Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)

"Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)"
Single by Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One and Rakim
Released	February 20, 2007
Format	Digital download, vinyl
Recorded	2007
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:07 4:42 (DJ Premier Remix)
Label	Nike
Producer	Rick Rubin, DJ Premier
Kanye West singles chronology "I Still Love H.E.R." (2007) "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" (2007) "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (2007) Nas singles chronology "Can't Forget About You" (2007) "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" (2007) "Less Than an Hour" (2007) KRS-One singles chronology "My Life" (2006) "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" (2007)

"Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" is Grammy nominated collaboration song between Kanye West, Nas, Rakim and KRS-One that is produced by Rick Rubin. The song was released as a single on February 20, 2007 by Nike Records. It was performed live at the Nike Air Force Ones 25th anniversary party shown on MTV2. Its remix, "Better Than I've Ever Been DJ Premier Remix", is produced by DJ Premier, and it features Rakim along with the aforementioned rappers. It features DJ Premier's signature scratches from prior songs such as Nas' "One Love" and "It Ain't Hard to Tell". The song was nominated for Best Rap Collaboration at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008. Common was featured on the remix, scratched on the DJ Premier version.

Proceeds from the song's sales will go towards youth leadership programs through the Force4Change Fund.

Track listing

1. "Better Than I've Ever Been" (Explicit)
2. "Better Than I've Ever Been" (Instrumental)
3. "Better Than I've Ever Been" (Explicit Acapella)
4. "Classic" (DJ Premier Remix) (featuring Nas, KRS-One and Rakim) (Edited Version)
5. "Classic" (DJ Premier Remix) (Instrumental)

Samples

The original beat by Rick Rubin samples the song "Give Me the Night", performed by George Benson, off his Give Me the Night album.

DJ Premier's remix contains samples from "Dance the Kung-Fu" by Carl Douglas.