We’re loving these Off the Records joints, because we get to learn a little more about classic records in hip-hop. In the latest episode of the series, Large Professor takes it back to Illmatic and explains how Nas cooked up the classic “Ain’t Hard To Tell.” He said it was a feel-good joint to pop bottles to in the hood, just a celebration with that muddy and gritty vibe.
As far as the Michael Jackson sample, it didn’t matter to them because they were just keeping it G to themselves and how they rocked parties on the block. Not to mention the fact Nas was on Sony at the time as the King of Pop. That little tidbit probably was a big factor as to how the song still lived.
Just imagine if they would have never approved the sample.