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

: 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

"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 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"