“The Set Up” depicts a narrative of Nas' quest for revenge after his friend is murdered. Not a single or song that was created for the radio especially with Havoc laying the instrumental. But this song along with “The Message” and “Street Dreams” seem to be songs Tupac attacked him for for fabricating stories and copying his life (in addition to working with Stretch and Dr. Dre).

Nas told Complex:

I must admit, I said something stupid on that record. I was high and I changed words around and I said a word on there that didn’t make sense. I didn’t realize it until the album was mastered. But I won’t put a spotlight on it, I’m not going to tell you what it was. The word makes sense but it didn’t make sense on what I said I was doing. and I meant to say a different word and I overthought it, I was thinking too much.

Nas' flub is most likely on the second verse when he points out that Rhamel is in a Range Rover, but then contradictorily says later that he jumps out of a Jeep.