Take It in Blood

This song was on Nas' sophomore album "It Was Written".

It features a sample of “Mixed up Moods and Attitudes” by the 70’s R&B Group The Fantastic Four and it also samples Kool Keith’s verse from “Ease Back” by the Ultramagnetic MCs.

Some people argue that this song really isn’t about anything and just sounds good but if you do the research you’ll see that this is one of the most complex songs Nas has ever recorded. "Illmatic" was definitely a classic but it didn’t get the record sales it deserved and you can feel his hunger. He is literally rapping for his life.

Nas had this to say to Complex:

"I met Stretch by some dangerous cats that I was hanging with. Stretch became my brother immediately; we hung out all the time, almost every day. He wasn’t really recognized for the great work he was doing with 2Pac & the hardcore records he did with his group Live Squad, with his brother Majesty.

Stretch was really hurt by 2Pac. I would hear him talking about how ‘Pac was so mad at him because Stretch was with 2Pac when he got set up and robbed in the lobby of Quad Studios in Manhattan, in Nov. 1994. 'Pac was mad at everyone after that. I felt bad for Stretch because he really had a lot of love for 'Pac & couldn’t believe that 'Pac thought he had something to do with it.

Stretch dropped me off at home, then went home & was killed . That was a real great guy. He produced “Take It in Blood” and “Silent Murder”—the irony. It was just a messed up moment for me. It was the last work he did."