If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (feat. Lauryn Hill)

"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" is a profound exploration of utopian ideals juxtaposed with the harsh realities of inner-city life in 1990s America. The song functions as a daydream, a speculative fantasy where Nas envisions a world free from the systemic injustices and social ills he witnesses daily. He imagines a society without police brutality, a fair justice system, and economic prosperity for all, effectively eliminating poverty and the desperation that fuels crime. The lyrics touch on themes of freedom, justice, and empowerment, presenting a vision that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

The song's meaning is layered. On one level, it's an aspirational anthem about achieving personal success and luxury—cruising in Bahama waters, driving expensive cars, and wearing designer clothes. However, these material desires are intertwined with a deeper yearning for social change. Nas imagines a world where he can 'free all my sons,' a powerful metaphor for liberating Black men from the cycles of incarceration and violence. He wishes to 'open every cell in Attica, send 'em to Africa,' a radical statement that speaks to a desire for a complete overhaul of the prison-industrial complex and a reconnection with ancestral roots.

Lauryn Hill's soulful chorus acts as the song's emotional core, grounding Nas's grand visions with the poignant reminder, 'Still livin' for today, in these last days and times.' This line injects a sense of melancholy and urgency, acknowledging that while the dream of a better world is powerful, the struggle in the present is real and immediate. The song isn't just an escape; it's a critique of the socio-economic disparities and racial prejudices that prevent such a world from existing. It captures the dual consciousness of hoping for a better future while navigating the dangers of the present, making it a timeless piece of social commentary.

The song begins with a moment of contemplation, as the narrator, Nas, wonders about his fate and whether life's struggles will overwhelm him. He then invites the listener into a fantasy, a world remade according to his ideals. In this imagined world, one could smoke marijuana freely without police harassment, and the justice system would be fair, eliminating the need for trials. He pictures a luxurious lifestyle, cruising in blue waters, a world without welfare because prosperity is abundant. There's a heightened consciousness about raising daughters with respect and care. However, this idyllic vision is punctuated by the harshness of reality; the days feel short, the nights cold, and life itself feels precarious, with treachery lurking like a striking cobra. The heat of the world is palpable, as a friend's son gets arrested, a stark reminder of what he perceives as a systemic effort to eliminate his community.

Despite this, the dream persists. He imagines a world where everyone can afford and display high fashion and designer clothes, where cocaine is pure and uncut, leading to greater profits for those in the trade. His crew would be adorned with diamond Rolex watches, and there would be no parole system or the need for condoms because trust and freedom would reign. It's a world where the law operates without undercover officers, a thought that leads him to glimpse a blimp in the sky with the message "The World Is Mine," a direct nod to the film Scarface and its themes of ambition and power.

The chorus, soulfully delivered by Lauryn Hill, reinforces this dream. It's a prayerful wish for a world where Nas is in control, a world where he would free all his friends and loved them, surrounding them with black diamonds and pearls. It's a vision of shared success and brilliance, yet it's grounded in the present reality with the line, "still livin' for today, in these last days and times."

In his second verse, Nas expands on the social harmony of his utopia. It would be a paradise where Black, Latino, and Anglo-Saxon people could relax together. He envisions extravagant wealth, not for hoarding, but for enjoyment—crashing brand new cars just for the fun of it and providing luxurious villas for his friends. The morning would start with marijuana, and life would be free from the depression that clouds his current vision. This better world would be a safe and enlightened place to raise children, opening their eyes to the lies and distortions of history. He sees himself as a wise, almost mythical figure, capable of controlling events and elevating his crew. He dreams of civilizing the savage, turning a life of strife into one of lavishness with a single opportunity. His rule would mean freeing political prisoners, eliminating stress, and providing luxury items like purple BMW M3s and jet skis. He would appoint Coretta Scott King as mayor of cities and transform addicts back into productive members of society. He even includes a hedonistic fantasy where every woman he meets would be sexually liberated. His most radical act would be to empty the prisons, specifically Attica, and repatriate the inmates to Africa.

The final verse shifts focus to the gritty reality that fuels these dreams. He tells the story of the thug life, a life of constant worry, ducking down in cars, carrying guns out of necessity, and running from the police ('Jake'). The hunger for money ('papes') leads to mistakes and out-of-state operations. He reflects on the need to let plans 'marinate,' the weight of their illicit activities, and the constant striving for wealth. He describes a plan for becoming a millionaire that involves always being armed, making moves in places like Atlanta. He voices a profound frustration that regardless of wealth, society doesn't want to see a Black man succeed. Yet, in his world, the sky would be the limit. He'd drive an Infiniti Q45, and his legacy would be eternal. But reality strikes again, reminding him that this is just a dream, and one must figure out their path before their time runs out.

"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" was released on June 4, 1996, as the lead single from Nas's highly anticipated second album, It Was Written. After the critical acclaim but modest commercial success of his debut, Illmatic, Nas and his label, Columbia Records, consciously pursued a more polished, mainstream-friendly sound for the follow-up. This led to the collaboration with the production duo Trackmasters (Poke & Tone), who were known for creating radio hits. Nas himself stated he felt he 'needed a change' and teamed up with 'the best at the time'.

The song was produced by Trackmasters, with some uncredited additional production by Rashad Smith. Its foundation is a creative re-imagining of Kurtis Blow's 1985 classic "If I Ruled the World." The producers also prominently sampled the smooth, recognizable bassline and beat from Whodini's 1984 track "Friends." The inclusion of Lauryn Hill on the chorus was a pivotal decision. At the time, her group, the Fugees, had exploded in popularity with their album The Score. Her soulful vocals provided a melodic and accessible counterpoint to Nas's intricate verses, and it marked her first musical appearance outside of the Fugees. Nas recalled that for the first few weeks of its release, they kept her feature uncredited to build anticipation and ensure the focus remained on him, but once her identity was revealed, the song's popularity skyrocketed.

The track was recorded in 1995-1996 at various studios, including The Hit Factory in New York City. The song was a deliberate move to bridge the gap between Nas's raw, lyrical street poetry and a broader audience. This shift was supported by a high-budget music video directed by Hype Williams, which placed Nas and Lauryn Hill in iconic New York locations like Times Square, further cementing the song's status as a major crossover hit.

Nas is celebrated for his intricate rhyme schemes, and "If I Ruled the World" showcases this talent within a more accessible structure. He frequently uses multi-syllabic and internal rhymes that create a complex, flowing rhythm. For example, in the lines, "The world's hot, my son got knocked, evidently / It's elementary, they want us all gone eventually," he rhymes multi-syllable words at the end of the lines, creating a sophisticated and cohesive sound.

The rhyme scheme is not a simple, repeating pattern like AABB, but rather a more fluid, free-verse style that allows for complex storytelling. He often links couplets and entire sections with a shared rhyme sound, as seen with phrases like "cops harassin'" and "everybody flashin', fashion."

The song's rhythm is built upon a mid-tempo, steady 4/4 beat, largely driven by the sampled bassline from Whodini's "Friends." The tempo is relaxed and contemplative, matching the song's dreamy, introspective theme. Nas's lyrical rhythm often plays against the musical rhythm, with his lines cascading over the beat in a way that feels both conversational and technically precise. This interplay between his complex vocal patterns and the steady, smooth instrumental track is a hallmark of the song's style, making it rhythmically engaging without sacrificing its laid-back feel. Lauryn Hill's chorus provides a more straightforward, melodic rhythm that serves as a grounding anchor between Nas's dense verses.

"If I Ruled the World" is a masterclass in blending sophisticated lyricism with polished musicality. The song's success hinges on several key techniques:

• Narrative and Imagery: Nas employs vivid, cinematic imagery to paint a picture of his ideal world ('Lifestyle cruising blue Bahama waters,' 'purple M3's and jet skis'). His verses are structured as a narrative journey, moving from personal fantasy to broad social reform, making abstract ideas feel tangible.
• Allusion: The song is rich with cultural allusions. The most prominent are the direct reference to Kurtis Blow's song of the same name, creating an intergenerational dialogue in hip-hop, and the nod to the film Scarface ('The World Is Mine'). These references add layers of meaning and place the song within a broader cultural context.
• Vocal Delivery: Nas's delivery is characteristically complex yet laid-back. He maintains a conversational, introspective tone that makes his grand visions feel like genuine daydreams rather than aggressive demands. This contrasts beautifully with Lauryn Hill's smooth, melodic, and soulful vocal on the chorus, which provides an accessible and memorable hook. Her interpolation of The Delfonics' "Walk Right Up to the Sun" adds a classic soul texture.
• Sampling and Production: The production by Trackmasters is intentionally smooth and polished. The use of the bassline from Whodini's "Friends" creates a familiar, laid-back groove that was instantly appealing for radio play. This cleaner sound was a departure from the raw, gritty production of Illmatic and was instrumental in the song's crossover success.
• Juxtaposition: A key literary technique is the constant juxtaposition of the ideal and the real. Nas will describe a utopian fantasy ('Imagine going to court with no trial') and immediately follow it with a stark reality ('The world's hot, my son got knocked'). This creates a sense of tension and melancholy that gives the song its emotional depth.

"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" was a pivotal single for Nas, marking his successful transition from an underground lyrical prodigy to a mainstream superstar. Released as the lead single from It Was Written, the song became Nas's first major crossover hit, bolstered by a high-budget Hype Williams music video that received heavy rotation on MTV. It peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100, reached the top 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts, and charted in the top ten in eight countries. The song's success propelled It Was Written to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, where it remained for four weeks, eventually becoming Nas's best-selling album.

The song earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1997 and has since been hailed by critics as one of the greatest rap songs of all time. While some purists from the hip-hop community criticized Nas for a more commercial sound, accusing him of 'selling out,' the track's blend of social commentary and radio-friendly appeal proved immensely influential. It demonstrated that conscious hip-hop could achieve widespread popularity without entirely sacrificing lyrical depth.

The song helped to solidify the 'mafioso rap' subgenre that was rising at the time, but its aspirational and socially aware themes gave it a unique and enduring legacy. It remains a staple of 90s hip-hop and is frequently cited as a classic, praised for its timeless message of hope and its masterful combination of Nas's lyricism and Lauryn Hill's iconic chorus. In June 2021, the single was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

The central and most powerful symbol in the song is the very concept of 'ruling the world.' This is not a literal desire for autocratic power, but a metaphor for the ability to reshape society into a more just, equitable, and peaceful form. It represents the ultimate empowerment for a community that often feels powerless against systemic forces. The act of 'imagining' is a recurring motif, serving as an escape and a form of protest against a grim reality.

Specific symbols and metaphors enrich this vision:

• "Open every cell in Attica, send 'em to Africa": Attica, the site of a famous 1971 prison riot, symbolizes the entire oppressive prison system. Sending the inmates to Africa is a potent metaphor for liberation, repatriation, and a reversal of the diaspora, connecting to themes of Black nationalism and finding freedom by returning to ancestral roots.
• The Blimp Reading "The World Is Mine": This is a direct allusion to the 1983 film Scarface. In the film, it represents Tony Montana's peak ambition and hubris. For Nas, it symbolizes not just personal wealth and power, but the realization of the ultimate dream for himself and his community.
• "Black diamonds and pearls": These jewels symbolize a new kind of wealth and royalty. They are not just symbols of material success but represent the beauty, value, and brilliance of his people, whom he would adorn if he were in power.
• Paradise with "Black, Latino and Anglo-Saxon": This image symbolizes a utopian vision of racial harmony and an end to the social divisions that plague society. It's a world where coexistence is peaceful and relaxed.

The most significant recurring phrase, which serves as the song's central motif, is the titular line, "If I ruled the world." This phrase, repeated by Lauryn Hill in the chorus and echoed by Nas with the ad-lib "Imagine that," functions as the thematic core of the entire song. It's the gateway to the utopian fantasy that Nas constructs, with each verse acting as an elaboration on this central premise. The repetition of this line isn't just a hook; it's an incantation, a call to envision a different reality. The ad-lib "Imagine that" further emphasizes the dreamlike, speculative nature of the lyrics, inviting the listener to join in the fantasy.

Another recurring motif is the juxtaposition of dreams and reality. This is not a single phrase but a conceptual pattern. The song consistently shifts between idyllic visions (e.g., "political prisoner set free, stress free") and harsh truths (e.g., "You'd love to hear the story how the thugs live in worry"). This pattern reinforces the song's core tension and emotional complexity.

Lauryn Hill's interpolated line from The Delfonics, "we'll walk right up to the sun, hand in hand," also functions as a recurring motif in the outro. It enhances the song's hopeful and almost spiritual aspiration, ending the track on a note of transcendent unity and limitless possibility.