ðə pɹˈɑːdʒɛkt wʌz kɹiːˈeɪɾᵻd baɪ ɹˈæpɚ nˈæs, hɪz mˈænɪdʒɚ stˈiːv stˈaʊt ænd pɹədˈuːsɚz dˈɑːktɚ. dɹˈiː ænd tɹˈækmæstɚz, hˌuː kˈeɪm ˌʌp wɪððɪ aɪdˈiə ʌv fˈɔːɹmɪŋ ɐ hˈɪp hˈɑːp sˈuːpɚɡɹˌuːp.
The project was created by rapper Nas, his manager Steve Stoute and producers Dr. Dre and Trackmasters, who came up with the idea of forming a hip hop supergroup.