If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)

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“If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”
“If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)” cover
Single by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill
from the album It Was Written
Released May 28, 1996
Format CD single
Recorded 1996
Genre Hip hop
Length 4:42
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Nasir Jones
Jean-Claude Olivier
Kurtis Walker
Samuel Barnes
Producer Trackmasters Entertainment
Rashad Smith
Nas featuring Lauryn Hill singles chronology
"One Love"
(1994)		 "'If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)" (feat. Lauryn Hill)
(1996)		 "Street Dreams"
(1996)
It Was Written track listing
"Live Nigga Rap"
(13)		 "'If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)"
(14)		 "Silent Murder"
(15)

"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" is a 1996 hit hip hop single by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees. The single was Nas's first Top 20 R&B hit, and was also nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. The song samples the 1983 Whodini single "Friends", and interpolates the song "If I Ruled The World" by Kurtis Blow into its chorus. Lauryn Hill's verse interpolates the song "Walk Right Up To The Sun" by The Delfonics. The song's lyrics feature Nas discussing the various things he would do if he "ruled the world and everything in it".

"If I Ruled the World", bolstered by a high-budget music video directed by Hype Williams, became Nas's first single to gain mainstream notice. The single became a Top 20 hit on both the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (number 17) chart and the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart (number 15). The song still receives airplay on New York radio stations such as Hot 97 as the track has gained a reputation as a classic song from the mid-90's.

Contents

[edit] Single track listing

[edit] US 12" Vinyl

[edit] A-Side

  1. "If I Ruled the World" (Main Mix) (4:42)
  2. "If I Ruled the World" (Instrumental) (4:34)

[edit] B-Side

  1. "If I Ruled the World" (Clean Mix) (4:42)
  2. "If I Ruled the World" (A Cappella) (4:42)

[edit] Europe Maxi-CD (COL 663296 2)

  1. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Main Mix)" (4:45)
  2. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Instrumental)" (4:36)
  3. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Clean Mix)" (4:45)
  4. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (A Cappella)" (4:42)

[edit] Europe CD (COL 663296 1)

  1. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Main Mix)"
  2. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Instrumental)"


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Nas
Studio albums
Compilations
Collaborations
Singles
"Halftime" · "It Ain't Hard to Tell" · "The World Is Yours" · "Life's a Bitch" · "One Love" · "If I Ruled the World" · "Street Dreams" · "The Message" · "Escobar '97" · "Nas Is Like" · "Hate Me Now" · "In Too Deep" · "Nastradamus" · "Analyze This" · "You Owe Me" · "Rule" · "Got Ur Self A..." · "One Mic" · "Made You Look" · "I Can" · "Get Down" · "Thief's Theme" · "Bridging the Gap" · "Just a Moment" · "Hip Hop Is Dead" · "Can't Forget About You" · "Classic" · "Less Than an Hour" · "Be a Nigger Too" ·
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