I Gave You Power

"I Gave You Power" is a 1996 jazz fusion-styled song on Nas' second album It Was Written. It is considered a standout song,[1][2] one of Nas' greatest hits,[3] and a hip hop "classic".[4] It follows "Street Dreams" gaplessly on It Was Written.[5]

"I Gave You Power"
Song by Nas
from the album It Was Written
ReleasedJuly 2, 1996
Recorded1995
GenreEast Coast hip hop, jazz rap
Length3:52
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Nasir Jones
Chris E. Martin
Producer(s)DJ Premier

Production

"I Gave You Power" was produced by DJ Premier.[6] Executive producer Steve Stoute said it was a challenge getting both Premier and Nas in the studio thanks to idiosyncrasies in timetables, so when he did get them together, he left them alone for some time. Upon returning to the studio, he was so impressed with the results that he stole the cassette and put it in his car to listen to it, much to the chagrin of Nas, who promptly rung Premier, saying, "Where the fuck is my tape?"[7] Stoute then drove back to Queensbridge to return it.[7]

Lyrical content

The song's lyrics are a first-person narrative from the perspective of a gun.[1] In a 2012 interview, Nas stated that he was around a lot of guns at the time he wrote "I Gave You Power" and decided to rap about it.[7] An aggressive beat was considered,[7] but ultimately the song ended up accompanied by falling piano notes and stuttering drums.[8] Rolling Stone writer Mark Coleman describes its beat as "a spooky, jazz-fusion groove."[6]

The song features a mistake at its start: "Like I'm a f-, I'm a gun, shit. It's like I'm a motherfucking gun".[7] Tone of the Trackmasters wanted it removed, but Nas ultimately decided to keep it because otherwise listeners would not understand that the song was from the perspective of a gun. Originally the song was going to feature a skit in which somebody drops the gun and someone else picks it up.[7]

Follow-ups

"I Gave You Power" is the first in a string of Nas songs in which he personifies an object or concept.[9] His 2006 song "Blood Diamond" was compared to "I Gave You Power" because of its use of gun personification.[10] Other examples include "Money Is My Bitch", "Last Words", "Project Roach" and "Fried Chicken".[11]

Impact on hip-hop culture

Shortly after It Was Written was released in 1996, Tupac Shakur compared his girlfriend to a gun on the song "Me and My Girlfriend." Although the song was released posthumously, Young Noble, a close friend of Tupac Shakur, said that "I Gave You Power" served as the main inspiration for Shakur's "Me and My Girlfriend".[12] 50 Cent used "I Gave You Power" to address evolution in hip-hop.[13] Eminem's song "Desperation" mentions the song.[14] Irv Gotti made an episode on the BET show Tales (TV series) based on the song.

References
  1. Berliner, Brett. Review: It Was Written. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-08-01.
  2. CP. Music Review: Not as Nas-ty as He Wants to Be. Washington City Paper. Written on October 29, 2007. Retrieved on August 9, 2008.
  3. J-23. Nas – Greatest Hits Review. HipHopDX.com. Written on November 19, 2007. Retrieved on August 9, 2008.
  4. AbduSalaam, Ishmael. Nas – Untitled Review. AllHipHop.com. Written on July 7, 2008. Retrieved on August 9, 2008.
  5. Nas (artist) (July 2, 1996). It Was Written. Columbia Records.
  6. Coleman, Mark (September 19, 1996). Review: It Was Written. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  7. "The Making of Nas' "It Was Written"". Complex. May 25, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  8. Krisex. "Review: It Was Written". Vibe: 201–202. September 1996.
  9. Berliner, Brett. Nas – God's Son Review. Stylus Magazine. Written on September 1, 2001. Retrieved on August 9, 2008.
  10. Pitchfork Media Editors. Blood Diamond Review Archived April 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on August 9, 2008.
  11. Adaso, Henry. Nas – Untitled Review. About.com. Written in 2008. Retrieved on August 9, 2008.
  12. Icons of Hip Hop. Hess (2007), pp. 358–359.
  13. Harling, Danielle (May 13, 2013). "50 Cent Uses Nas' "I Gave You Power" To Address Evolution in Hip Hop | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  14. The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (Media notes). Eminem. Shady Records. November 5, 2013.CS1 maint: others (link)
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