Back in mid-February we brought you the Nike remix to "Classic", about which Pitchfork's own Nate Patrin said:

"...It just about fulfills all the expectations you'd hope: Kanye's snotty charisma fits well into a 40-second cameo, Nas translates his multi-platinum veteran status into a zero population growth philosophy, KRS says the same living-real-hip-hop-culture ish he's been saying for the last ten years but still sounds as integral and timeless to rap as the "Apache" break, and Rakim seals it with a brief but electrifying verse that hints at (and builds up geeked-out anticipation for) an album in '07. Throw it all over a dirty-ass electric-piano-heavy funk beat from the ageless DJ Premier and it all comes together so well it's almost easy to forget it's entry #652 in the East Coastish Bring the Realness Back Anthem sweepstakes."

Like the track, the video also stresses timelessness. It kicks off showing DJ Premier building the song on what looks like an old Akai MPC sampler/drum machine, used to make hundreds of hip-hop tracks in the 80s/90s. Grafitti artists also bomb the track's players onto the side of a building, adding quotes as each rapper spits their verse. Then there's Nas, KRS, and Rakim, who carry themselves with all the self-assurance of the elder statesmen they are. And of course, there's Kanye, who never looks comfortable, except in situations where he should be totally uneasy.

Video: > Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One & Rakim: "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been DJ Premier Remix)" [RealVideo]
Video: > Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One & Rakim: "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been DJ Premier Remix)" [Windows Media]
[Nike-commissioned charity single] | [ORDER]