"Hip Hop" is a standout collaborative track by featuring legendary rappers Nas and Scarface , with iconic scratches from DJ Premier . Released on August 21, 2012, as the seventh track on Khaled's sixth studio album, Kiss the Ring . Production & Composition
Nas continues the personification, comparing Hip Hop to a middle-aged "cougar" showing youth the dream. He famously addresses the "Hip Hop is Dead" narrative, noting how fans "took it out on Nasty" when he previously claimed the genre had died. Reception & Legacy
Reviewers often highlight the rare pairing of Scarface and Nas as a "lyrical flex" that provides a "screw-face rap" aesthetic.
He reflects on a "love-hate" relationship with the culture, describing how it "left me stranded in my nightmares" while acknowledging its role in his life.
The track prominently features a sample of LL Cool J’s "Rock the Bells" , which was produced by Rick Rubin.