The 100 Best Nas Songs
By Gabriel Alvarez | May 25, 2011 | 12:36 pm | Permalink
#38. Jay-Z f/ Nas "Success" (2007)
Produced By: No I.D., Jermaine Dupri
Album: American Gangster
Label: Roc-A-Fella
That's one of the most scorching, wailing organ melodies you'll likely ever hear—not the smallest violin in the world playing for Jay and Nas, who inform y'all that being filthy rich ain't all that it's cracked up to be (boo hoo) as they collab on the same song for the second time. Sharing basically the same feelings about success as Eminem does on "I'm Back" ("It sucks," Jay says, "I had more fun when I was piss-poor"), Mr. Carter reveals some of the problems of being loaded: "And is this what success is all about?/A bunch of niggas acting like bitches with big mouths/All this stress, all I got is this big house/Couple of cars, I don't bring half of them shits out... I got watches I ain't seen in months/Apartment at the Trump I only slept in once." Nas (surprise) can relate: "Old cribs I sold, y'all drive by like monuments/Google-Earth Nas, I got flats in other continents/Worst enemies wanna be my best friends/Best friends wanna be enemies like that's what's in/But I don't give a fuck, walk inside the lion's den/Take everybody's chips, about to cash them in." Note the not-so-subtle shots at Hov. Verdict? They didn't convince us that being rich and famous is lame, but the pair was successful in making a damn good record.
T_VIZZY May 25th, 2011 at 01:00 PM
He did this track for his mother because she wanted him to stop with all the violent tracks and wanted to make a "happy" track, but she passed. So Nasir made this one for the children
young gun May 25th, 2011 at 03:12 PM
how the positive track about african american culture gone be 100 smh i think it should of got a higher rank
Jiggity Tiggity May 25th, 2011 at 03:16 PM
Has anyone made this into a play list file yet? I'm pretty sure I have all the songs, but having the play list would be sweet.
goose May 27th, 2011 at 02:04 PM
DO IT!!! Would be a huge help :D
sa May 25th, 2011 at 03:23 PM
Number 1 was meant to be "The World Is Yours"
Mel32 May 25th, 2011 at 06:35 PM
You're right
unclesam May 26th, 2011 at 01:03 AM
Agreed, but I get NY State of Mind too though.
ajsm August 5th, 2011 at 02:01 AM
No doubt "The World is Yours" is #1
Alex B March 7th, 2012 at 08:06 PM
I couldnt even find The World is Yours on this list, but it's definitely number one in my eyes.
Cigar May 25th, 2011 at 03:51 PM
Its one of the best tracks, i mean it coould be number 25 but not 84,cmon yall
dee May 25th, 2011 at 03:57 PM
Where is Drunk by myself
victor September 13th, 2011 at 05:43 PM
yo I love that joint
HATSTACKS May 25th, 2011 at 03:57 PM
is #49 some sick sad joke? shit doesn't even belong in his bottom 100, let's just forget it, and Jeezy, exist
Rawse May 25th, 2011 at 04:06 PM
Great list, but where the hell is Take It In Blood?
nastynas373 May 26th, 2011 at 11:04 PM
"Take It In Blood" is indeed my favorite Nas song, and should be top 30 for sure just for its content and lyrical and poetical value
Samantha May 28th, 2011 at 06:38 AM
i love take it in blood
Samantha May 28th, 2011 at 07:17 AM
Put poetry inside a crack pot and blow
GeeTee May 29th, 2011 at 05:38 PM
That's exactly what I was thinking once I started getting into the top 5. I was like man if I haven't seen it by now it will not be in top 5. It's in my personal top 5 Nas songs ever. Great list nevertheless, a couple questionable listings but very good, and the insight on all the songs were well written.
EnigMaa May 25th, 2011 at 04:09 PM
I LOVE ME SOME NAS!! Saw him at the DNA Lounge in San Fran back in the day! Still the BEST
nitido357 May 25th, 2011 at 04:13 PM
@Rawse YOU are quite right sir! That cut is lyricism cubed!