The Message (Nas song)

Infobox Single |
Name = The Message


Artist = Nas
from Album = It Was Written
Released = 1996
Format = CD single, 12" vinyl
Recorded = 1996
Genre = Hip hop
Length = 4:10
Label = Columbia
Writer = Nasir Jones
Samuel Barnes
Producer = Trackmasters
Chart position =
Last single = "Street Dreams"
(1996)
This single = "The Message"
(1997)
Next single = "Escobar '97"
(1997)

"The Message" is the third and final single from rapper Nas' second album "It Was Written". It is produced by the Trackmasters, who sample Sting's "Shape of My Heart" for the song's beat. The song features scratching provided by Kid Capri and lyrics about the life of a thug. "The Message" was only released as a single in France and did not manage to reach any music charts. A black-and-white music video was made for the song.

Feud with Tupac Shakur

It was released during the feud between the East and West Coast. West Coast rapper 2Pac viewed the first lyrics of the song "Fake thug, no love, you get the slug, CB4 gusto, your luck low, I diddnt know till I was drunk though" as a subliminal and responded in two songs from his last album whilst alive, "": "Bomb First" and "Against All Odds". Although the two rappers purportedly reconciled before 2Pac's death, 2Pac was never able to edit the lyrics against Nas due to his murder.

Nas has confirmed that the song actually disses The Notorious B.I.G. with the lines, "There's one life, one love, so there can only be one King."cite web|last=Golianopoulos|first=Thomas|url=http://www.king-mag.com/online/?p=5357|title=KING Legacy: Nasir Jones, Part Two|publisher=King|date=2008-05-01|accessdate=2008-05-20] This lyric challenged Notorious B.I.G.'s title of King of New York at that the time of its release. He responded on the track "Kick in the Door" from his 1997 album "Life After Death".

ingle track listing

France 12" Vinyl

A-Side

# "The Message" (4:10)
# "Affirmative Action (Remix)" (4:09)

B-Side

# "The Message" (4:10)
# "If I Ruled the World (Acapella)" (4:42)

France CD

# "The Message" (4:10)
# "Street Dreams (Bonus Verse Mix)" (4:08)

References