this is one of my all time fave songs!!
i think the main thing holding this back is a lack of dynamics. the verses are all pretty loud, and the "drop" (the De La Soul verses). i would consider using a softer kick & 808, or just turning them down, during the verses. that way the drop hits harder. and also the mid-range frequencies feel kinda muddy in the chorus (0:18 ish), you might want to give those some attention. high passing the vocals a little bit and checking the relationship of the bass to the pads may help.
anyway i like what you did with the vocals & chords though, excited to see how it turns out!!