Studio Album · No. 3
I Am... Songwriting Credits by Nas
Produced by DJ Premier, L.E.S., Timbaland, Nashiem Myrick, Carlos Broady, Dame Grease, Trackmasters, Alvin West
Holds writing credit on 16 of 16 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 16 / 16 documented
Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether Nas carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
I Am... was meant to be a double album, Nas's autobiography, until bootleggers leaked the sessions and forced him to cut it down, with the leftover momentum feeding the rushed Nastradamus later the same year. He still writes every rhyme himself, balancing street tracks with reflective ones over beats from DJ Premier, Trackmasters, and Timbaland. "Nas Is Like," built by DJ Premier from chopped vocal samples, is the lyrical centerpiece and pure Nas on the page.
"I Am..." is the 1999 third studio album by Nas, released on Columbia Records as an East Coast hip-hop project originally conceived as a double album titled "I Am... The Autobiography." Production came from DJ Premier, L.E.S., Trackmasters, Timbaland, and Dame Grease, among others. Singles included "Nas Is Like" and "Hate Me Now" featuring Puff Daddy, while "You Won't See Me Tonight" featured Aaliyah and "We Will Survive" paid tribute to Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling over 470,000 copies in its first week and earning double platinum certification from the RIAA. The planned double album was cut down after several songs leaked online as MP3 files, making it one of the first major label releases widely distributed in that format.
Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Album Intro
|
Not documented | Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones | - | - |
| 2 |
N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesChristopher Martin | DJ Premier | Nas (Rap) |
| 3 |
Hate Me Now
|
NasPuff Daddy | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesGavin Marchand | Pretty BoyD. MoetTrackmasters | Puff Daddy |
| 4 |
Small World
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesCarlos BroadyNashiem Myrick | Nashiem MyrickCarlos Broady | Nas (Rap) |
| 5 |
Favor for a Favor
|
NasScarface | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesBrad JordanLeShan Lewis | L.E.S. | Scarface |
| 6 |
We Will Survive
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesJamel Edgerten | TrackmastersJamel Edgerton | Nas (Rap) |
| 7 |
Ghetto Prisoners
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesDamon Blackmon | Dame Grease | Nas (Rap) |
| 8 |
You Won't See Me Tonight
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesTimothy MosleyMelissa Arnette Elliott | Timbaland | Aaliyah |
| 9 |
I Want to Talk to You
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesLeShan LewisAlvin West | L.E.S.Alvin West | Nas (Rap) |
| 10 |
Dr. Knockboot
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesSamuel BarnesJean-Claude Olivier | Trackmasters | Nas (Rap) |
| 11 |
Life Is What You Make It
|
NasDMX | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesLeShan LewisEarl Simmons | L.E.S. | DMX |
| 12 |
Big Things
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesMichael MasserAlvin West | Alvin West | Nas (Rap) |
| 13 |
Nas Is Like
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesChristopher Martin | DJ Premier | Nas (Rap) |
| 14 |
K-I-SS-I-N-G
|
NasR. Kelly | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesRobert KellyLeShan LewisAlvin West | L.E.S.Alvin West | Nas (Rap) |
| 15 |
Money Is My Bitch
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesSamuel BarnesJean-Claude Olivier | Alvin WestTrackmasters | Nas (Rap) |
| 16 |
Undying Love
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesLeShan Lewis | L.E.S. | Nas (Rap) |