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Few rapper-producer duos have left a deeper mark on Hip-Hop than Nas and DJ Premier. Their chemistry shaped the sound of Illmatic, influenced a generation of lyricists and beatmakers, and continues to resonate every time they reconnect. Whether it’s hard-nosed street reporting or conceptual brilliance, Premo’s rugged drums and razor-sharp cuts have always brought out a special edge in Nas.
Below is a definitive ranking of all their collaborations — from least to greatest — based on impact, lyricism, production quality, cultural importance, and overall replay value.
12. “Re:Generation” (2012)
A cool conceptual record from the Re:Generation Project — a documentary that paired DJs with musicians from other genres. While the jazz fusion backdrop is creative, this is the least essential Nas/Premo effort. Solid, but more of a novelty than a cornerstone.
11. “Beat Breaks” (2020)
Released via Mass Appeal, “Beat Breaks” is a fun, nostalgic throwback with classic Premo scratches. Nas drops some sharp bars, but the song feels more like a loose vibe than a fully fleshed-out moment in their catalog.
10. “Define My Name” (2023)
A reunion long overdue. Nas sounds rejuvenated, Premo flips a classic boom-bap knock, and the result is one of their most celebratory collaborations. It’s not as iconic as their ‘90s classics, but it’s an elite return to form with enormous fan value.
9. “Come Get Me” (1999)
From Nastradamus, this track is slept-on but tough. Premo builds a dark, tense beat built for confrontation, and Nas uses it to send warnings to rivals during a turbulent era. Not quite elite tier, but undeniably gritty and compelling.
8. DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles – “Turn Up the Mic” (Feat. Nas) (2000/2011)
A rugged guest spot from Nas, filled with hungry, competitive energy. The record hits hard thanks to Bumpy’s aggressive delivery and Premo’s trademark drums, but Nas appears briefly and the song’s legacy doesn’t match the top-tier entries.
7. “2nd Childhood” (2001)
One of Nas’s strongest storytelling joints from Stillmatic. Premo cooks up a mellow, introspective backdrop, and Nas delivers vignettes about emotional immaturity and stunted growth. An excellent song that suffers only because the competition above is legendary.
6. “N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II” (1999)
The sequel to an all-time classic was always going to live in its shadow, but this is a grimy, underrated cut. Nas is vivid, detailed, and sinister. The production is slightly cleaner than the original, but the vibe is still rugged Queensbridge realism.
5. “Represent” (1994)
An absolute street anthem. Premier chops in a way only he can, and Nas delivers fire after fire as he big-ups Queensbridge with youthful confidence. The hook scratches are iconic, the verses are classic, and the song remains a DJ favorite to this day.
4. “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)” (1994)
A nostalgic masterpiece from Illmatic, filled with reflective bars about childhood, street life, and the passage of time. Premo’s melancholy loop gives Nas room to create some of his most heartfelt early writing. A timeless track that anchors the emotional weight of the album.
3. “I Gave You Power” (1996)
One of Nas’s greatest concept songs — period. Rapping from the perspective of a gun was groundbreaking at the time, and DJ Premier’s sparse, eerie production elevates the tension. This is a landmark in conceptual Hip-Hop and one of the crown jewels of It Was Written.
2. “NAS Is Like” (1999)
A lyrical masterclass over one of Premier’s most intricate and addictive beats. The punchlines, the multisyllabic rhyming, the sharp cuts — everything here is pure Hip-Hop craftsmanship. This is one of the most celebrated songs of Nas’s career and a defining moment for both artists.
1. “N.Y. State of Mind” (1994)
The apex of their collaboration and one of the greatest rap songs ever made. Nas paints cinematic street scenes with shocking clarity, and DJ Premier constructs a sinister, looping masterpiece that has become a blueprint for gritty New York rap. This is not just their best collaboration — it is a foundational record in Hip-Hop history.
