Nas - Nas Is Like (dirty) May 2026

Lyrically, the song is a "lush litany of hip-hop braggadocio" where Nas defines his persona through a barrage of vivid metaphors and similes.

: The opening lines— "Freedom or jail, clips inserted, a baby's bein' born / Same time my man is murdered" —are often cited as one of the best "movie-like" openings in rap. Nas - Nas Is Like (Dirty)

: Critics point to lines like "Nas is like, Iron Mike, Before the Christ after the death" as some of the most complex poetry in the genre. Lyrically, the song is a "lush litany of

: DJ Premier famously found the core orchestral string sample on a 10-inch Lutheran church record he was about to throw away. : DJ Premier famously found the core orchestral

: In signature Premier style, the hook consists of precise scratches of Nas’s own voice from past hits like "It Ain't Hard to Tell" and "Street Dreams," effectively letting Nas "sample himself". Lyricism: A Masterclass in Similes

is widely considered one of the greatest technical displays in hip-hop history. Released in 1999 as the lead single for his third album, I Am... , the track reunited Nas with producer DJ Premier to recapture the "Illmatic perfection" fans craved after his more commercial turn. Production: The "Church Record" Miracle The beat is a legendary piece of hip-hop lore.

: Premier chopped the sample into three parts and layered it with bird chirps and a heavy, boom-bap drum sequence.