To mark the 30th anniversary of its release, JAY-Z has officially brought the original version of his classic track “Dead Presidents” to streaming services for the first time.
Originally released independently through Roc-A-Fella Records in 1996, this version served as the first single for his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. However, it was later replaced on the album by its sequel, “Dead Presidents II.”
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The song is famously built around a sample of Nas’ voice from “The World Is Yours,” featuring the iconic line, “I’m out for presidents to represent me.”
This specific sample is often cited as the spark for the legendary rivalry between JAY-Z and Nas, which culminated years later with the track “Takeover,” where Jay famously claimed he made the line a “hot song.”
In addition to the streaming debut, the track is being re-released in physical formats, including vinyl, CD, and cassette, alongside his popular collaboration with Foxy Brown, “Ain’t No N***a.”
