The song has been deemed by The Ringer as one of the greatest diss tracks of all time[1] and by Revolt as one of Pete Rock's most legendary beats.
This caused Ice Cube and his group to release the song "Westside Slaughterhouse", throwing jabs at Common, amongst other rappers from the East Coast.
Over a beat produced by Pete Rock, Common responds to verbal attacks by Westside Connection and its lead rapper Ice Cube.
[2] It also contains vocal samples of Raekwon from the track "Eye for a Eye (Your Beef Is Mines)" by Mobb Deep, and "Suspended in Time" by Group Home, as well as a scratched vocal sample from the song "A Bitch Iz A Bitch", by N.W.A.
The opening of the song is taken from the film "The Education of Sonny Carson" scene where a leader of The Hawks Gang proclaims their superiority over the rival Lords.