Puff Daddy

Lore & Background

Puff Daddy's collaboration with Nas on *I Am...* centers on the single "Hate Me Now," a track that samples a version of O Fortuna from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana." The song's music video, directed by Hype Williams, stirred controversy upon release. Puff Daddy's presence on the track added a layer of mainstream visibility, as the single charted on the Billboard Hot 100. This partnership followed their earlier work on the "Street Dreams" remix from Nas's 1996 album *It Was Written*, though the source does not provide details on that earlier collaboration beyond its existence.

In Their Own Story

In the studio for *I Am...*, Puff Daddy and Nas linked up with producers D-Moet, Pretty Boy, and The Trackmasters to craft "Hate Me Now." The track's dramatic orchestral sample—O Fortuna—gave it a cinematic weight that matched Nas's reflections on fame and the rap industry. Puff Daddy's verse and hook added a defiant energy, and the resulting music video, directed by Hype Williams, became a talking point in hip-hop circles. The single helped push *I Am...* to a number 1 debut on the Billboard 200, selling over 470,000 copies in its first week.

Reader's Guide

Puff Daddy's most notable collaboration with Nas on *I Am...* is the single "Hate Me Now," where he is a featured performer. The track was produced by D-Moet, Pretty Boy, and The Trackmasters, and samples O Fortuna from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burina." It became a Billboard Hot 100 hit and had a controversial music video directed by Hype Williams. For fans looking to explore this partnership, "Hate Me Now" remains the essential track—a fusion of Nas's storytelling and Puff Daddy's polished, radio-ready energy that defined late-90s East Coast hip-hop.

Did You Know?

• Puff Daddy appears on the single "Hate Me Now" from Nas's 1999 album *I Am...*, which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200.
• "Hate Me Now" samples a version of O Fortuna from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana."
• The music video for "Hate Me Now" was directed by Hype Williams and was controversial upon release.
• The song became a Billboard Hot 100 hit, helping drive the album's first-week sales of over 470,000 copies.
• Puff Daddy's collaboration with Nas on *I Am...* followed their earlier work together on the "Street Dreams" remix from Nas's 1996 album *It Was Written*.