Thief’s Theme

Lore & Background

In 2004, Nas sponsored a contest in the United Kingdom, encouraging entrants to record a verse using the instrumental version of "Thief's Theme". The winner would perform a verse on the song, which appears on the UK version of *Street's Disciple*. Rising Son won the competition. The song was featured in Martin Scorsese's Academy Award-winning film *The Departed* but was not featured on the soundtrack.

In Their Own Story

The track listing for the single includes an A-side with "Thief's Theme" (Clean Album Version) at 3:00, "Thief's Theme" (Explicit Album Version) at 3:10, and "Thief's Theme" (Instrumental) at 2:59. The B-side features "You Know My Style" (Clean Album Version) at 2:54, "You Know My Style" (Explicit Album Version) at 2:54, and "You Know My Style" (Instrumental) at 2:49.

Reader's Guide

The single contains vocals from Nas' song "The World Is Yours" from his first album *Illmatic*. The song featured an interpolation of the famous riff from Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" performed by Incredible Bongo Band. Nas would again use the same sample on the 2006 single "Hip Hop is Dead". The UK version of *Street's Disciple* includes a verse from Rising Son, who won a 2004 contest sponsored by Nas.

Did You Know?

• The single contains vocals from Nas' song "The World Is Yours" from his first album *Illmatic*.
• The song featured an interpolation of the famous riff from Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" performed by Incredible Bongo Band.
• Nas would again use the same sample on the 2006 single "Hip Hop is Dead".
• Nas sponsored a contest in the United Kingdom in 2004; the winner, Rising Son, performed a verse on the UK version of *Street's Disciple*.
• The song was featured in Martin Scorsese's Academy Award-winning film *The Departed* but was not featured on the soundtrack.