"Life's a bitch and then you die." Regardless of where you call home or what you do for a living, you don't even have to be a fan of rap to appreciate AZ's message of existential nihilism (that's right kids, stay in school.) Though Illmatic is universally praised as being one of the greatest hip-hop works of all time, my only gripe with Nas' classic is that the instrumental for "Life's a Bitch" isn't anything memorable when compared to the anthems supplied by the likes of DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip and Large Professor (Don't take it personal L.E.S, I'll rep Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" til the day I die, which coincidentally, was ghostwritten by Nasty Nas.) If you're searching for a fresh perspective on the song, looks no further than DJ Sidereal's take on the poignant track.
Featuring a piano heavy backdrop and some breezy female vocals, the remix from the 17 year old Minneapolis native is beyond impressive. Though there are dozens of remixes of "Life's a Bitch" out there, none are as memorable as this one. Watch out for Sidereal's debut EP, S.I.D.E, which drops sometime in September.
Nas
"Life's a Bitch" (DJ Sidereal Remix)
- August 29, 2013