Usual Suspects

Album: Deeper Than Rap (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song features the New York hip-hop artist Nas. Ross told MTV News: "That song is, like, really me being a fan of Nas, for so long me just respecting the way he moves. Nas is such a veteran but, at the same time, he's more relevant now than he was before, especially in the South. So there's a lot to learn there. So when the concept came about - the 'Usual Suspects' - the record was not a boastful record. It was a record that I felt needed somebody to really be sincere, to take time to think about what they were gonna say. 'Cause I most definitely did. And Nas came to light. It was my first time having the opportunity to work with him, and I take my hat off to him just for taking that time out and doing it in such a timely fashion and giving me an incredible 16-bar verse."
  • Ross told MTV News that during the recording, he put more effort into his first verse than usual. Then he joked that he had to get his mind right to finish the third verse after Nas sent back his vocals. Said the Miami rapper: "I poured 'hit' all into my first verse 'cause I knew I was gonna give him the record. Then when he send the joint back to me and I heard his verse, I was like, 'Wow.' I might have smoked three weeks in a row before I wrote the third verse. [Laughs.] But that's the momentum and energy you need if you wanna make a classic record. You have to be able to rise to the occasion. I felt like it was gonna be a special record to me, and he gave me that heartfelt music I needed to hear."
  • The uncredited singer on the chorus is R&B vocalist Kevin Cossom.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?