Nas: - Nas Is Like (official Video)

Directed by (often misattributed to Hype Williams), the official music video features a grounded, gritty aesthetic.

The track is famous for its intricate technical details and accidental discovery:

"Nas Is Like," the lead single from Nas's third studio album I Am... , was released on March 2, 1999. Produced by , the track is celebrated as one of the finest collaborations in hip-hop history, merging Premier’s signature "boom bap" production with Nas’s elite lyricism. The Music Video Nas - Nas Is Like (Official Video)

Filmed primarily in the Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City, the video highlights Nas’s roots.

The visuals reinforce the song's themes of street politics and inner-city survival, utilizing everyday urban settings rather than high-budget spectacle. Production by DJ Premier Directed by (often misattributed to Hype Williams), the

The chorus is a masterclass in turntablism, scratching vocal samples from Nas’s earlier hits "It Ain’t Hard to Tell" and "Street Dreams" .

"Nas Is Like" served as a "return to form" for Nas after the commercial leanings of his previous project, It Was Written . Nas – Nas Is Like Lyrics - Genius Produced by , the track is celebrated as

The choppy string melody was discovered by Premier on a 10-inch Lutheran church record he nearly threw away. The sample was eventually identified as "What Child Is This?" by John Rydgren and Bob R. Way.