Nas - Hate Me Now (feat. Puff Daddy) -

Nas intentionally recruited Puff Daddy for the track, seeking the same high-energy "sh-t talk" Puffy had delivered on "Victory". While Puff Daddy does not provide a traditional rap verse, his ad-libs and presence on the hook crystallized the song's theme of unapologetic success in the face of jealousy. The Crucifixion Controversy

Produced by D-Moet and the Trackmasters, the song is built upon a dramatic, operatic sample of "O Fortuna" from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana . Interestingly, the beat was originally intended for Foxy Brown, who passed on it before Nas recognized its potential as a "statement record". Nas - Hate Me Now (feat. Puff Daddy)

The song’s legacy is inseparable from its Hype Williams-directed music video. The visual features Nas in a crown of thorns, literally dragging a cross through the streets to his own crucifixion—a metaphor for the "persecution" he felt from critics. Nas intentionally recruited Puff Daddy for the track,

"Hate Me Now" (1999) stands as one of the most defiant and controversial anthems in hip-hop history, marking a pivotal moment where street credibility collided with mainstream excess. Featured on Nas's third studio album, I Am... , the track served as a direct response to critics who claimed the Queensbridge lyricist had "sold out" following the commercial success of his previous work. Musical Composition and Collaboration Interestingly, the beat was originally intended for Foxy