The 100 Best Nas Songs
By Gabriel Alvarez | May 25, 2011 | 12:36 pm | Permalink
#1. Nas "N.Y. State of Mind" (1994)
Produced By: DJ Premier/Large Professor
Album: Illmatic/Demo
Label: Columbia/N/A
Nas "N.Y. State of Mind"
Nas "Just Another Day In The Projects"
Nas "I'm A Villain"
Coming "straight out of the fuckin' dungeons of rap, where fake niggas don't make it back," the opening track of Illmatic is as much a retrospective of a decayed Rotten Apple from days gone by—rife with Mac-10s, fiends, blend tapes, 20s of buddha and bitches with beepers—as it is the blueprint of the Queensbridge rapper's stylistic origins. (The preceding Wild Style-sampling "Genesis" intro and his admonishment to "Never put me in your box if the shit eats tapes" go a long way in establishing "the smooth criminal on beat breaks" as a legit student of the hip-hop art form.) An early draft of the song can be heard on Nas' "Just Another Day In The Projects" as well as some lyrics on "I'm A Villain" back when Nas was still developing his style.
The slow, tension-filled buildup of drums and unforgettable piano keys are the backdrop for a head-noddin' time capsule that is part murder spree, part hustler's dream—meaning it's one step away from a total nightmare. Thus, Nas invokes Congolese proverbs fused with streets smarts, the inner-city griot proclaiming, "I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death," one of the most memorable lines in hip-hop history.
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!