matter how much ignorant people are mad that I'm exposing or talking about our country, no matter what the language is, I'm talking in a language that the people can hear, I'm not sugar-coating it. So if it scares people and people feel guilty, people feel like they've got to make up excuses to why the world's this way, no matter what they say, like they've got their mic, I've got mine, and that's what that song's about. [2]

In the song, Nas also asks God to forgive him for his sins. [10] In the hip hop book Beats, Rhymes & Life (2007), music writer Ytasha Womack compared Nas's lyrics on "One Mic" to the work of rapper Tupac Shakur, analyzing it as a song with strong religious, Christian overtones and lyrical themes. [11] Womack wrote that "Nas's references ultimately humanized Jesus, with attempts to show direct parallels between our quest and that of the Wayshower." [11] Womack concluded with analyzing the incorporation of religious themes by Nas in his composition, stating "Nas clung to spiritual questioning, expressing a desire to be like the early mystics, in order to possess their knowledge and powers. While he expresses that he has the potential of the greats, in 'One Mic' he asks God to show him how to do things his son did. Nas intertwined his day–to–day life and decisions with the pressures felt by Jesus and others, doing so almost as a means to somehow transfer their spiritual gifts to himself." [11]

Release and reception

When "One Mic" was released as a single, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 79 on April 20, 2002, [12] ultimately peaking at number 43. [13] On June 8, it debuted on the Hot Rap Tracks chart at number 9, before eventually reaching number 7. [14] The single also peaked on the Hot Rap Singles at number 23,</ref> [15] the Rhythmic Top 40 at number 32, and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks at number 14. [13] A remix of "One Mic", featuring a sample of Mtume's "Juicy Fruit" (1983), was later released on the remix album From Illmatic to Stillmatic: The Remixes (2002). [16]

"One Mic" was well received by critics, some of whom hailed it as a "classic". [11] Marc L. Hill from PopMatters cited it as Stillmatic's "standout track", calling Nas "our magnificently human rap god." [4] Exclaim! magazine's Del F. Cowie described "One Mic" as the album's "centrepiece epic", [6] while Butler cited "One Mic" as "the best rap song of this decade". Writing for Sputnikmusic, he said the song "blew me away on first listen, and it's still having the same effect now. Not many rap songs can send chills up my spine. This is one of them." [3] Brett Berliner from Stylus Magazine was particularly favorable of the song's use of a siren, as he called the concept "truly incredible, and one of the best ideas for a song I’ve ever heard in my life." [5] Steven Potter of the Journal Sentinel called the song a "testament to the lyrical skill only the best emcees possess." [17] Yahoo! Music's James Poletti felt it was "some of the best hip-hop recorded" in 2002. [18] Kathryn McGuire from Rolling Stone was more critical, writing that "the hyperbolic urgency of 'One Mic' feels staged." [19]

In retrospect, IGN's Jon Robinson viewed "One Mic" as a comeback for Nas, writing that it "proved that he was still not only one of the dopest MCs in the world, but possibly the most gifted writer of the rap community." [20] According to Juon, the song signalled a return for Nas to his early musical roots, stating "you know that the rapper we all once called Nasty Nas has truly returned." [1] In 2005, "One Mic" was ranked number 54 on About.com's list of the 100 Greatest Rap Songs. [21]

Music video

A music video for "One Mic" was directed by Chris Robinson and released on December 17, 2001, [9] receiving heavy rotation on MTV, [22] and 2002 MTV Video Music Award nominations for Best Rap Video and Video of the Year. [23] Robinson said in an interview with MTV that he wanted to feature references to the 1976 Soweto uprising in a music video, ultimately persuading Nas to include it in the video for the song. [24] After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the video's production ran into difficulties due to the restrictions on international travel. The scene in the video of the riots was instead filmed in Los Angeles with participants from a local inner-city baseball team playing the rioters. [24] The scene of the rock being thrown in the direction of the camera was taken over 10 times (the actor "had a bit of a curve on his throwing arm," according to Robinson) before post-production work managed to complete the desired effect. [24] Robinson also told his director of photography to open and close the shutters of the camera in the apartment scene, creating an effect of blurred streaks of light. [24]

The video begins with a montage of scenes from inner-city areas of New York City, followed by a camera shot of an apartment window in which a light has just been turned on. [25] The video then centralizes upon a view of Nas reflectively rapping with a single microphone in a bare apartment room. While Nas is rapping, the video switches to a scene of a routine police stop of four suspects which quickly escalates to an on-foot chase of the suspects by police as a surprised elder bystander "fiend drops his Heineken" onto the asphalt. [25] The suspects and the police dramatically part around Nas, who is rapping in the middle of the street, as they continue the chase around a corner. As Nas shouts "The Time is Now!", the scene cuts back to Nas rapping in the barren apartment room with the microphone. [25]

The video transitions to a scene in Soweto at the beginning of the 1976 uprising, in which a protester rallies a crowd of residents against the government while baton-wielding black and white soldiers of the SADF prepare for the impending crackdown on the protesters. [25] Gradually, the scene escalates to violence, with the impetus being a rock thrown in the direction of the camera. [25] Soon, the two sides clash on the dirt road, and Nas pauses to a steady iteration of "One Mic" while standing contrastedly in the middle of the ongoing violence, the scene ending with the silent scream (symbolized by a descending piano) of a little bystanding Soweto girl as the scene cuts back to Nas, in the apartment room, kicking the chair and launching headfirst into a full-blown litany. [25] The Soweto scene is interpolated with various scenes of young people listening and lip-syncing the lyrics, including a teenager wearing headphones in an apartment bedroom beside her younger sister, a group of Latino men sitting in a car and a young, angry Los Angeles County prisoner behind bars. [25] Gradually, as the camera overlays a view of Nas upon the forward-moving shot of a street, the video then calms down alongside the descending tone of the song, the facial determination of Nas and other participants in the video remaining visible as the video draws to a close with the light in the apartment window turning off. [25]

Track listing

A-Side
  1. "One Mic" (Explicit) (4:28)
  2. "One Mic" (Clean) (4:32)
B-Side
  1. "One Mic" (Instrumental) (4:36)
  2. "2nd Childhood" (Explicit) (3:51)

Charts

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Juon, Steve 'Flash'. RapReview of the Week: Stillmatic. RapReviews. Retrieved on 2009-03-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Serpick, Evan. Nas' "Greatest Hits": A Track-By-Track Journey With the Pride of Queens. Rolling Stone . Retrieved on 2009-03-16.
  3. 1 2 Butler, Nick. Nas: Greatest Hits Review. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved on 2009-03-17.
  4. 1 2 3 Hill, Marc L. Stillmatic Review. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-03-16.
  5. 1 2 Berliner, Brett. Stillmatic Review. Stylus Magazine . Retrieved on 2009-03-16.
  6. 1 2 Cowie, Del F. Nas: Battle Ready. Exclaim!. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
  7. ↑ Newlin, Jimmy. Music Review: Untitled. Slant Magazine . Retrieved on 2009-03-17.
  8. ↑ Harris, Keith. License to Ill--Revoked Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine . City Pages . Retrieved on 2009-03-20.
  9. 1 2 Fuchs, Cynthia. Music Video Review: One Mic. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-03-20.
  10. ↑ Fenaxiz. Album Reviews: Stillmatic. MVRemix. Retrieved on 2009-03-16.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Womack (2007), p. 144.
  12. ↑ One Mic: Singles Charts. Billboard . Retrieved on 2009-03-27.
  13. 1 2 3 Stillmatic: Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2009-03-27.
  14. ↑ One Mic: Hot Rap Tracks. Billboard. Retrieved on 2009-03-27.
  15. ↑ One Mic: Hot Rap Singles. Billboard. Retrieved on 2009-03-27.
  16. ↑ Juon, Steve 'Flash'. From Illmatic to Stillmatic - The Remixes. RapReviews. Retrieved on 2009-03-20.
  17. ↑ Potter, Steven. Nas blends new tunes, mastered skill at The Rave. Journal Sentinel . Retrieved on 2009-03-17.
  18. ↑ Poletti, James. Stillmatic Review. Yahoo! Music. Retrieved on 2009-03-20.
  19. ↑ McGuire. Kathryn. Stillmatic Review. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-03-20.
  20. ↑ Robinson, Jon. God's Son Review Archived 2007-10-15 at the Wayback Machine . IGN. Retrieved on 2009-03-17.
  21. ↑ Adaso, Henry. Top 100 Rap Songs: 60 - 51. About.com. Retrieved on 2009-03-20.
  22. ↑ Birchmeier, Jason. Nas: Biography. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2009-03-20.
  23. ↑ "2002 MTV Video Music Award nominees". Billboard . June 25, 2002. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Corey Moss, with additional reporting by Shaheem Reid (Aug 19, 2002). "VMA Lens Recap: The Story Behind Nas' 'One Mic'". MTV.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nas (actor), Chris Robinson (director) (December 17, 2001). One Mic (flv) (music video). New York City, New York, USA: Sony BMG Music Entertainment . Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  26. ↑ "Nas Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Nas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Nas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Nas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Nas Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Nas Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Nas feat. Brainpower – One Mic (Remix)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 1, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Nas feat. Brainpower – One Mic (Remix)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2021.

Related Research Articles

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

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, better known by his stage name Nas, is an American rapper. 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 for fellow East Coast rapper Large Professor. He was later featured on the 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque" by his group, Main Source.

<i>Stillmatic</i> 2001 studio album by Nas

Stillmatic is the fifth studio album by American rapper Nas, released on December 18, 2001, by Ill Will and Columbia Records. In contrast to his previous work's gangsta rap themes, the album contains socially conscious and philosophical themes similar to that of his 1994 debut Illmatic. Nas' lyrics address topics such as ghetto life, American politics, and his feud with rapper Jay-Z.

<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. Partly inspired by the death of his mother in early 2002, God's Son covers lyrical themes such as religion, violence, and his own emotional experiences. It has been recognized by critics as some of Nas' most personal work.

"Ether" is a diss track by American rapper Nas, from his 2001 album Stillmatic. The song was a response to Jay-Z's "Takeover", released earlier that year. "Ether" has been called a "classic" diss track and the "wildest" in hip hop history by music publications.

<i>The Lost Tapes</i> (Nas album) 2002 compilation album by Nas

The Lost Tapes is a compilation album by American rapper Nas. It was released on September 23, 2002, by Ill Will Records and Columbia Records, who wanted to capitalize on what was seen in hip hop music as Nas' artistic comeback the year before, and compiles previously unreleased tracks that were discarded from recording sessions for the rapper's previous studio albums I Am... (1999) and Stillmatic (2001). It features production by L.E.S., The Alchemist, Poke and Tone, and Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, among others. With low-key, sparse sounds and observational lyrics about urban life, the songs are largely autobiographical and nostalgic, departing from the thug persona of Nas' previous records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hate Me Now</span> 1999 song by Nas ft. Puff Daddy

"Hate Me Now" is the second and final single by rapper Nas featuring Sean Combs, from Nas' third studio album I Am.... The backbeat is inspired by, and contains some samples from, Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana". It was ranked 119 on XXL's 250 Best Songs of the 1990s.

The discography of Nas, an American rapper, consists of seventeen studio albums, one collaborative album, one group album, five compilations, four mixtapes, one extended play, and seventy-nine singles. Nas has sold over 20 million records in the United States alone, and 35 million albums worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got Ur Self a Gun</span> 2001 single by Nas

"Got Ur Self a Gun", also known as "Got Ur Self A..." for the clean versions of the album and single, respectively, is the second single from the 2001 album Stillmatic by the American rapper Nas. The song is produced by Megahertz and samples The Sopranos theme song "Woke Up This Morning", performed by Alabama 3. It reached #87 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Made You Look (Nas song)</span> 2002 single by Nas

"Made You Look" is the first single from Nas' 2002 album, God's Son. Built around several samples lifted from the Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache", the single was important in establishing Nas' direction following his battle with Jay-Z and the Stillmatic album in its reliance on intricate lyricism and an old-school aesthetic. The song reached much commercial success, on the level of "I Can", and it was a sizeable hit among urban audiences and remains one of the more popular tracks on the God's Son album. It is his third highest charting single to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can (Nas song)</span> 2003 single by Nas

"I Can" is a single by American rapper Nas from his sixth album, God's Son. It was released internationally February 11, 2003. Unlike the rest of the album, this does not have the Parental Advisory (or Explicit and other labeling on digital stores) label on the song, as it is aimed at children. The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>From Illmatic to Stillmatic: The Remixes</i> 2002 EP by Nas

From Illmatic to Stillmatic: The Remixes is an extended play by Nas. It includes six remixed versions of songs from the earlier Nas LPs Illmatic, It Was Written, and Stillmatic. It was released by Columbia Records on July 2, 2002. It features AZ, R. Kelly and Foxy Brown.

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

Illmatic is the debut studio album by 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 City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)</span> 2000 single by Jay-Z

"I Just Wanna Love U " is a song by American rapper Jay-Z, released as the first single from his 2000 album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. It was produced by the Neptunes and features a chorus performed by Neptunes member Pharrell and Pennsylvania rapper Omillio Sparks, both of whom remain uncredited. The video for the song, directed by David Meyers, features cameos from rappers Lil' Kim, Lil' Cease, Damon Dash, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Jermaine Dupri and actor John Witherspoon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rule (Nas song)</span> 2001 single by Nas featuring Amerie

"Rule" is the first single from American rapper Nas' 2001 album Stillmatic. It features a chorus sung by Amerie and production provided by Poke and Tone of Trackmasters Entertainment. The song is known for both sampling and interpolating "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost (Gorilla Zoe song)</span> 2008 single by Gorilla Zoe

"Lost" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Gorilla Zoe, released October 14, 2008 as the lead single from his second studio album Don't Feed Da Animals (2009). The song leaked in May 2008 entitled "Losin' My Mind", featuring a verse from fellow American rapper Lil Wayne. It is notable that, specifically with the Lil Wayne version, both songs use the auto-tune effect. "Lost" received positive reviews from critics praising Drumma Boy's electronic production and Zoe's sincere Auto-Tune delivery of introspective lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Ever (Ciara song)</span> 2009 single by Ciara featuring Young Jeezy

"Never Ever" is a song performed by R&B singer Ciara. It is the first single released from her third studio album, Fantasy Ride. The song features rapper Young Jeezy, was produced by Polow da Don, and was co-written by Ciara and Elvis "BlacElvis" Williams, who both produced and co-wrote Ciara's single, "Promise", from her second album, Ciara: The Evolution.

<i>Skinny Jeanz and a Mic</i> 2009 studio album by New Boyz

Skinny Jeanz and a Mic is the debut studio album by jerkin' crew and rap duo New Boyz, Legacy and Ben J. It was released on September 15, 2009, via Shotty Music, Asylum Records and Warner Bros. Records. The album was heavily influenced by jerkin' music. It received generally positive reviews, being called the sixth best album of 2009 by The New York Times. The album was released after the duo brought jerkin' to national attention with their viral hit "You're a Jerk", which later became a commercial success and the first single off their album. The second single "Tie Me Down", featuring Ray J, was released and also was successful. The album debuted at fifty-six on the Billboard 200, and at number twelve on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and eight on Top Rap Albums. The album was produced by New Boyz member, Legacy, and also contributions from producers, Jay-Nari, D&D and DJ Felli Fel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dope (Tyga song)</span> 2013 single by Tyga featuring Rick Ross

"Dope" is a song by American rapper Tyga with a guest appearance from fellow rapper Rick Ross. The song was originally titled "187" but was later changed to "Dope". It was released on January 15, 2013 as the first single from his third album Hotel California (2013). Co-written by both artists and produced by FKi and Jess Jackson, the song samples "Deep Cover" by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

<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. The recording also marked the first appearance of Nas's short-lived supergroup The Firm, featuring the rappers Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kacey Talk</span> 2020 single by YoungBoy Never Broke Again

"Kacey Talk" is a song by American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, released on August 13, 2020, as the second single from his second studio album, Top, released on September 11, 2020. The guitar-driven song is named after YoungBoy's son, Kacey, who also contributed vocals to the song and appears in the official video. Lyrically, it's about YoungBoy offering a guide on moving to a higher level in life, with further raps about women and how to differentiate between real and fake friends. "Kacey Talk" peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also reached numbers 33 and 50 on both the Rhythmic and Hot 100 charts respectively. The song was certified double platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting units of over 2,000,000 units. An accompanying music video for the single, directed by Rich Porter, features the rapper at a casino and in front of a fancy car, along with some scenes showcasing both his businessman and artist lifestyles respectively.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.