If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)

About this song

Nas has said Kurtis Blow was his favorite rapper as a kid, and that Blow's own 'If I Ruled the World' chorus stood out to him. Nas wanted this record to reach a wider audience, beyond street listeners, and he compared his goal to the mainstream reach of Stevie Wonder's songs. Steve Stoute notes that the song stepped away from the sound of Illmatic, and the video opens with Nas performing the rap from 'The Message' before the song begins.

What it's about

The song is a utopian daydream about what Nas would change if he ruled the world. He imagines things like opening every cell in Attica and ending police harassment over smoking weed in the streets.

Fun facts

• Samples “Friends by Whodini”.
• Sampled in 29 other songs, like “Homage to Premier by Focus… (Ft. Phonte, Royce Da 5'9" & Stat Quo)”.
• Covered once, including “breaker of chains by MHYSA”.
• Written by AJ Scratch, Allan Felder, Davy DMX, Jalil Hutchins, Kurtis Blow and Larry Smith.
• Produced by Rashad Smith and Trackmasters.