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Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)
| cover = BetterThanI'veEverBeen.JPG
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Kanye West, Nas, and KRS-One (with Rakim on the remix)
| album =
| released = February 20, 2007
| recorded = 2007
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 4:07
4:42 (DJ Premier Remix)
| label = Nike
| writer =
| producer =
| chronology = Kanye West
| prev_title = I Still Love H.E.R.
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = Can't Tell Me Nothing
| next_year = 2007
| misc =
}}
"'Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)'" is a collaboration song by Rakim, Kanye West, Nas, and KRS-One. The song, co-produced by Rick Rubin and DJ Premier, was released as a single on February 20, 2007, by Nike Records. It was performed live at the Nike Air Force Ones 25th anniversary party shown on MTV2.
Its remix, "Better Than I've Ever Been DJ Premier Remix", is produced by DJ Premier, and it features Rakim along with the aforementioned rappers. It features DJ Premier's signature scratches from prior songs such as Nas' "One Love" and "It Ain't Hard to Tell". The song was nominated for Best Rap Collaboration at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008.
Proceeds from the song's sales go towards youth leadership programs through the Force4Change Fund.
The song is often misinterpreted as a DJ Premier track featuring Rakim, Nas and KRS-ONE and excluding Kanye West. This is due to a popular upload of the music video on YouTube where DJ Premier is credited as the artist and Kanye West's opening verse is removed from the video. The music video itself was released for the DJ Premier Remix of the song.
Track listing
Side A: "Better Than I've Ever Been" (prod. Rick Rubin) featuring Kanye West, Nas, and KRS-One
full song
instrumental
a cappella
Side B: "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been DJ Premier Remix)" featuring Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One, and Rakim
full song
instrumental
a cappella
Music video
The music video for the DJ Premier Remix of "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" was released on March 29, 2007 and directed by Thibaut de Longeville.
Samples
The original beat by Rick Rubin samples the song "Give Me the Night", performed by George Benson, off his 'Give Me the Night' album.
DJ Premier's remix contains samples from "Dance the Kung-Fu" by Carl Douglas.
References
Category:2007 singles
Category:Rakim songs
Category:Nas songs
Category:Kanye West songs
Category:KRS-One songs
Category:Song recordings produced by DJ Premier
Category:Songs written by Nas
Category:2007 songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Rick Rubin
Category:Songs written by Biddu
Category:Songs written by KRS-One
Category:Songs written by Kanye West
Category:Posse cuts
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