Nas - N.y. State Of Mind (audio) -

: "Monotone chirps" sampled from Donald Byrd's 1972 track "Flight Time" . The Rhythm : A drum break from Kool & the Gang’s "N.T." .

: DJ Premier integrated vocal samples from "Mahogany" by Eric B. & Rakim and Nas’s own guest verse on Main Source's "Live at the Barbeque" . The Recording Session Nas - N.Y. State of Mind (Audio)

: A menacing piano chop from Joe Chambers' 1978 jazz piece "Mind Rain" . : "Monotone chirps" sampled from Donald Byrd's 1972

The track's production by DJ Premier is a masterclass in the "boom-bap" sound of the mid-90s . Its unique sound was built from scratch using several key samples: & Rakim and Nas’s own guest verse on

"N.Y. State of Mind" is a cornerstone of hip-hop, serving as the second track on Nas's seminal 1994 debut album, Illmatic . Produced by DJ Premier, the song is widely regarded as one of the greatest lyrical performances in the genre's history, characterized by its cinematic storytelling and gritty portrayal of life in the Queensbridge Projects . Production and Composition