 " The Don " was produced by Da Internz , Heavy D and Salaam Remi – the latter a regular collaborator with Nas on many of his previous songs , including the singles " I Can " and " Made You Look " . Heavy D originally presented the song " Dance in New York " , by reggae singer Super Cat to Remi in the belief that Remi could create a " crazy " production if he could choose an appropriate part of the song to sample and edit . Nas , who had worked with Super Cat earlier in his career , claimed that Super Cat actually mentioned him in " Dance in New York " on his first listening of the song . Remi began to try and edit the song , and put together the bassline that would eventually be used on " The Don " , but could not work with the sample that he had been given extensively : after learning the identity of the original producer of " Dance in New York " , Jah Thomas , he paid Thomas in return for use of the song 's multitrack . 
