This sample later became the catalyst for one of the most legendary beefs in rap history when Jay-Z bragged in "The Takeover" that he made Nas's line a "hot song," sparking Nas's response track, "Ether". 4. The Literal History

(Note: The $10 and $100 bills feature Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin , respectively—neither of whom were presidents.) 2. The Film: A Gritty Tale of Betrayal

The song famously features a sampled hook from Nas 's "The World Is Yours": "I'm out for dead presidents to represent me" .

While often viewed as a heist movie, critics from Spectrum Culture highlight it as a raw indictment of the way America treats marginalized veterans. 3. The Music: Hip-Hop's Golden Anthem

The story follows Anthony Curtis (played by Larenz Tate) from his youth in the Bronx to the horrors of the Vietnam War, and finally to his desperate return home.