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"If I Ruled the World"
Single by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill
from the album It Was Written
Released	June 4, 1996
Recorded	1995
Genre	Hip hop R&B
Length	4:42
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Nasir Jones Kurt Walker Samuel Barnes Jean-Claude Olivier
Producer(s)	Trackmasters Rashad Smith
Nas singles chronology
"One Love" (1994) "If I Ruled the World" (1996) "Street Dreams" (1996)
Lauryn Hill singles chronology
"If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)" (1996) "All My Time" (1997)
Music video
"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" on YouTube

"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" is a song by American rapper Nas featuring American singer and rapper Lauryn Hill. It was released as the lead single from Nas' second studio album It Was Written on June 4, 1996, by Columbia Records. Produced by Trackmasters, with some uncredited input by Rashad Smith, it is based on the 1985 hit of the same name by American rapper Kurtis Blow and samples the beat of "Friends" by Whodini. Lauryn Hill's verse interpolates the song "Walk Right Up To The Sun" by The Delfonics. The single marked Hill's first musical appearance outside of the Fugees.

"If I Ruled the World", bolstered by a high-budget music video directed by Hype Williams and designed by visual artist and designer Ron Norsworthy, became Nas's first single to gain mainstream notice. The single reached number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while it also peaked in the top 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. In total, the single reached the top ten in eight countries. It received a nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards. Various publications have referred to it as one of the greatest rap songs of all time. In June 2021, "If I Ruled the World" was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, becoming Nas' first single to achieve this.

Critical reception

In a retrospective review, Daryl McIntosh of Albumism noted "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" as "an example of the album's ambition", complimenting it for having "one of the most memorable choruses of the era." Daisy & Havoc from Music Week's RM Dance Update rated it five out of five, commenting, "This one should do well right now for a handful of reasons — it features Lauryn Hill from Fugees, it's not dissimilar to Fugees and, most importantly of all, it's a really appealing track with an addictive chorus, some great vocals and a laid-back but still serious rap. Just hope it doesn't get forgotten in the rush." David Fricke from Rolling Stone wrote that "New Yorker Nas beat hip-hop's sophomore jinx with the jaunty step and dead-sexy female chorus of 'If I Ruled the World', this summer's cruisin' smash." He added, "To suggest that the world would be a better place if cocaine came uncut hardly qualifies as social enlightenment."

Music video

The accompanying music video for "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" was directed by American director Hype Williams and designed by visual artist and designer Ron Norsworthy. It was released for the week ending on June 16, 1996. The video features cameos from Mobb Deep, AZ, Cormega and the Fugees.

Live performances

Nas and Lauryn Hill performed the song live at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards on September 4, 1996. He performed the song live at the American Music Awards of 1997 on January 27, 1997.

Single track listing

• US 12" vinyl

A1. "If I Ruled the World" (Main Mix) (4:42)

A2. "If I Ruled the World" (Instrumental) (4:34)

B1. "If I Ruled the World" (Clean Mix) (4:42)

B2. "If I Ruled the World" (A Cappella) (4:42)

• Europe maxi-CD (COL 663296 2)

1. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Main Mix)" (4:45)
2. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Instrumental)" (4:36)
3. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Clean Mix)" (4:45)
4. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (A Cappella)" (4:42)

• Europe CD (COL 663296 1)

1. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Main Mix)"
2. "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Instrumental)"

Charts

Certifications

References

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2. "The Most Perfect Rap Song Ever Written: If I Ruled The World". Hip Hop Golden Age. 2017-06-23. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
3. "The greatest hip-hop songs of all time – who voted". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
4. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
5. "MC Serch Reveals He's Selling His Share Of Nas' Music Catalog, Including The Artist's Debut Album". news.yahoo.com. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
6. McIntosh, Daryl (June 27, 2021). "Nas' 'It Was Written' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective". Retrieved October 3, 2021.
7. Daisy & Havoc (June 22, 1996). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 11. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
8. Fricke, David (December 26, 1996-January 9, 1997). "The year in recordings". Rolling Stone. Issue 750/751.
9. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 22 Sep 1996". ARIA. Retrieved April 30, 2020 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The HP column indicates the highest position reached.
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12. "Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
13. "Hits of the World". Billboard. November 16, 1996. p. 56. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
14. "Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
15. "Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
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17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
18. "Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
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30. "Rapports Annuels 1996". Ultratop. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
31. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
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38. "French single certifications – Nas – If I Ruled The World" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
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41. "British single certifications – Nas – If I Ruled the World". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
42. "American single certifications – Nas – If I Ruled the World". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 24, 2021.

• 1996 singles
• Music videos directed by Hype Williams
• Nas songs
• Lauryn Hill songs
• Songs written by Nas
• Songs written by Samuel Barnes (songwriter)
• Songs written by Jean-Claude Olivier
• 1996 songs
• Columbia Records singles
• Song recordings produced by Trackmasters