Nas f/ Dr. Dre "Nas Is Coming" (1996)

When Nas tapped Dr. Dre to produce It Was Written's "Nas Is Coming" in 1996, it was a big deal. One of the era's greatest rappers teaming up with one of its greatest producers at a time when their respective coasts were at war seemed like a great look for the culture. Nas' smooth flow and Dre's laidback soundscapes seem like a perfect pairing, but the song hits a speed bump at the chorus, when a bunch of middling singers wander into the mix wailing about how "Nas is coming." It was meant to sound epic, but it just sounds forbearing.