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| "N.Y. State of Mind" | |
|---|---|
 Side A of the Nas x Wu-Tang Clan: N.Y. State of Mind / Protect Ya Neck - Picture Disc Vinyl 7" Single | |
| Song by Nas | |
| from the album Illmatic | |
| Released | April 19, 1994 |
| Recorded | 1992 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:54 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | DJ Premier |
| Audio videos | |
| Nas – "N.Y. State of Mind" on YouTube | |
| Nas – "N.Y. State of Mind, Pt. II" on YouTube | |
"N.Y. State of Mind" is a song by hip hop recording artist Nas from his debut studio album Illmatic (1994). The song's production was handled by DJ Premier who sampled two jazz songs: "Mind Rain" by Joe Chambers and "Flight Time" by Donald Byrd.[1] Premier additionally scratched up vocal samples from Eric B. & Rakim's "Mahogany" for the song's hook.[2] Nas raps two verses on the song in which he talks about his rapping talent and describes the dangerous environment that is the city of New York over a drum break sample of "N.T." by Kool & the Gang. Nas has attributed the song "Streets of New York" by Kool G Rap as one of the song's primary influences (Kool G Rap would later sample this song, and 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.... On January 28, 2019, it was certified gold by the RIAA.