NY State of Mind Decomposed
Illmatic is known for fantastic production and NY State of Mind sets the tone for the whole album. After a slow buildup, you know what its all about. Struggle, poverty, and getting by in the city. It’s amazing that a beat can convey so much in its opening seconds which makes this song one of DJ Premier’s biggest accomplishments (no small feat). Here are the ingredients.
The backdrop of the song is a break from N.T. by Kool & The Gang starting around 5:34 (embellished with some extra kick drum hits).
Also present at the very beginning is a small sample from Flight Time by Donald Byrd (around 0:20) of what I can only assume is a trumpet. It almost sounds like a truck backing up.
The main piano loop comes from Mind Rain by Joe Chambers and starts around 1:09.
Premo scratches a short line (~3:25) from Eric B. & Rakim’s Mahogany for the chorus.
“… paired with a Rakim sample on the chorus that provided the mental link for an analogy most rap heads had already made by now: Nas was the NEW Rakim on the block.” (from a review by Steve Juon)
Finally, a short soundbite of Nas himself (0:39) in the song Live at the Barbecue by Main Source is scratched in the outro.
Mix it all up and you have one sick beat.
