Nas - One Mic (official Hd Video) -

Nas stated that the song was born out of a desire for truth in an industry he felt was becoming "fake". To him, the "One Mic" represents:

The video centers on Nas alone in a barren room—a choice intended to strip away the "diamonds and drama" of typical rap videos to show the essence of a poet against the world. Themes & Global Symbolism Nas - One Mic (Official HD Video)

Produced by Nas and Chucky Thompson , the song was inspired by the atmospheric tension of Phil Collins's " In the Air Tonight ". The video mirrors this "rollercoaster of emotion," starting with a quiet, mellow intensity that crescendos into a "pulsating frenzy" of imagery. Nas stated that the song was born out