 Remi continued to work on the production whilst also putting together material for the posthumous Amy Winehouse album Lioness : Hidden Treasures ( 2011 ) in London : whilst there , he learnt of Heavy D 's recent death , encouraging him to complete the production for " The Don " . After Nas received the song , he requested that production duo Da Internz work on " The Don " and edit it further before it would be rapped over . In an interview with XXL , Da Internz called it " an honour that you wouldn 't believe " to have worked on the song once they knew of Heavy D 's involvement in its conception , as they had wished to work with him before he died : they also praised Nas ' attitude in the recording studio , describing " his bars [ and ] his approach " as " just special " . Following the song 's completion , radio disc jockey Funkmaster Flex premiered " The Don " on the New York City radio station Hot 97 on March 15 , 2012 ; Def Jam Recordings later released it to digital retailers on April 3 , 2012 . 
