Nas - N.y. State Of Mind (audio) Apr 2026

"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

: A menacing piano chop from Joe Chambers' 1978 jazz piece "Mind Rain" . 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." . Production and Composition : A menacing piano chop

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: The track's production by DJ Premier is a

A legendary aspect of the song's history is that Nas delivered the first verse in a . DJ Premier recalled that Nas wrote his lyrics on the spot while watching the beat being built . The iconic opening line, "I don't know how to start this shit," was a genuine moment of Nas preparing himself as the beat began to drop .