Nas gets a tough rap when it comes to his choice of production. Over the years, he’s developed the reputation of picking uninspired, boring beats for his God-tier lyricism.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely understand the criticism, a lot of his albums have been held back by the quality of their production – I’m looking at you Street’s Disciple and Untitled. There’s no reason for Nas, with his status in the rap game and access to producers, to be rhyming over some of the beats he has in his career.
On the flip side, let’s not act like Nas hasn’t worked with some of the greatest producers of all time, and gotten the best work they’ve done on his albums.
So let’s get into it, here are the 50 greatest beats Nas has ever rapped on. These are songs on Nas albums only, I didn’t include guest verses because then the list would be double the size.
50. “Phone Tap”
Producer: Dr. Dre, The Glove
Album: The Album
Released: October 21, 1997
49. “Come Get Me”
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: Nastradamus
Released: November 23, 1999
48. “Stillmatic (The Intro)”
Producer: Hangmen 3
Album: Stillmatic
Released: December 18, 2001
47. “I Can”
Producer: Salaam Remi
Album: God’s Son
Released: December 13, 2002
46. “The Don”
Producer: Heavy D, Salaam Remi, Da Internz
Album: Life Is Good
Released: July 13, 2012
45. “Just a Moment”
Producer: L.E.S.
Album: Street’s Disciple
Released: November 30, 2004
44. “Money Over Bullshit”
Producer: L.E.S., Wyldfyer
Album: Hip Hop Is Dead
Released: December 19, 2006
43. “Sly Fox”
Producer: stic.man
Album: Untitled
Released: July 15, 2008
42. “Can’t Forget About You”
Producer: will.i.am
Album: Hip Hop Is Dead
Released: December 19, 2006
41. “Death Row East”
Producer: Hit-Boy
Album: King’s Disease II
Released: August 6, 2021
40. “Bridging the Gap”
Producer: Salaam Remi
Album: Street’s Disciple
Released: November 30, 2004
39. “You’re da Man”
Producer: Large Professor
Album: Stillmatic
Released: December 18, 2001
38. “Back When”
Producer: No I.D.
Album: Life Is Good
Released: July 13, 2012
37. “Cops Shot the Kid”
Producer: Kanye West, Andrew Dawson
Album: Nasir
Released: June 15, 2018
36. “Black Republican”
Producer: L.E.S., Wyldfyer
Album: Hip Hop Is Dead
Released: December 19, 2006
35. “Cherry Wine”
Producer: Salaam Remi
Album: Life Is Good
Released: July 13, 2012
34. “N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II”
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: I Am…
Released: April 6, 1999
33. “White Label”
Producer: Kanye West, Mike Dean, BoogzDaBeast
Album: Nasir
Released: June 15, 2018
32. “King’s Disease”
Producer: King’s Disease
Album: August 21, 2020
Released: Hit-Boy, Corbett, J. Pelham, Pat Junior, Cyanca
31. “Stay”
Producer: No I.D.
Album: Life Is Good
Released: July 13, 2012
30. “Live Ni**a Rap”
Producer: Havoc
Album: It Was Written
Released: July 2, 1996
29. “Nasty”
Producer: Salaam Remi
Album: Life Is Good
Released: July 13, 2012
28. “One Time 4 Your Mind”
Producer: Large Professor
Album: Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
27. “Car #85”
Producer: Hit-Boy
Album: King’s Disease
Released: August 21, 2020
26. “No Introduction”
Producer: J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
Album: Life Is Good
Released: July 13, 2012
25. “Street Dreams (Remix)”
Producer: Trackmasters
Album: N/A
Released: October 22, 1996
24. “Doo Rags”
Producer: Precision
Album: The Lost Tapes
Released: September 23, 2002
23. “Loco-Motive”
Producer: No I.D.
Album: Life Is Good
Released: July 13, 2012
22. “Queens Get the Money”
Producer: Jay Electronica
Album: Untitled
Released: July 15, 2008
21. “Get Down”
Producer: Nas, Salaam Remi
Album: God’s Son
Released: December 13, 2002
20. “2nd Childhood”
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: Stillmatic
Released: December 18, 2001
19. “Street Dreams”
Producer: Trackmasters
Album: It Was Written
Released: July 2, 1996
18. “Life’s a Bitch”
Producer: L.E.S., Nas (co.)
Album: Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
17. “Affirmative Action”
Producer: Dave Atkinson, Trackmasters
Album: It Was Written
Released: July 2, 1996
16. “One Mic”
Producer: Nas, Chucky Thompson for The Hitmen
Album: Stillmatic
Released: December 18, 2001
15. “I Gave You Power”
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: It Was Written
Released: July 2, 1996
14. “The World Is Yours (Q-Tip Remix)”
Producer: Q-Tip
Album: N/A
Released: May 31, 1994
13. “Represent”
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
12. “Hate Me Now”
Producer: Nashiem Myrick & Carlos Broady for The Hitmen
Album: I Am…
Released: April 6, 1999
11. “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)”
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
10. “Halftime”
Producer: Large Professor
Album: Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
9. “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”
Producer: Large Professor
Album: Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
8. “Thief’s Theme”
Producer: Salaam Remi
Album: Street’s Disciple
Released: November 30, 2004
7. “Nas Is Like”
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: I Am…
Released: April 6, 1999
6. “One Love”
Producer: Q-Tip
Album: Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
5. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (Remix)
Producer: Large Professor
Album: N/A
Released: January 18, 1994
4. “The Message”
Producer: Trackmasters
Album: It Was Written
Released: July 2, 1996
3. “The World Is Yours”
Producer: Pete Rock
Album: Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
2. “N.Y. State of Mind”
Producer: DJ Premier
Album: Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
1. “Made You Look”
Producer: Salaam Remi
Album: God’s Son
Released: December 13, 2002
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