Breaking Down Nas’ “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” | Large Professor

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  • čas přidán 18. 04. 2024
  • Watch the full, extended edit of this video by becoming a FREE DTG member at www.patreon.com/posts/free-ex...
    That video is twice as long and has things that can't make this cut.
    Today is the 30th anniversary of Nas’ Illmatic. So today, we’re gonna talk about yet ANOTHER incredible producer who worked on this album: Large Professor. He produced multiple songs on this album, but today we’re looking specifically at the last song on the album “It Ain’t Hard To Tell”. This song has it’s own journey as there are multiple version of this song, but… well the easiest way to navigate this is to… use a metaphor.
    __________________________________
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    __________________________________
    SOURCES
    Original Demo: • Video
    Interview with Large Professor: • Large Professor on Doi...
    Nas Quote: www.xxlmag.com/making-of-nas-...
    _________________________________
    TOPICS COVERED
    Nas
    Illmatic
    Large Professor
    30th Anniversary
    It Ain't Hard To Tell
    Nas Will Prevail
    Remix
    Chopped
    #nas #illmatic #hiphop

Komentáře • 163

  • @diggingthegreats
    @diggingthegreats  Před měsícem +21

    Watch the full, extended edit of this video by becoming a FREE DTG member at www.patreon.com/diggingthegreats
    That video is twice as long and has things that can't make this cut.

    • @Scoots1994
      @Scoots1994 Před měsícem

      Have you listened to The Brand New Heavies album Heavy Rhyme Experience Vol 1? It's got Main Source, Gang Starr, Black Sheep, Pharcyde, and others.

    • @CantTellYou
      @CantTellYou Před měsícem +1

      I swear CHOPPED must be sponsored by jordan almonds, which is a shame because I thought reality TV was the most ethical genre

  • @Kanyewestbiggestfan123
    @Kanyewestbiggestfan123 Před měsícem +187

    That Michael Jackson flip is one of my favorite sample flips of all time. Can’t believe this album is 30 and still sounds so fresh

    • @KtotheG
      @KtotheG Před měsícem +8

      The first time I heard "It Ain't Hard to Tell" was like the first time I heard "Sucker MCs" or "My Melody." It was one of those moments.

    • @waynemazique6556
      @waynemazique6556 Před měsícem +5

      ​@@KtotheGListening to this album for the first time in 94 gave me goosebumps.

  • @artisans8521
    @artisans8521 Před měsícem +41

    Human nature is written by Steve Porcaro, dug up by Quincy Jones and retexted by John Bettis and sung by Michael Jackson. Toto was the backing group. But that is just a detail.

  • @nicolesherman8974
    @nicolesherman8974 Před měsícem +106

    East Coast hip hop hits different on cloudy days for some reason… ☁️🔥🔥🔥

    • @paperbagbrown1326
      @paperbagbrown1326 Před měsícem +18

      You in a New York State of Mind.

    • @JDXTHEKID
      @JDXTHEKID Před měsícem

      😂😂​@@paperbagbrown1326

    • @darkdoc5643
      @darkdoc5643 Před měsícem +5

      Frrr. Like as ur listening to a beat coming from the East Coast, its like ur in whole different zone. The Vibe and everything.

    • @JoeyGastonQB1
      @JoeyGastonQB1 Před měsícem +2

      Facts...I always play the purple tape on rainy dayz

    • @joneseybaby8124
      @joneseybaby8124 Před měsícem +1

      Dam I thought only I thought like that. Crazy.

  • @Jacqueal
    @Jacqueal Před měsícem +39

    "It Ain't Hard to Tell" was my first lesson in timing. I considered "Human Nature" a slow song because the kick and snare happen on the 1 and 3 respectively. Then Large Pro flips it and I'm like, "Oh, it's actually mid-tempo."

  • @MetalSonic420
    @MetalSonic420 Před měsícem +53

    Happy 30 to Illmatic. The Hip-Hop Bible.

  • @undrgrouknight
    @undrgrouknight Před měsícem +24

    This is the song that made me fall in love with this album and ultimately call it the Greatest Album of All Times.

  • @GregPopabich
    @GregPopabich Před měsícem +44

    The remix has the greatest vocal sample of ALL TIME! Extra P made Biz Markie saying "recognized" sound like he's saying "Nas"!

    • @IAuMatu
      @IAuMatu Před měsícem +8

      That was DJ Premier scratching that into Nas is Like, right

    • @rustymixer2886
      @rustymixer2886 Před měsícem +4

      ​@IAuMatu there is 4 versions, demo, rough, lp, remix

  • @CurtisBond
    @CurtisBond Před měsícem +11

    The perfect outro to the perfect album. I love the progression of this record: it goes from dark, dour, gritty (NY State of Mind) to light, playful, maybe even a little optimistic (It Ain’t Hard to Tell). I genuinely think it’s the best hip-hop album ever recorded and it actually gets *better* with time. 10/10

  • @Scuba_steve0487
    @Scuba_steve0487 Před měsícem +8

    The way Large Pro flipped that MJ beat… maaaannnnnn!! He was definitely on another level when he made that beat 🙌🏼🙌🏼

  • @theonlycaamz
    @theonlycaamz Před měsícem +31

    common digging the greats w

  • @MugenBoy
    @MugenBoy Před měsícem +12

    When I first heard this I was 16 painting fences outside. It was middle of the whole pandemic and I make it sound like a long time ago but to me listening to this with sweat off my back in a really bad neighborhood it felt like the music was speaking to me. Forever grateful for Illmatic and ofc Digging The Greats 🙏🏼

  • @nanner_B
    @nanner_B Před měsícem +9

    Large Pro is so underrated. Breaking Atoms is one of the best hip hop albums of all time. It’s aged so well over the years

    • @Mr.Dobalina113
      @Mr.Dobalina113 Před měsícem

      When it came out, I couldn’t get any of my friends into that album. I don’t know what it was. But several years after it came out, I started to notice people listening to it. Maybe it was just ahead of its time or it took a bit to settle in with people or something.

    • @redsimmons6791
      @redsimmons6791 Před měsícem +1

      @@Mr.Dobalina113it was Mature Grown Up East Coast Rap Music when it dropped. So Proud to Say I Loved and Respected. There Sound when Breaking Atoms Dropped.
      Looking At The Front 🚪 ✨…..is Crazy, and One of the Best Rap Songs ever Made✅

    • @simon9146
      @simon9146 Před měsícem

      Large Professor is the foundation of the New York Boom Bap sound, you can hear it in his earlier production for Rakim, which sadly he was never officially credited for.

  • @123theprodigy5
    @123theprodigy5 Před měsícem +28

    Man, I just finished listening to the album, and I can’t believe it’s 30 years old today.

  • @BENWORKIN89
    @BENWORKIN89 Před měsícem +18

    Large Professor was definitely inspired by Grandmaster Vic (veteran and creator of the blend tape) when he made this beat.

  • @aaronconner6562
    @aaronconner6562 Před měsícem +5

    Dj premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Large professor, and LES one hell of a production team for a debut album

    • @terrenceliburd8655
      @terrenceliburd8655 Před měsícem

      @aaronconner6562: Some would say his album was the first that prioritized "super producers".

  • @beatsbybigjoe6222
    @beatsbybigjoe6222 Před měsícem +9

    Been in my Nas bag all day, you're right on time! 30 year anniversary + a new Nas and Preemo track today + a digging the greats Nas drop?! LFG!

  • @KSoloLoso
    @KSoloLoso Před měsícem +10

    Happy 30th Illmatic 💐

  • @steve_santiago
    @steve_santiago Před měsícem +16

    Gotta give a shout out to the Large Professor. Thought I lost his number but I left it on my dresser.

  • @ENDORSHORES
    @ENDORSHORES Před měsícem +6

    Just got my Illmatic Cd in the mail. Gonna watch this and bump it. Happy 30th🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

  • @zshakur
    @zshakur Před měsícem +5

    Kool G Rap also has that horn break sample in his song "Truly Yours".

  • @edwinruiz7569
    @edwinruiz7569 Před měsícem +23

    Best rap album ever. Period

  • @tahajfirst6836
    @tahajfirst6836 Před měsícem +4

    Large pro also used that NT horn sample in "just hangin out"...I think..I'm pretty sure...I feel like it's in there somewhere

  • @steve_santiago
    @steve_santiago Před měsícem +9

    Shout out to everyone who had the cassette single like I did.

  • @morreddie717
    @morreddie717 Před měsícem +6

    10/10 video! Q-tip also used N.T. on his remix of the world is yours

    • @diggingthegreats
      @diggingthegreats  Před měsícem +5

      Another chef cooking 🔥

    • @deana3449
      @deana3449 Před měsícem

      @@diggingthegreats And for Breath and Stop as well

  • @EaseVision
    @EaseVision Před měsícem +2

    FYI Nas & Michael Jackson weren't labelmates they were on 2 different labels under Sony music & still it was easy to make it possible to clear the sample.

  • @JayFingers
    @JayFingers Před měsícem +4

    I love videos like this. 😅 Like, I know all the trivia, all the samples and everything. But the way you tie it all together - the “Chopped” analogy is brilliant! Dare I say, it’s “chef’s kiss!”👨🏾‍🍳🤌🏾 Great video. Thanks for sharing!

  • @N-spireyourbeats
    @N-spireyourbeats Před měsícem +2

    The stories you tell are entertaining. Thanks for the work you do. ❤

  • @mcallarse
    @mcallarse Před měsícem +1

    Always liked the SWV remix but didn’t realize it‘s role in this classic. Both beats ended up on the songs they belonged to. The It Ain’t Hard to Tell beat is timeless.

  • @SalaahudDiyn
    @SalaahudDiyn Před měsícem

    I look forward to seeing your videos and I get hyped every time you drop a new one! I thought I was well informed about music but you always dig deep for real and I always learn something new from you. Even if I happen to know everything you’re talking about, your metaphors and analogies are top tier! I always use analogies when I talk to people about music to help streamline the information to them but your analogies make me go “WOW…..that summed it up perfectly!” And side note, I actually liked when you would freeze pose and point to another video. The way you would connect one topic to a previous video you did was a brilliant way to keep people engaged with your videos. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rewatched videos of yours just because it was connected to the latest upload you posted. You created a fun rabbit hole of binge watching your videos. Keep up the great work, you are hands down one of the best content creators on CZcams!

  • @Sinosure
    @Sinosure Před měsícem +1

    Much respect to your work bruh! You truly get it in!! I always look forward to your videos!! This was another solid upload!! This was one of MJ's hottest songs & my favorite Producer's have done it justice!! Incredible work!! We the hip hop, boom bap & beat maker sample heads truly enjoy it!
    🔥🔥🔥👊🏾💯

  • @ROB6873
    @ROB6873 Před měsícem

    Another fantastic video as always, thanks!! 🎶🎹🥁🎷🎺🪇😊

  • @JFAK1967
    @JFAK1967 Před měsícem

    You’re the man! Thanks for sharing your insight on what these geniuses created. Really makes me appreciate the craft on a deeper level

  • @cloudbloom
    @cloudbloom Před měsícem +1

    Good shit man! Always love what you're doing on the channel. Can't wait for some Outkast breakdowns😁

  • @Fruitbearersforchrist24
    @Fruitbearersforchrist24 Před 9 dny +1

    Pac actually did a really good sample of Human Nature, which was supposed to be on his Makaveli album but I’m guessing they couldn’t clear it? Not sure. But it’s called “N*ggaz Nature”. Hits really hard. I love it.

  • @broderickmayeux
    @broderickmayeux Před 19 dny

    Excellent presentation. Guys like you are doing great work in the art.

  • @jashanestone
    @jashanestone Před měsícem +2

    *"When I was 12, I went to hell for snuffing Jesus"* was one of the most epic lyrics in Hip-Hop history. It had everyone in NYC, hearing it for the first time, slapping, then holding thier cheeks like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone. 😂😂😂😂

    • @supremesoundz
      @supremesoundz Před měsícem +1

      I said the same thing for years on end. Nas delivering lines like that and “my thoughts react like Stephen Spielberg” in 1990-91 was a staple in Hip Hop. The God was always Bold and confident.

    • @andrewkeller2842
      @andrewkeller2842 Před měsícem +1

      I was always partial to “…slamming MCs on cement… ‘cause verbally, I'm iller than a AIDS patient”. It was like, ‘daaaaaamn! No he didn’t!’. Nas’s whole part in Live at the Barbecue is just untouchable. Listening to it back in the day with my boy’s was like receiving sacrament to us… it was a religious experience!

  • @RobertLJ11
    @RobertLJ11 Před měsícem

    Thanks for the Video and thanks for the link to the extended version! 👍👍🎁🎁

  • @crimson6323
    @crimson6323 Před měsícem +2

    fav channel of all time

  • @truestprophecy
    @truestprophecy Před měsícem +2

    coincidentally premo and nas just dropped a song to tease their new album today

  • @hustlehustlehustle
    @hustlehustlehustle Před měsícem +1

    "Human Nature" was produced by Quincy Jones, who produced the albums "Off the Wall", "Thriller" and "Bad". "Right Here" was produced by Teddy Riley, who was one of the main producers on "Dangerous".

  • @BoofHoover
    @BoofHoover Před měsícem +2

    haven't finished the video yet but I know it's gonna be dope.

  • @XavierCoolDude
    @XavierCoolDude Před měsícem

    Incredible song-had both the original and the Biz Mark sample remix taped off radio early 94. Illmatic is timeless. Another great video

  • @im_avg_joe
    @im_avg_joe Před měsícem

    Yoooooooo, you made me laugh at the very end. Props!

  • @jamesosei6888
    @jamesosei6888 Před měsícem

    My favorite channel for hip-hop songs breakdown

  • @Aus10sims
    @Aus10sims Před měsícem +2

    I don’t know Mayne,that 5 second freeze pose was kind of cool.
    Now if it went to a minute, now we’re entering Doctor Evil awkward villain laughing scene territory.☕️🤭

  • @cmoulden78
    @cmoulden78 Před měsícem

    I love this shit. Just found this channel. New subscriber indeed

  • @anthonywalker4211
    @anthonywalker4211 Před měsícem

    I used to hysterically laugh whenever you froze at the end of videos. It was a guilty pleasure. Simpler times lol

  • @kirbyaugustine761
    @kirbyaugustine761 Před měsícem

    Man I’ve always loved the creativity of real hip hop and this is why it’ll never die.

  • @antjblige_4744
    @antjblige_4744 Před měsícem

    Love the metaphor 🔥

  • @ossiejon-nwakalo8644
    @ossiejon-nwakalo8644 Před měsícem +1

    I’m so happy you talk about how you used to freeze, that was so weird 😂. But, every CZcamsr does something offbeat when they’re just starting.

  • @babamolapisi5716
    @babamolapisi5716 Před měsícem

    My favourite Nas song of All Time.

  • @RexMundi_UTC
    @RexMundi_UTC Před měsícem

    Large Pro content, yes please ❤️❤️❤️

  • @edgar8316
    @edgar8316 Před měsícem

    “Nas will prevail” is my favorite song of his

  • @DJMOS
    @DJMOS Před měsícem

    your youtube page is amazing brother.

  • @davidriley1702
    @davidriley1702 Před měsícem +2

    4:29 Teddy Riley did the remix, The actual producer is Brian Alexander Morgan

    • @diggingthegreats
      @diggingthegreats  Před měsícem

      Yes, and actually, as someone corrected in another comment - Teddy Riley is credited, but he didn't actually do it!

  • @diamond_cutter
    @diamond_cutter Před měsícem +1

    Salute to you brother. You are literally breaking it down for real.
    Respectfully request a break down of song if possible?
    New York State of mind remix by Nas.

  • @ROB6873
    @ROB6873 Před měsícem +2

    30 years is crazy 😮

  • @iShredStreets
    @iShredStreets Před měsícem

    This song is crazy good! 🔥

  • @EaseVision
    @EaseVision Před měsícem

    Nas got that title from a Main Source track off "Breaking Atoms". I forget what track but in it theres a part where LP says "it ain't hard to tell".

  • @SpiderDan2099
    @SpiderDan2099 Před měsícem

    Definitely signing up for the Patreon asap, so tired of the CZcams copyright nonsense. Kudos to you for trimming these videos just right to fly under the algorithms radar 😂
    Wow Illmatic was 30 years ago so crazy!
    I have a question on 'New York State of Mind' in one of the bars Nas has a line where he says 'I'm an addict for sneakers' ... I wondered if that was the lyric that spurned Raekwon's track 'Sneakers' from the 1999 'Immobilarity' album? Anyway these are just crazy curiosities that enter my brain sometimes years later. 😅 Guess we would have to ask the Chef ... in keeping with your cooking analogy 😊

  • @ryan_3113
    @ryan_3113 Před měsícem

    THE GOAT HAS POSTED

  • @engrademafias
    @engrademafias Před měsícem

    I noticed Chris Brown on "She ain't you" used this same sample. One of the most satisfying sounds to sample in music

  • @MusicFromAnotherTime
    @MusicFromAnotherTime Před měsícem +2

    I can't say I expected a Chopped reference in an Illmatic video, but fuck me I guess.

  • @andremack1580
    @andremack1580 Před měsícem

    Dude. I agree with you about how you end your videos. Walking off is so much better than you freezing waiting for us to click on the video. “Drop the mic” 🎤 😂

  • @judoclawplays962
    @judoclawplays962 Před měsícem

    "We're getting into the weeds of the show"
    A kitchen and 420 joke in the same line, you dog.

  • @WhangaFish
    @WhangaFish Před měsícem

    Do American'a call the main meal the entrée and the entrée the appetizer?
    Love the video man, just that appetizer entrée thing tripped me out

  • @WigleyClimbs
    @WigleyClimbs Před měsícem

    Great video

  • @KvngLxo
    @KvngLxo Před měsícem

    Theres actually another version of It Aint Hard To Tell from 1993 with different drums and slightly different verse/hook structure with a spoken outro too.

  • @haskeymorrison
    @haskeymorrison Před měsícem

    Hi! Fan of your channel!

  • @Somnivore7
    @Somnivore7 Před měsícem

    The first time I ever heard this beat was like a lightning bolt struck me. One of the best of all time

  • @loccaleus1
    @loccaleus1 Před měsícem

    this is still my favorite Nas song of all time.

  • @djnamedslash3210
    @djnamedslash3210 Před měsícem

    SWV’s Right Here was produced by Brian Alexander Morgan and Allen Gordon Jr. AKA Allstar. Teddy Riley added additional Keys.

  • @chrismorale_
    @chrismorale_ Před měsícem

    I must have CTE because I also hear the drums from "Vibrant Thing" sampled from NT. I hear a lot of songs just buried in my mind from these samples mentioned 🥺

  • @rustymixer2886
    @rustymixer2886 Před měsícem +1

    Nas will prevail is great

  • @babybambi8389
    @babybambi8389 Před měsícem

    I love your videos

  • @keiththomas111
    @keiththomas111 Před měsícem

    The one version I got on a Columbia sampler cd it was sampling the Great Biz Markie from" Nobody beats the Biz" produced by the sampler master mind Marley Marl 🎤🎧💽💾🎹📀💿

  • @lRlMlGl
    @lRlMlGl Před měsícem

    Yes, FINALLY!

  • @vWayvy
    @vWayvy Před měsícem

    Biggie‘s „Ready to Die“ is also celebrating it‘s 30th anniversary this year. I‘d love to see a video on one of it‘s songs, that would be awesome dude. Thanks for the great work!

  • @adamalexander5634
    @adamalexander5634 Před měsícem

    This 30th Anniversary celebration is a good time to shout out Elzhi’s tribute mixtape, Elmatic, released in 2011. Treat your sound holes!

  • @MMDipset_Dragon
    @MMDipset_Dragon Před měsícem

    This is hard!!

  • @SuperSladjo
    @SuperSladjo Před měsícem

    Babe wake up dig dropped another banger

  • @coolearth7130
    @coolearth7130 Před měsícem

    What song is played in the background from 2:17 to 2:46???

  • @MATALOMUSIC
    @MATALOMUSIC Před měsícem +1

    IT AIN'T HARD TO TELL
    that Digging the Greats is the GOAT

  • @lukasmaturana1946
    @lukasmaturana1946 Před měsícem

    ITS ILLMATIC’S 30 YEARS BIRTHDAY TODAY

  • @ManualsRBetter
    @ManualsRBetter Před měsícem +1

    Greatest album of all time.

  • @sundamusik
    @sundamusik Před měsícem

    If im not mistaken the sample you had in purple, L.P. used for one of their own songs for main source.

  • @crowfoot7355
    @crowfoot7355 Před 12 dny

    Niiiiccceeee 👍

  • @clanski
    @clanski Před měsícem

    30 Years Later !! #illmatic the best album in hip hop history !! No debate 📖

  • @hawk1392
    @hawk1392 Před měsícem

    Happy 30th to Illmatic 🔥🔥

  • @Cicero82
    @Cicero82 Před měsícem +1

    You gotta do a breakdown on ‘Memory Lane’. Now THAT track went hard!

  • @dominicanvic9
    @dominicanvic9 Před měsícem

    This album defines hip hop in its natural form before she went corporate.(POP)

  • @ttewb12
    @ttewb12 Před měsícem

    You could make a whole other video entirely about how often that long red sample is used throughout hip hop lol.

  • @b0s0x4ever
    @b0s0x4ever Před měsícem

    It Ain’t Hard to Tell is also a song that belongs on any 420 playlists. Happy 4/20!

  • @aaronquadsquad5
    @aaronquadsquad5 Před měsícem

    4:23 to 4:29 Brandon the song was produced by Pharrell Williams here the four count at the beginning of the song.

  • @randomcharacter6501
    @randomcharacter6501 Před měsícem +1

    Swear I never clicked so fast fr.

  • @rustymixer2886
    @rustymixer2886 Před měsícem +1

    Why didnt you talk about 2nd version

  • @tristanedhiputra3189
    @tristanedhiputra3189 Před měsícem +1

    Make a video about it was written

  • @Axiohm000
    @Axiohm000 Před měsícem

    He forgot to add both Large Professor and Premier have the same birthday 3-21

  • @regib1992
    @regib1992 Před měsícem

    I love MF Doom’s remix of Ain’t Hard To Tell also