Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)

"Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" is a collaboration song between Rakim, Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One and that is co-produced by Rick Rubin and DJ Premier. The song was released as a single on February 20, 2007 by Nike Records. It was performed live at the Nike Air Force Ones 25th anniversary party shown on MTV2.

"Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)"
Single by Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One (and Rakim on the remix)
ReleasedFebruary 20, 2007
Recorded2007
GenreHip hop
Length4:07
4:42 (DJ Premier Remix)
LabelNike
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kanye West singles chronology
"I Still Love H.E.R."
(2007)		 "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)"
(2007)		 "Can't Tell Me Nothing"
(2007)
Nas singles chronology
"Can't Forget About You"
(2007)		 "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)"
(2007)		 "Less Than an Hour"
(2007)
KRS-One singles chronology
"My Life"
(2006)		 "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)"
(2007)		 "Kill a Rapper"
(2007)
Music video
"Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been) (DJ Premier Remix)" on YouTube

Its remix, "Better Than I've Ever Been DJ Premier Remix", is produced by DJ Premier, and it features Rakim along with the aforementioned rappers. It features DJ Premier's signature scratches from prior songs such as Nas' "One Love" and "It Ain't Hard to Tell". The song was nominated for Best Rap Collaboration at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008.[1]

Proceeds from the song's sales go towards youth leadership programs through the Force4Change Fund.

The song is often misinterpreted as a DJ Premier track featuring Rakim, Nas and KRS-ONE and excluding Kanye West. This is due to a popular upload of the music video on YouTube where DJ Premier is credited as the artist and Kanye West's opening verse is removed from the video.[2] The music video itself was released for the DJ Premier Remix of the song.

Track listing

Side A: "Better Than I've Ever Been" (prod. Rick Rubin) featuring Kanye West, Nas, and KRS-One – full song – instrumental – a cappella

Side B: "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been DJ Premier Remix)" featuring Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One, and Rakim – full song – instrumental – a cappella

Music video

The music video for the DJ Premier Remix of "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" was released on March 29, 2007 and directed by Thibaut de Longeville.[3]

Samples

The original beat by Rick Rubin samples the song "Give Me the Night", performed by George Benson, off his Give Me the Night album.

DJ Premier's remix contains samples from "Dance the Kung-Fu" by Carl Douglas.

References
  1. "Kanye West". grammy.com. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  2. GSweed (2011-03-09), Dj Premier - Classic(feat. Rakim, Nas & Krs One), retrieved 2017-10-22
  3. "Better Than I've Ever Been: Classic DJ Premier Remix | Kanye West | Music Video". MTV. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
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