The 100 Best Nas Songs
By Gabriel Alvarez | May 25, 2011 | 12:36 pm | Permalink
#26. Nas f/ AZ, Cormega & Foxy Brown "Affirmative Action" (1996)
Produced By: Dave Atkinson, Trackmasters/Trackmasters
Album: It Was Written/"Street Dreams" 12" B-Side
Label: Columbia/Columbia
Nas f/ AZ, Cormega, & Foxy Brown "Affirmative Action"
Nas f/ AZ, Cormega, & Foxy Brown "Affirmative Action (Remix)"
The hype for Nas' supergroup was justified with the exciting, Italiano-influenced illegal-living murder mix from Nas' second LP. AZ really knows how to kick-start a song, and Cormega, fresh from doing a bid, couldn't sound more like a young G. Rap, which is obviously a compliment. A showcase for newcomer Foxy Brown, who is given extra bars and the honor of doing the final verse, she does her best to impress with images of international jet-setting and complicated drug-dealing math formulas (which may or may not have been written by Nas). Fox Boogie ain't the only one shinin', however. Her mentor manages to sneak in an ill line of his own: "Life's a bitch, but God forbid the bitch divorce me."
The lively remix, a B-side to "Street Dreams," uses the same killer keys that made "The Symphony" famous (and Jungle doin' Marley's adlibs) and features brand-new rhymes from everyone, with the "ringleader" having a lot of fun with it: "Nas got 19 wives/Seven sheisty, nine of them Pisces/Three white meats under tight cheese." It was only '96, but the battle for the No. 1 spot was already fresh in his mental as he closes out with, "I take the crown off the so-called king of the town and lock it down."
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!