ðɪ ɚɹˈɪdʒɪnəl lˈaɪnˌʌp ɪŋklˈuːdᵻd nˈæs, ˈæz, fˈɑːksi bɹˈaʊn ænd kˈɔːɹmɛɡə hˌuː wɜːɹ ˈɔːl fˈiːtʃɚd ɔnðə sˈɔŋ "ɐfˈɜːmətˌɪv ˈækʃən" fɹʌm nˈæs ˈælbəm ɪt wʌz ɹˈɪʔn̩ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks.
The original line-up included Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown and Cormega who were all featured on the song "Affirmative Action" from Nas' album It Was Written (1996).