Throwback: Nas: Made You Look
The Salaam Remi-produced “Made You Look” is the first single from Nas’s 2002 sixth studio album, God’s Son. Nas was going through an intense time, having just lost his mother and finishing a battle with Jay-Z. “Made You Look” announced that Nas was back and fully present. Remi worked out a sample of the Incredible Bongo Band’s “Apache” that had Nas rapping over staccato horns, eerie tremolo guitar, and a bass that all sounded like a rallying cry for him and his Queensbridge crew. Lyrically he was bragging about his rap status, admiring women, and hanging with his crew. “Made You Look” was a certified hit record that reached fans on the radio, in the clubs, and on the streets. All three of the album’s singles, “Made You Look,” “I Can,” and “Get Down,” helped God’s Son achieve platinum status. The album elevated Nas’s stature even higher in the hip-hop community and reaffirmed his New York king title before the south became the center of the rap world for the next generation. God’s Son inspired 9th Wonder and he released the remix album, God’s Stepson, in 2003. The official remix of “Made You Look” has appearances from Jadakiss and Ludacris.
