Avg Rating: 
3.9 ( 39 total votes )
Nas - Hey Young World
Artist: Nas
Producer: DJ Green Lantern
Album: Levi's Pioneer Sessions (#1)
Label: Ill Will/Def Jam
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and it can also drive home a point for a new generation sadly making the same old mistakes. For example, take Nas’ Hey Young World, a remake of legendary wordsmith Slick Rick’s classic 1989 single. The importance of the message first delivered two decades ago has not changed (respect your elders, never stop learning, be an individual), and yet God’s Son makes it sound as fresh as ever. DJ Green Lantern gives the updated track a grittier production for Nas to flow over, which he does like always with comfort and ease, getting on his social tip with sensible lyrics like: “life is long, it’s important that its played like a sport.” There’s no need for the “which one’s better?” routine here. Instead, let’s just respect both hip-hop offerings. If you were digging this cut, be sure to check out the rest of Levi’s Pioneer Sessions, also scheduled to feature The Roots, Raphael Saadiq and more in the coming weeks. Now go make your mom happy and read a book.
This song first appeared on the
Rap Chart
on May 31, 2010
Listen to More: Nas Written by Sigurd
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11684 |
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Two thoughts:
* Green Lantern spun this beat so wonderfully that this updated version feels much more like an original working than a remade classic. * I guarantee that 80% of our readers either don't remember or were not in tune with hip hop in the late 80s. Which, of course, means that we won't have to worry about the inevitable comparisons that Sig wrote about above. 
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 116 |
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So, was "Distant Relatives" a get-ready-for-Nas'-new-music promotional tactic? I don't know why I asked that, because I don't really care - this track is excellent.
Too bad Kelis isn't in the picture... Kelis (hiding outside of Nas' window): "Did someone say my name?" |
| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 455 |
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"The world is yours" The song is fire. This is the best rap i've heard in some time, maybe cause its nas.
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 687 |
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Distant Relatives is an amazing album. I'm pumped to hear more Nas. Keep it coming. DJ Green Lantern never produces less than a banger. 4.5
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Tastemaker |
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Feeling this
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 394 |
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Nas just being Nas. He deserves to be in the hip-hop hall of fame, one of the top 3 artists of all time for sure.
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1217 |
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Some old school Nas on the mic. Can't hate, this track is solid and overflowing with talent. Green Lantern's production is fantastic and topped off with some high quality Nas rhymes, this is nice.
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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dope but i gotta give it slick rick ... i guess cuz i listened to slick rick before nas so im biased... nas should redo slick rick's childrens story that would be sick too
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Being a Music "Fan" I'm genuinely excited for this project. Obviously the original is a "Classic", but Nas and Green Lantern do Slick Rick justice. Props.
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 613 |
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Hook obviously couldn't been a tad bit better but Nas' lyrics more than make up for it. Nas: Greatest Rapper Alive (or at least MY favorite)!
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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nice
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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It's alright. Could grow on me, but I could see myself becoming sick of it fast.
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 66 |
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DJ Z, i started listening to hip hop right around that time but still have no idea about the other version, I will today though. To me I felt like Nas had been falling off hard the last few years which is why I was pleasantly surprised by the way he spit over a pretty playful beat/background combo.
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2476 |
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More enjoyable if you're familiar with the original (Nas really flipped it), but as a stand alone it's still yet another lyrical onslaught from God's Son. From Distant Relatives to this, he's coming with it lately.
Could grow on me, but I could see myself becoming sick of it fast." - donjonjon You said it man. I think it's the chorus, you can only listen to that so many times.
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Professional  Total Ratings: 30 |
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Nas finally picking good beats? Between this and Distant Relatives, Nas is getting back on track.
The Diggers Union Local 1200 Hevehitta on Twitter |
| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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SoHHClassick thinks that Nas right now cant do no wrong and its evident Young World...God's Son Shines
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 877 |
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The beat on this is amazing. Best I've heard from Nas in a while. His flow is nicee.
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 224 |
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The beat is just awesome. I like his flow. Nas is one of the best rappers of ALL TIME!
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| Posted on May 26, 2010 |
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| Posted on May 27, 2010 |
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Tastemaker |
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I feel Nas man, the world is ours. They say were Generation X and were going to ruin the power and the things our ancestors fought for. But my response is screw them because I believe we are going to make an impact the positively affects the world.
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| Posted on May 27, 2010 |
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| Posted on May 28, 2010 |
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Tastemaker |
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yay! nas in the booth listen up everybody! dj green lantern is on my radar now, i had always dismissed him as a second-rate producer but im certainly changing my mind. nas on the other hand does exactly what i expect of him- drope another dope, hot song!
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| Posted on May 29, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
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A-yo! someone get Levi's to reach out to this man every week!
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| Posted on May 29, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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heated dat piano is sick peace 2 rick and nas
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| Posted on May 29, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 120 |
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This isn't a "Banga"... But I'm still feelin' it though... 3 - ***'s
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| Posted on May 29, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1227 |
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Nas is back to his best these days (maybe he needs the money) and on this track he shows why he is still a cut above the rest.
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| Posted on May 30, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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He did really good on this one. Thank goodness.
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| Posted on May 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 19 |
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Lol..iiLike This .Thank God Nas is Back To Save Hip Hop From iytts Death
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| Posted on May 31, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 8038 |
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This is CRAZY right here! How the hell did I miss this! Nas KILLED this and Green Lantern to this day is my favorite Hip-Hop/Radio DJ. Good $hit! I think its a CLASSIC. The original is still an untouchable classic of course...I'm definitely not in that 80-percent Z! LOL
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| Posted on Jun 02, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2919 |
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Lovin' Nas atm, everything he's doing is fire!
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| Posted on Jun 04, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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always good to hear NAS on a track
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| Posted on Jun 05, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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I love Slick Rick and Nas so i was wxcited to play this. And when i did to no disappointment Nas killed it. He is my favorite of all time and anything he makes is a classic to me.
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| Posted on Jun 06, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jun 11, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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I luv Nasty Nas, feeling the old skl vibe.. i digg this
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| Posted on Jun 15, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2065 |
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I'm not with this at all. This is another attempt by Nas to remake his OWN CLASSIC TRACKS!
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| Posted on Jun 16, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 66 |
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Something new, hot and fresh from Nas had to be a remake...what irony! Nice flow. Nice beat. Nice all around, Son. This track is EVO bound.
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2010 |
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| Posted on May 23, 2012 |
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