N.Y. State of Mind

Not to be confused with New York State of Mind or Empire State of Mind.

"N.Y. State of Mind"
Song by Nas from the album Illmatic
Released	April 19, 1994
Recorded	1992
Genre	East Coast hip hop Hardcore hip hop
Length	4:54
Label	Columbia Records
Writer	Nasir Jones Chris Martin
Producer	DJ Premier
Illmatic track listing
"The Genesis" (1) "N.Y. State of Mind" (2) "Life's a Bitch" (3)

"N.Y. State of Mind" is the second track and first song track from Nas' debut album Illmatic. Production is by DJ Premier who samples two jazz songs for the track's beat: "Mind Rain" by Joe Chambers and "Flight Time" by Donald Byrd. Premier additionally scratches vocals from Eric B. & Rakim's "Mahogany" for the song's chorus. Nas raps two verses on the song in which he talks about his rapping talent and describes the dangerous environment he lives in. Nas has attributed the song "Streets of New York" by Kool G Rap as one of the song's primary influences (G Rap would later sample this song, plus give Nas a guest spot on his album 4,5,6). A sequel to "N.Y. State of Mind" can be found on Nas' 1999 album I Am.... An early version of the song can be found on Nas' demo tape under the name "I'm a Villain."

Critical acclaim

"N.Y. State of Mind" ranks #74 on About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs.

Marc L. Hill of PopMatters describes "N.Y. State of Mind" as a standout track on Illmatic claiming that it "provides as clear a depiction of ghetto life as a Gordon Parks photograph or a Langston Hughes poem." The song is also one of a few rap songs to be featured in the Norton Anthology of African American Literature. It is featured on Nas' 2007 greatest hits album as the only non-single song in the album, and on the 1999 compilation Best of D&D Studios, Vol. 1. Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews.com states:

“

"[Illmatic] was to be an album steeped in the rich traditions of hip-hop history, mixed with the most advanced verbal styles and fat beats that could be put on wax. And if it couldn't be set off any more right already, the DJ Premier produced "N.Y. State of Mind" was designed to knock you right off your feet. Primo's knack for finding the illest piano loops and matching them to pounding beats was perfected in this track, and paired with a Rakim sample on the chorus that provided the mental link for an analogy most rap heads had already made by now: Nas was the NEW Rakim on the block.

”

The song is in the soundtrack of the video games True Crime: New York City and Saints Row 2.

Sampling

Lyrics from "N.Y. State of Mind" are sampled on these songs:

• "The Message" by Nas
• "N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II" by Nas
• "Interlude" by Different Teep
• "Beyond Real" by Jigmastas
• "4, 5, 6" by Kool G Rap
• "Mission One (Intro)" by Fanatik & Peanut Butter Wolf
• "Force the Resistance" by Task Force
• "Monkey See, Monkey Do" by Sonic Boom Six
• "Hip Hop State Of Mind" by Israel The ILLa Real
• "Boombox" by Blueprint
• "Beyond" by Dj JS-1 Feat. O.C.
• "New York New York" by LL Cool J
• "Sneakers" by Raekwon
• "Detroit State of Mind" by Elzhi
• "Streets of New York (City Life)" by Alicia Keys, Nas, and Rakim