Nas' "New York State Of Mind" has been voted the best song in Nas' expansive catalog by users in a poll sponsored by 92 Bricks. Over 10,000 participants voted the DJ Premier produced track Nas' best work. Commenters on the post cite "If I Ruled The World", "Street Dreams","Memory Lane", and "The World Is Yours" as better choices, but the majority spoke. "New York State Of Mind" is one of the 10 songs of Nas' debut, Illmatic.

Illmatic is widely regarded as one of Hip-Hop's greatest albums. If a classic can only be declared as such many years after its impact can be measured, then Nas' full-length 1994 debut is no doubt a classic. The album cover art, the legendary lineup of producers and 10 perfectly crafted songs were a breath of fresh air in 1994 that served as a springboard for a young Nasir Jones. Comparisons to Rakim and other great MCs came swiftly from fans and critics alike, and Nas is still revered as one of the games greatest.