This song deals with the struggles Nas faced growing up in New York City, or as he calls it in this song, "The Rotten Apple." Some of the challenges he raps about overcoming include poverty, violence and racist cops.
Pete Rock produced this track, which is based on a sample of "I Love Music" by the jazz musician Ahmad Jamal. Rock was playing Jamal's 1970 album The Awakening when he heard the track and started integrating the drums. When Nas heard what he was up to, the rapper suggested that Rock sing the hook instead, which he did. Also sampled in this song is "It's Yours" by T La Rock.
Nas got the idea for the title from the movie Scarface. In the film, Al Pacino's character Tony Montana is in his mansion when a blimp flies by with the message "The World Is Yours." The blimp was advertising Pan American airlines, but Montana, in a solipsistic state, saw it as a sign.
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