It was 1996. Hip-hop was in a state of absolute war between the coasts, and Nas was under an intense microscope. After Illmatic, the world expected gritty, dusty, basement-level street poetry forever. Instead, he teamed up with the Trackmasters and dropped a pop-leaning, radio-ready monster called "The Message."
But the real star of that track? It wasn't just the rhyme about Lexuses and "Pyrex stirs." It was that haunting, melodic acoustic guitar loop.
The the message nas sample isn't just a piece of music; it's a masterclass in how to flip a global rock hit into a street anthem without losing your soul. If you’ve ever sat in your car wondering why those specific guitar plucks feel so familiar yet so distinct from the original, you’re tapping into one of the most successful "interpolations" in the history of the genre.
Sting, Dominic Miller, and the Shape of the Sample
Most people call it a sample. Technically, it’s a re-recorded interpolation.
The original piece is "Shape of My Heart" by Sting, released in 1993 on his Ten Summoner's Tales album. While Sting is the face of the song, the actual composition of that specific riff belongs to his long-time guitarist, Dominic Miller.
Dominic once told an interviewer that he brought the riff to Sting, who immediately loved the "downward spiral" feel of the chords. It’s a series of descending minor movements that feel like someone slowly losing a game of cards—which is exactly what the lyrics of Sting's version are about.
When Nas and the Trackmasters (Poke and Tone) got their hands on it for It Was Written, they didn't just loop the CD. They had a musician replay it to give it more "thump." This is a crucial distinction in the world of the message nas sample history. By re-playing it, they could manipulate the EQ to make the bass notes hit harder for New York club speakers while keeping that delicate, airy top end that made the melody so infectious.
Why "The Message" Almost Didn't Happen
Nas was hesitant. You have to remember the climate of the mid-90s. If you were a "real" lyricist, jumping on a beat that sounded like a ballad was risky.
The track was a pivot. It was polished.
"I was hearing things like 'Sweet Dreams' and these big pop records being sampled," Nas mentioned in a later interview reflecting on the It Was Written sessions. He knew the culture was shifting. The "the message nas sample" represented that bridge. It took the sophistication of British soft rock and laid it under a narrative about "thug life" and the harsh realities of the Queensbridge houses.
The contrast is what makes it legendary. You have Sting’s melancholic, upper-class existentialism clashing with Nas’s vivid descriptions of a "pimp's fantasy."
The Sting Royalty Jackpot
Here is a wild fact that most people get wrong: Sting famously earns a massive percentage of the royalties from "Shape of My Heart" samples.
When Juice WRLD sampled the same melody for "Lucid Dreams" decades later, Sting reportedly took 85% of the publishing. For Nas, the deal was similarly weighted toward the original creators. Because the "the message nas sample" is the entire foundation of the song—not just a background texture—Sting and Miller are the primary beneficiaries of every stream and radio play.
Sting has actually joked that the song has paid for many "Sting mansions." He loves the way rappers use his music. He told Rolling Stone that he finds it interesting how these artists "re-interpret" his stories.
Honestly, he's probably the biggest fan of hip-hop’s love for his catalog.
A Lesson in Sound Design
The Trackmasters didn't just stop at the guitar. To make the the message nas sample work for a 1996 audience, they layered it with a very specific drum break.
They used the drums from "Wild Child" by Venture. It gave the track a "snap."
If you listen to the original "Shape of My Heart," the drums are almost non-existent; it’s a folk-rock ballad. Nas’s version turns it into a head-nodder. The 808 kicks sit right underneath Dominic Miller’s guitar plucks, creating a pocket that Nas could slide his flow into.
That first line—"Fake thug, no love, you get the slug"—hits so hard because the beat is so pretty. It’s the "iron fist in a velvet glove" approach to production.
Comparing the Iterations
Nas wasn't the only one who saw the potential in this riff. It’s been used over and over, but the the message nas sample remains the definitive hip-hop version.
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- Monica: "For You I Will" (1997) used a similar vibe.
- Craig David: "Rise & Fall" (2003) literally featured Sting re-singing the parts.
- Juice WRLD: "Lucid Dreams" (2018) brought the melody to the Emo-Rap generation.
The difference?
Nas used it to project power. Juice WRLD used it to project pain. Sting used it to project philosophy.
It’s the same series of notes, but the "the message nas sample" is unique because it stayed closer to the grit. When you hear that opening static and the guitar kicks in on It Was Written, it doesn't feel like a love song. It feels like a warning.
The Technical Breakdown of the Loop
If you’re a producer, you’re looking at a $F#m - E - D - C#7$ progression (roughly, depending on the tuning). It’s a classic "Spanish" or "Flamenco" style descent.
The way the the message nas sample is chopped involves focusing on the first four bars of the acoustic intro. The Trackmasters looped these bars but slightly boosted the low-mids. This filled the frequency gap where a bass guitar would usually sit.
Nas’s voice, which is naturally mid-range and raspy, sits perfectly on top of this. If the guitar had been too bright or "jangly," it would have fought with his vocals. Instead, it sounds like he's rapping inside the guitar.
How to Use This Knowledge Today
If you're a creator or a fan trying to understand why some samples work and others fail, look at the "The Message."
It succeeded because it didn't try to hide its source. It leaned into the recognizability of the Sting melody but re-contextualized it.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Lovers:
- Listen for the "Ghost" notes: In the the message nas sample, there are tiny finger-slides on the guitar strings. Those "imperfections" are what make it sound human compared to a sterile MIDI loop.
- Study the Interpolation: Notice how the drums don't just follow the guitar; they lead it. The snare is slightly ahead of the beat, giving the song an aggressive "forward" motion.
- Check the Credits: Always look for the difference between a "Sample" (using the master recording) and "Interpolation" (re-playing the notes). Nas’s version is a masterclass in the latter.
- Explore the "Ten Summoner's Tales" album: To truly appreciate the flip, you have to hear the original context of the guitar. It’s much slower and much more somber.
The legacy of the the message nas sample is a reminder that hip-hop is a collage. It takes the "high art" of a British rock legend and drags it through the streets of Long Island City, creating something entirely new and arguably more influential than the original.
When that guitar starts, everyone knows exactly what time it is. That's the power of a perfect sample.