If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)

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"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)", often shortened to "If I Ruled the World", is a song by American rapper Nas featuring vocals from American singer 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 Kurtis Blow and samples the beat of "Friends" by Whodini. 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 a commercial success, reaching the top ten in eight countries. In the United States, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and peaked in the top 20 of the Hot R&B Singles chart. It earned Nas his first Grammy Award nomination...

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