Halftime (Nas song)
Encyclopedia
"Halftime" is the 1992 debut single by American rapper Nas
, released under his original moniker of "Nasty Nas". It was originally recorded for the Zebrahead
soundtrack album, released October 13, 1992, on Ruffhouse Records
. "Halftime" was produced by Large Professor
and features samples from "Schoolboy Crush" by Average White Band, "Hawaiian Sophie" by Jaz-O
, "Soul Traveling" by Gary Byrd, and "Dead End" by Japanese Hair. The song was later included on Nas' influential 1994 debut album, Illmatic
.
/That's like Malcolm X
, catchin' the Jungle Fever
" and "I'm as ill as a convict who kills for phone time." Nas also uses this song to give a "shout-outs" to Ill Will Records
, and the Queensbridge Crew, a reference to the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens, NY, USA. He also reveals he's a fan of Marcus Garvey
, the Jackson 5 and Mr. Magic
.
led to Nas's breakthrough as a rapper, as a record deal with Columbia Records
and the release of his debut album, Illmatic
(1994), followed. According to Vibe magazine, the song "created a niche that only Illmatic could fill".
B-side
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, released under his original moniker of "Nasty Nas". It was originally recorded for the Zebrahead
Zebrahead (film)
Zebrahead is a 1992 drama film, directed by Anthony Drazan and starring Michael Rapaport and N'Bushe Wright. Set in Detroit, Michigan, the film is about an interracial romance between a white man and a black woman and the resulting tensions among the characters...
soundtrack album, released October 13, 1992, on Ruffhouse Records
Ruffhouse Records
Ruffhouse Records is a record label founded in 1989 by Chris Schwartz and Joe Nicolo as a joint venture with Columbia Records. In 1999, Schwartz and Nicolo stopped the label. Schwartz and Kevon Glickman continued with RuffNation Records; Chris Schwartz has worked in the music and film industry for...
. "Halftime" was produced by Large Professor
Large Professor
Large Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
and features samples from "Schoolboy Crush" by Average White Band, "Hawaiian Sophie" by Jaz-O
Jaz-O
Jonathan Burks better known by his stage name Jaz-O, is an American rapper and record producer active in the late 1980s through the 1990s, best known for being the mentor of Jay-Z. Jaz is also known as the Originator and had a song called "The Originators" that featured a young Jay-Z in 1990...
, "Soul Traveling" by Gary Byrd, and "Dead End" by Japanese Hair. The song was later included on Nas' influential 1994 debut album, Illmatic
Illmatic
Illmatic is the debut album of American rapper Nas, released April 19, 1994, on Columbia Records. Following his signing to Columbia with the help of MC Serch, recording sessions for the album took place during 1992 to 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording...
.
Content
"Halftime" features an up-tempo beat led by percussion and trumpets over which Nas rhymes. Memorable lines include "You couldn't catch me in the streets without a ton of reeferJoint (cannabis)
Joint is a slang term for a cigarette rolled using cannabis. Rolling papers are the most common rolling medium among industrialized countries, however brown paper, cigarettes with the tobacco removed, and newspaper are commonly used in developing countries. Modern papers are now made from a wide...
/That's like Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
, catchin' the Jungle Fever
Miscegenation
Miscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....
" and "I'm as ill as a convict who kills for phone time." Nas also uses this song to give a "shout-outs" to Ill Will Records
Ill Will Records
Ill Will Records was an American vanity record label founded by Nasir "Nas" Jones. The label was named after Willie Graham, Nas' childhood neighbor and best friend, was shot dead on May 23, 1992 when both were teenagers...
, and the Queensbridge Crew, a reference to the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens, NY, USA. He also reveals he's a fan of Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH was a Jamaican publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League...
, the Jackson 5 and Mr. Magic
Mr. Magic
John "Mr. Magic" Rivas, was an important figure in the world of hip hop radio.-Biography:Mr. Magic debuted in 1981 on WHBI-FM in New York City with the first exclusive rap radio show to be aired on a major station...
.
Significance
The inclusion of "Halftime" to the Zebrahead soundtrack by MC SerchMC Serch
MC Serch is a Jewish-American hip hop MC and former member of 3rd Bass.-Biography:Serch grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens, attending Far Rockaway High School, and graduated from Music & Art High School...
led to Nas's breakthrough as a rapper, as a record deal with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and the release of his debut album, Illmatic
Illmatic
Illmatic is the debut album of American rapper Nas, released April 19, 1994, on Columbia Records. Following his signing to Columbia with the help of MC Serch, recording sessions for the album took place during 1992 to 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording...
(1994), followed. According to Vibe magazine, the song "created a niche that only Illmatic could fill".
Sampling
Lyrics from "Halftime" are sampled in these songs:- "Exercise" by Akinyele
- "Rugged Ruff" by BahamadiaBahamadiaBahamadia is a Philadelphia-born hip hop artist born in 1970, and a DJ who later became an MC. As a member of Gang Starr Foundation, she released her critically acclaimed debut album entitled Kollage in 1996. The album featured production by Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr...
- "We Got It Hemmed" by Cella DwellasCella DwellasCella Dwellas are an underground hip hop duo from Flatbush, Brooklyn, consisting of emcees UG and Phantasm. The group is largely known for their dark beats and excellent lyricism...
- "Down for the Kaz" by Kazi
- "I Will Always Love H.E.R." by Peanut Butter WolfPeanut Butter WolfChris Manak, aka Peanut Butter Wolf, is a DJ, hip-hop producer and the founder of hip-hop label Stones Throw Records.A native of San Jose, California, He took on the name Peanut Butter Wolf in the late-80s when he realized that a girlfriend’s youngest brother feared the “peanut butter wolf monster”...
- "Strike Back" by Army of the PharaohsArmy of the PharaohsArmy of the Pharaohs is a hip hop supergroup originating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed by Jedi Mind Tricks MC, Vinnie Paz in 1998.-Recording history:...
- "Vengeance" by East Coast Avengers
- "Am I Dope Or What" by VakillVakillVakill is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. Vakill is known through his association with Chicago Hip Hop collective The Molemen, and for his literate, witty, punch line-filled lyricism and detailed story-telling.-Early years:Raised on the South side of Chicago on 119th Street, Vakill was...
- "Furam Obleku" by Target of Tram 11Tram 11Tram 11 is a Croatian rap group from Zagreb that was one of the first successful rap acts in Croatia.-History:The group was formed formed in 1996 by Nenad Šimun "Target" and Srđan Ćuk "General Woo"...
- "Crazy Like a Foxxx (D.I.T.C. Version)" by Bumpy Knuckles
Track listing
A-side- "Halftime" (Radio Edit) (4:19)
- "Halftime" (LP Version) (4:19)
- "Halftime" (LP Version Instrumental) (4:19)
B-side
- "Halftime" (Butcher Remix)DJ Bubie (4:41)
- "Halftime" (Butcher Instrumental) (4:42)
External links
- "Halftime" at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...