Halftime (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Halftime


Artist = Nasty Nas
from Album = Zebrahead (Original Soundtrack) / Illmatic
Released = 1992
Format = 12" single
Recorded = 1992
Genre = East Coast hip hop
Length = 4:44
Label = Columbia
Ruffhouse
Writer = Nasir Jones
W.P. Mitchell
Producer = Large Professor
Chart position =#8 (U.S. Rap)
[ Reviews = ]
Last single =
This single = "Halftime"
(1992)
Next single = "It Ain't Hard to Tell"
(1994)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Illmatic
Type = Studio
prev_track = "The World Is Yours"
prev_no = 4
this_track = "Halftime"
track_no = 5
next_track = "Memory Lane (Sittin' in Da Park)"
next_no = 6

"Halftime" is the 1992 debut single by rapper Nas, released under his original moniker of "Nasty Nas". Originally recorded for the soundtrack to the film "Zebrahead", "Halftime" was produced by Large Professor and features samples from "Schoolboy Crush" by Average White Band, "Hawaiian Sophie" by Jaz-O, "Soul Traveling" by Gary Byrd, and "Dead End" by Japanese Hair. The song was later included on Nas' influential 1994 debut album, "Illmatic".

Content

"Halftime" features an up-tempo beat led by percussion and trumpets over which Nas rhymes. Memorable lines include "You couldn't catch me in the streets without a ton of reefer/That's like Malcolm X, catchin' the Jungle Fever" and "I'm as ill as a convict who kills for phone time." [ [http://ohhla.com/anonymous/nas/illmatic/halftime.nas.txt Nas - Halftime Lyrics] ] Nas also uses this song to give a "shout-outs" to Ill Will, and the Queensbridge Crew, a reference to the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens, NY, USA. He also reveals he's a fan of Marcus Garvey, the Jackson 5 and Mr. Magic.

ampling

Lyrics from "Halftime" are sampled in these songs:
*"Exercise" by Akinyele
*"Rugged Ruff" by Bahamadia
*"We Got It Hemmed" by Cella Dwellas
*"Down for the Kaz" by Kazi
*"I Will Always Love H.E.R." by Peanut Butter Wolf
*"Strike Back" by Army of the Pharaohs

ingle track listing

A-Side

# "Halftime" (Radio Edit) (4:19)
# "Halftime" (LP Version) (4:19)
# "Halftime" (LP Version Instrumental) (4:19)

B-Side

# "Halftime" (Butcher Remix)DJ Bubie (4:41)
# "Halftime" (Butcher Instrumental) (4:42)

References