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

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 .

"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)

: 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 A legendary aspect of the song's history is