Nas, who was recently honored by the New York City’s mayor’s office, has reminded his fans why he’s one of the best to ever do it, showcasing his talents by putting a fresh twist on his classic debut album, Illmatic.

Friday night (Feb. 2), PBS and Mass Appeal teamed up to premiere a special live performance during which the Queens native was backed by the National Symphony Orchestra.

The performance, which took place in Washington D.C. at the Kennedy Center, is truly one-of-a-kind, with Esco running through the timeless tracks, “N.Y. State of Mine,” “The World is Yours,” “It Ain’t Hard to Tell,” and more.

“Thank you for giving me 20 years of your ears,” Nas can be heard saying to the audience during the special.

Take a look at Nas’ live performance with the National Symphony Orchestra, below.