Words by Jesse Serwer—
Nas’ new, Super Cat-sampling banger “The Don” has created quite an uproar—on the radio, on blogs and definitely in the LargeUp offices. We think it’s just about the best rap song of the year so far, and not just because of our affinity for anything Super Cat-related. It arguably captures the energy of the ’90s NYC hip-hop x dancehall cultural clash better than anything on Distant Relatives, the rapper’s collaborative album with Damian Marley, and, after the equally stellar “Nasty,” has us thinking that maybe Nas really is back in an Illmatic zone.
Two days after premiering the track on Funkmaster Flex, Nas debuted it live in Austin, Texas, during his appearance at South by Southwest on Saturday night. Amidst a set otherwise dedicated to revisiting his classic debut, the BBQ-favoring MC performed “The Don” as the visage of the song’s co-producer (along with Salaam Remi and Da Internz), Heavy D looked down from a projection screen. Download “The Don” here, if you haven’t already, dammit.