American rapper nas biography
Nas
American rapper (born )
For other uses, see Nas (disambiguation).
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (; born Sept 14, ), known professionally because Nas (NAHZ), is an Inhabitant rapper and entrepreneur. Rooted solution East Coast hip-hop, he hype regarded as one of blue blood the gentry greatest rappers of all time.[2][3][4] The son of jazz crown Olu Dara, Nas began government musical career in under authority moniker "Nasty Nas", and documented demos under the wing break into fellow East Coast rapper Sloppy Professor. Nas made his video recording debut on Professor's group, Keep on Source's song "Live at birth Barbeque".
Nas signed with River Records in , and unrestricted his debut studio album, Illmatic (), two years later. Effect inductee of the Library firm Congress's National Recording Registry, fight has been regarded as upper hand of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.[5][6][7] His beyond album, It Was Written (), debuted atop the Billboard current sold over a quarter-million comme il faut in its first week; decency album, along with its direct single "If I Ruled character World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Hill), propelled Nas into mainstream success.[8] Both released in , Nas' third and fourth albums I Am and Nastradamus were criticized as inconsistent and further commercially oriented, with critics skull audiences fearing a decline emphasis the quality of his plant.
From to , Nas was involved in a highly promulgated feud with fellow New Royalty rapper Jay-Z, popularized by decency former's diss track "Ether". Birth feud, along with Nas' ensuing releases Stillmatic (), God's Son (), and the double soundtrack Street's Disciple () helped him restore his critical standing. Nas then reconciled with Jay-Z one-time to signing with his then-spearheaded label, Def Jam Recordings make a way into ; he adopted a many provocative, politicized direction with ethics albums Hip Hop Is Dead () and his untitled ordinal studio album (). In , Nas released Distant Relatives, expert collaborative album with Damian Vocaliser that donated its royalties stay at active African charities. His ordinal studio album, Life Is Good (), was nominated for Unsurpassed Rap Album at the Fiftytwo Annual Grammy Awards. After xiii nominations, his thirteenth studio recording, King's Disease () won fillet first Grammy for Best Revelry Album at the 63rd Reference Grammy Awards. His five far-reaching albums—King's Disease II, Magic (), King's Disease III (), Magic 2, and Magic 3 ()—were each produced entirely by Hit-Boy and met with critical elevate.
Nas has been second rank by The Source on their "Top 50 Lyricists of Recoil Time" list in , onefourth on MTV's Annual Hottest MCs in the Game list lecture in , and was named loftiness "Greatest MC of All Time" by in The following collection, Nas was featured on justness "10 Best Rappers of Descent Time" list by Billboard. Casing of recording, he serves introduction associate publisher of Mass Appeal magazine, and co-founded its development division Mass Appeal Records, capital record label that has monogrammed artists including Dave East, N.O.R.E., Run the Jewels, and Con Beatz, among others.[9] Nas has released seventeen studio albums owing to , ten of which stature certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum in the U.S.[10]
Early life
Nasir tub Olu Dara Jones[11] was home-grown in the Brooklyn borough firm New York City on Sep 14, , to African Indweller parents.[12][13] His father, Olu Dara (born Charles Jones III), attempt a jazz and blues peak from Mississippi. His mother, Fannie Ann (née Little; –) was a U.S. Postal Service employee from North Carolina.[14][15][16] He has a brother, Jabari Fret, who raps under the name Wild clutter and is a member round hip-hop group Bravehearts. His papa adopted the name "Olu Dara" from the Yoruba people.[17] "Nasir" is an Arabic name intention "helper and protector", while "bin" means "son of" in Arabic.[18] He is a cousin be defeated actors Yara Shahidi and Sayeed Shahidi.[19]
As a young child, Nas and his family relocated give explanation the Queensbridge housing project take up the Long Island City mankind area in the borough order Queens. His neighbor, Willie "Ill Will" Graham, influenced his hint in hip-hop by playing him records.[20] His parents divorced ancestry ,[20] and he dropped exude of school after the 8th grade.[13] He educated himself insist on African culture through the Five-Percent Nation (a splinter group admonishment the Nation of Islam)[21] soar the Nuwaubian Nation. In her majesty early years, he played glory trumpet and began writing diadem own rhymes.[22]
Career
As a teenager, Nas enlisted his best friend impressive upstairs neighbor Willie "Ill Will" Graham as his DJ. Nas initially went by the pet name "Kid Wave" before adopting her highness more commonly known alias oust "Nasty Nas".[23] In , thenyear-old Nas met up with processor Large Professor[24] and went be acquainted with the studio where Rakim captain Kool G Rap were tape measure their albums. When they were not in the recording works class, Nas would go into interpretation booth and record his ground material. However, none of tightfisted was ever released.[25][26]
– The fundamentals and Illmatic
In , Nas accomplish on Main Source's "Live take care the Barbeque", also produced soak Large Professor. In mid, Nas was approached by MC Serch of 3rd Bass, who became his manager and secured Nas a record deal with University Records during the same yr. Nas made his solo opening under the name of "Nasty Nas" on the single "Halftime" from MC Serch's soundtrack look after the film Zebrahead.[13] Called glory new Rakim,[27] his rhyming knack attracted a significant amount wink attention within the hip-hop mankind.
In , Nas's debut scrap book, Illmatic, was released. It featured production from Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, LES and DJ Premier, as well as visitor appearances from Nas's friend AZ and his father Olu Dara. The album spawned several singles, including "The World Is Yours", "It Ain't Hard to Tell", and "One Love". Shaheem Philosopher of MTV News called Illmatic "the first classic LP" admire [28] In , Nas too recorded the song "One carry on One" for the soundtrack lecture to the film Street Fighter.[29] Temper his book To the Get out of Dawn: A Freestyle bond the Hip Hop Aesthetic, William Jelani Cobb writes of Nas's impact at the time:
Nas, the poetic sage of depiction Queensbridge projects, was hailed whereas the second coming of Rakim—as if the first had reached his expiration date. [] Nas never became 'the next Rakim,' nor did he really fake to. Illmatic stood on professor own terms. The sublime songfulness of the CD, combined run off with the fact that it was delivered into the crucible grip the boiling East-West conflict, apace solidified [his] reputation as description premier writer of his time.[30]
Illmatic was awarded best album be more or less by The Source.[31] Steve Huey of AllMusic described Nas's disagreement on Illmatic as "highly literate" and his raps "superbly regardless of the size break into his vocabulary", adding that Nas is "able to evoke character bleak reality of ghetto take a crack at without losing hope or forgetting the good times".[32] ranked Illmatic as the greatest hip-hop sticker album of all time,[5] and Prefix magazine praised it as "the best hip hop record intelligent made".[6]
– Transition to mainstream turn and the Firm
In , Nas did guest performances on loftiness albums Doe or Die harsh AZ, The Infamous by Mobb Deep, Only Built 4 Country Linx by Raekwon and 4,5,6 by Kool G Rap. Nas also parted ways with steward MC Serch, enlisted Steve Stoute, and began preparation for crown second album, It Was Written. The album was chiefly leak out by Tone and Poke hold the Trackmasters, as Nas knowingly worked towards a crossover-oriented rise. Columbia Records had begun go pressure Nas to work do by more commercial topics, such by the same token that of The Notorious B.I.G. and had become successful harsh releasing street singles that standstill retained radio-friendly appeal. The sticker album also expanded on Nas's Escobar persona, who lived a Scarface/Casino-esque lifestyle. On the other shot in the arm, references to Scarface protagonist La-di-da Montana notwithstanding, Illmatic was writer about his early life immature up in the projects.[13]
It Was Written was released in hopeless Two singles, "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees) and "Street Dreams" (including dialect trig remix with R. Kelly), were instant hits.[33] These songs were promoted by big-budget music videos directed by Hype Williams, construction Nas a common name amidst mainstream hip-hop. Reviewing It Was Written, Leo Stanley of Allmusic believed the album's rhymes were not as complex as those of Illmatic, but still go with Nas had "deepened his gift, creating a complex series tinge rhymes that not only outturn, but manage to tell logical stories as well."[34]It Was Written featured the debut of primacy Firm, a supergroup consisting indifference Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, with Cormega.[35]
Signed to Dr. Dre's Backwash Entertainment label, the Firm began working on their debut autograph album. Halfway through the production decelerate the album, Cormega was pinkslipped from the group by Steve Stoute, who had unsuccessfully attempted to force Cormega to innovation a deal with his manipulation company. Cormega subsequently became skin texture of Nas's most vocal opponents and released a number close underground hip-hop singles dissing Nas, Stoute, and Nature, who replaced Cormega as the fourth adherent of the Firm.[36]Nas, Foxy Chocolatebrown, AZ, and Nature Present Magnanimity Firm: The Album was at length released in to mixed reviews. The album failed to be there up to its expected profit-making despite being certified platinum, deed the members of the array disbanded to go their select ways.[37]
During this period, Nas was one of four rappers (the others being B-Real, KRS-One duct RBX) in the hip-hop supergroup Group Therapy, who appeared insecurity the song "East Coast/West Slide Killas" from Dr. Dre Subvention the Aftermath.[38]
– Heightened commercial pointing and inconsistent output
In late , Nas began working on uncut double album, to be special allowed I Am The Autobiography; recognized intended it as the conformity ground between Illmatic and It Was Written, with each trail detailing a part of life.[13] In , Nas co-wrote and starred in Hype Williams's feature film Belly.[13]I Am Say publicly Autobiography was completed in steady , and a music record was shot for its usher single, "Nas Is Like". Make a full recovery was produced by DJ Head of state and contained vocal samples escape "It Ain't Hard to Tell". Music critic M.F. DiBella fascinate that Nas also covered "politics, the state of hip-hop, Twelvemonth, race, and religion with cap own unique perspective" in leadership album besides autobiographical lyrics.[39] Unwarranted of the LP was leaked into MP3 format onto description Internet, and Nas and Stoute quickly recorded enough substitute info to constitute a single-disc release.[31]
The second single on I Am was "Hate Me Now", featuring Sean "Puffy" Combs, which was used as an example bid Nas's critics accusing him hold moving towards more commercial themes. The video featured Nas forward Combs being crucified in pure manner similar to Jesus Christ; after the video was prepared, Combs requested his crucifixion spectacle be edited out of nobleness video. However, the unedited mockup of the "Hate Me Now" video made its way habitation MTV. Within minutes of primacy broadcast, Combs and his bodyguards allegedly made their way grow to be Steve Stoute's office and mistreated him, at one point superficially hitting Stoute over the sense with a champagne bottle. Stoute pressed charges, but he become calm Combs settled out-of-court that June.[31] Columbia had scheduled to set free the infringed material from I Am under the title Nastradamus during the later half rule , but, at the set on minute, Nas decided to cloakanddagger an entire new album storage space the release of Nastradamus. Nastradamus was therefore rushed to join a November release date. Although critical reviews were unfavorable, nippy did result in a slim hit, "You Owe Me".[13] Fans and critics feared that Nas's career was declining, artistically illustrious commercially, as both I Am and Nastradamus were criticized type inconsistent and overtly-commercialized.[40]
In , Nas & Ill Will Records Hand-outs QB's Finest, which is customarily known as simply QB's Finest, was released on Nas's Relocate Will Records.[13]QB's Finest is smart compilation album that featured Nas and a number of spanking rappers from Queensbridge projects, plus Mobb Deep, Nature, Capone, distinction Bravehearts, Tragedy Khadafi, Millennium Robber and Cormega, who had for a short while reconciled with Nas. The release also featured guest appearances do too much Queensbridge hip-hop legends Roxanne Shanté, MC Shan, and Marley Compost. Shan and Marley Marl both appeared on the lead unmarried "Da Bridge ", which was based on Shan & Marl's recording "The Bridge".[41]
– Feud unwanted items Jay-Z, Stillmatic, God's Son, squeeze double album
After trading veiled criticisms on various songs, freestyles extra mixtape appearances, the highly publicized dispute between Nas and Jay-Z became widely known to representation public in [13] Jay-Z, stop in midsentence his song "Takeover", criticised Nas by calling him "fake" topmost his career "lame".[42] Nas responded with "Ether", in which loosen up compared Jay-Z to such script as J.J. Evans from magnanimity sitcom Good Times and ciggy company mascot Joe Camel. Position song was included on Nas's fifth studio album, Stillmatic, unrestricted in December His daughter, Divine intervention, is listed as an given that producer on Stillmatic for this reason she could receive royalty constraints from the album.[43][44]Stillmatic peaked finish off No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard chart and featured prestige singles "Got Ur Self A" and "One Mic".
In assume to "Ether", Jay-Z released high-mindedness song "Supa Ugly", which Range 97 radio host Angie Martinez premiered on December 11, [42] In the song, Jay-Z genuinely boasts about having an complication with Nas's girlfriend, Carmen Bryan.[45] New York City hip-hop ghetto-blaster station Hot 97 issued smashing poll asking listeners which knocker made the better diss song; Nas won with 58% thoroughly Jay-Z got 42% of prestige votes.[46] In , in class midst of the dispute 'tween the two New York rappers, Eminem cited both Nas scold Jay-Z as being two neat as a new pin the best MCs in honourableness industry, in his song "'Till I Collapse". Both the challenge and Stillmatic signaled an charming comeback for Nas after a- string of inconsistent albums.[47]The Departed Tapes, a compilation of at one time unreleased or bootlegged songs deprive to , was released unused Columbia in September The put in safekeeping attained respectable sales and habitual rave reviews from critics.[31]
In Dec , Nas released the God's Son album including its steer single, "Made You Look" which used a pitched down deal out of the Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache". The album peaked spick and span No. 12 on the Billboard Hot and No. 1 inform on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts despite widespread Internet bootlegging.[48] At the double Magazine named his album outstrip hip-hop album of the collection. Vibe gave it four stars and The Source gave musical four mics. The second inimitable, "I Can", which reworked dash from Beethoven's "Für Elise", became Nas's biggest hit to hour in , garnering substantial transistor airplay on urban, rhythmic, extort top 40 radio stations, though well as on the MTV and VH1 music video networks. God's Son also includes indefinite songs dedicated to Nas's dam, who died of cancer include April , including "Dance". Burst , Nas was featured exhilaration the Korn song "Play Me", from Korn's Take a Test in the Mirror LP. Too in , a live description in New York City, featuring Ludacris, Jadakiss, and Darryl McDaniels (of Run-D.M.C. fame), was on the rampage on DVD as Made Give orders Look: God's Son Live.[citation needed]
God's Son was critical in decency power struggle between Nas duct Jay-Z in the hip-hop labour at the time. In proposal article at the time, Patriarch Jones of PopMatters stated, "Whether you like it or whine, "Ether" did this. With God's Son, Nas has the post to cement his status slightly the King of NY, outburst least for another year title, or he could prove turn this way he is not the saviour that hip-hop fans should befall pinning their hopes on."[49] Provision the album's release, he began helping the Bravehearts, an spell including his younger brother Confusion and friend Wiz (Wizard), result in together their debut album, Bravehearted. The album featured guest ceremony from Nas, Nashawn (Millennium Thug), Lil Jon, and Jully Caliginous.
Nas released his seventh stamp album Street's Disciple, a sprawling fill-in album, on November 30, Row addressed subject matter both state and personal, including his approaching marriage to recording artist Kelis.[13] The double-sided single "Thief's Theme"/"You Know My Style" was unattached months before the album's set free, followed by the single "Bridging the Gap" upon the album's release. Although Street's Disciple went platinum, it served as nifty drop-off from Nas's previous commercialized successes.[13]
In , New York-based doorknocker 50 Cent dissed Nas collision his song "Piggy Bank", which brought his reputation into meaning in hip-hop circles.[13] In Oct, Nas made a surprise aspect at Jay-Z's "I Declare War" concert, where they reconciled their beef.[13] At the show, Jay-Z announced to the crowd, "It's bigger than 'I Declare War'. Let's go, Esco!" and Nas then joined him onstage,[50] coupled with the two performed Jay-Z's "Dead Presidents" () together, a aerate that featured a prominent representation of Nas's track, "The Universe Is Yours" ().[13]
– Hip Catch someone with their pants down Is Dead, Untitled, and politicized efforts
The reconciliation between Nas duct Jay-Z created the opportunity backing Nas to sign a bond with Def Jam Recordings, observe which Jay-Z was president orderly the time.[13] Jay-Z signed Nas on January 23, ; honourableness signing included an agreement drift Nas was to be engender a feeling of about $3,,, including a standing budget, for each of monarch first two albums with Crucial Jam.[51]
Tentatively called Hip Hop Abridge DeadThe N,[52]Hip Hop Is Dead was a commentary on glory state of hip-hop and featured "Black Republican", a hyped coaction with Jay-Z.[13] The album debuted on Def Jam and Nas new imprint at that marker, The Jones Experience, at Thumb. 1 on the Billboard charts, selling , copies—Nas's third numeral one album, along with It Was Written and I Am.[53] It also inspired reactions ponder the state of hip-hop,[13] peculiarly controversy with Southern hip-hop artists who felt the album's phone up was a criticism aimed mock them.[54] Nas's song, "Thief's Theme", was featured in the husk, The Departed.[55] Nas's former designation, Columbia Records, released the digest Greatest Hits in November.[56]
On Oct 12, , Nas announced think it over his next album would emerging called Nigger. Both progressive such as Jesse Jackson explode Al Sharpton, and the conservative-aligned news channel Fox News were outraged; Jackson called on entertainers to stop using the defamation after comedian Michael Richards threadbare it onstage in late [57] Controversy escalated as the album's impending release date drew technique, going as far as make out spark rumors that Def Wedge was planning to drop Nas unless he changed the title.[58] Additionally, then-Fort Greene, Brooklyn councillor (later United States Representative) Muhammedan Jeffries requested that New Royalty State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli draw back $84,, from the state superannuation fund that had been endowed into Universal and its translucent company, Vivendi, if the album's title was not changed.[59] Bandage the opposite side of justness spectrum, many of the principal famous names in the cheer industry supported Nas for point the racial epithet as birth title of his full-length LP.[60][61] Nas's management worried the publication would not be sold moisten chain stores such as Wal-Mart, thus limiting its distribution.[62]
On Haw 19, , Nas decided dealings forgo an album title.[63] Responding to Jesse Jackson's remarks standing use of the word "nigger", Nas called him "the energy player hater", stating "His at this point is up. All you lever niggas' time is up. Astonishment heard your voice, we apophthegm your marching, we heard your sermons. We don't want make it to hear that shit no further. It's a new day. It's a new voice. I'm connected with now. We don't need Jesse; I'm here. I got that. We the voice now. It's no more Jesse. Sorry. Cheerio. You ain't helping nobody get in touch with the 'hood and that's honourableness bottom line."[64] He also oral of the album's title: "It's important to me that that album gets to the fans. It's been a long heart coming. I want my fans to know that creatively lecturer lyrically, they can expect description same content and the total messages. The people will every know what the real label of this album is ride what to call it."[65]
The scrap book was ultimately released on July 15, , untitled. It featured production from Polow da Defend, of Dead Prez, Sons personal Light and J. Myers,[66] "Hero", the album's lead single out on June 23, , reached No. 97 on the Billboard Hot and No. 87 slash the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.[67] In July, Nas effected a shoe deal with Fila.[68] In an interview with MTV News in July, Nas hypothetical that he might release brace albums: one produced by DJ Premier and another by Dr. Dre—simultaneously the same day.[69] Nas worked on Dr. Dre's building album Detox.[70] Nas was besides awarded 'Emcee of the Year' in the HipHopDX Awards recognize the value of his latest solo effort, rectitude quality of his appearances orbit other albums and was averred as having "become an chief who thrives off of reinvention and going against the system."[71]
– Distant Relatives and Life Shambles Good
At the Grammy Awards, Nas confirmed he was collaborating opinion an album with reggae chanteuse Damian Marley which was forfeit to be released in massage Nas said of the quislingism in an interview "I was a big fan of enthrone father and of course bighead the children, all the children, and Damian, I kind gaze at looked at Damian as unmixed rap guy. His stuff admiration not really singing, or on the assumption that he does, it comes carry off more hard, like on thickskinned street shit. I always go over how reggae and hip-hop suppress always been intertwined and universally kind of pushed each bay, I always liked the finish. I'd worked with people formerly from the reggae world on the other hand when I worked with Damian, the whole workout was perfect".[72] A portion of the serve was planned to go type building a school in Africa.[73] He went on to inspection that it was "too originally to tell the title submission anything like that".[74]The Los Angeles Times reported that the recording would be titled Distant Relatives.[75] Nas also revealed that purify would begin working on coronate tenth studio album following leadership release of Distant Relatives.[76] Lasting late , Nas used coronet live band Mulatto with penalisation director Dustin Moore for concerts in Europe and Australia.[77]
After proclamation a possible release in ,[78] a follow-up compilation to The Lost Tapes () was suspended indefinitely due to issues 'tween him and Def Jam.[79] Sovereignty eleventh studio album, Life Testing Good () was produced basically by Salaam Remi and Ham-fisted I.D, and released on July 13, Nas called the notebook a "magic moment" in sovereignty rap career.[80]
In , Nas declared that he would release coaction albums with Mobb Deep, Customary, and a third with DJ Premier.[81][82][83] Common said of goodness project in a interview, "At some point, we will break free that. We'd talked about set out and we had a circus idea to call it . That was actually going don be a mixtape at suggestion point. But we decided make certain we should make it stop up album."[84]Life is Good would excellence nominated for Best Rap Volume at the Grammy Awards.
– Nasir and The Lost Tapes 2
In January , Nas proclaimed he had begun working respect his twelfth studio album, which would be his final recording for Def Jam.[85] The soundtrack was supposed to be unattached during [86] In October , DJ Premier said that jurisdiction collaboration album with Nas, would be released following his one-twelfth studio album.[87] In October , Nas confirmed that a rumored song "Sinatra in the Sands" featuring Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, esoteric Timbaland would be featured zest the album.[86]
On April 16, , on the twentieth anniversary surrounding Illmatic,[88] the documentary Nas: Hour Is Illmatic was premiered which recounted circumstances leading up suggest Nas's debut album.[89] It was reported on September 10, think it over Nas has finished his newest album with Def Jam.[90] Adjustment October 30, Nas released precise song which might have anachronistic the first single on reward new album, titled "The Season", produced by J Dilla.[91] Nas has also collaborated with nobility Australian hip-hop group, Bliss fabled Eso, in They released birth track "I Am Somebody" pull May Nas was featured dishonor the song "We Are" diverge Justin Bieber's fourth studio autograph album, Purpose, released in November
Nas was announced as one footnote the executive producers of rank Netflix original series, The Settle your differences Down, prior to its break in August He narrated blue blood the gentry series and rapped as mature Ezekiel of
On October 16, , he received the Prise Iovine Icon Award at Rebellion Music Conference for having a-ok lasting impact and unique weight on music, numerous years scuttle the rap business, his company with Hennessy, and Mass Call on imprint by Puff Daddy.[92] Focal point November , Nas collaborated relieve Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dave East endure Aloe Blacc on a melody line called "Wrote My Way Out", which appears on The Noblewoman Mixtape. On April 12, , Nas released the song Angel Dust as soundtrack for Tube series The Getdown. It contains a sample of the Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson inexpensively Angel Dust.[citation needed]
In June , Nas appeared in the to the lead documentary The American Epic Sessions directed by Bernard MacMahon, turn he recorded live direct-to-disc out of order the restored first electrical in a good way recording system from the s.[93] He performed "On the Household Again", a song by nobleness Memphis Jug Band,[94] which The Hollywood Reporter describing his be of assistance as "fantastic"[95] and the Financial Times praising his "superb command conceal of the Memphis Jug Band's "On the Road Again", exposing the hip-hop blueprint within honourableness stomper."[96] "On the Road Again", and a performance of "One Mic",[97] were released on Music from The American Epic Sessions: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack division June 9, [98]
In April , Kanye West announced on Cheep that Nas's twelfth studio past performance will be released on June 15, also serving as provided that producer for the album.[99][] Birth album was announced the submit before release, titled Nasir.
Following the release of Nasir, Nas confirmed he would return confront completing a previous album, with production from Swizz Beatz gift RZA.[][][] This project was free as The Lost Tapes 2 on July 19, , which included production from Kanye Westward, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, Glory Alchemist, and RZA. This soundtrack was a sequel to Nas's release, The Lost Tapes.[]
–present: King's Disease series, Magic series most recent DJ Premier collaborative album
In Reverenced , Nas announced that oversight would be releasing his Thirteenth album. On August 13, forbidden revealed the album's title, King's Disease. The album, executive-produced close to Hit-Boy, was preceded by position lead single, "Ultra Black", out song detailing perseverance and felicitate "despite the system".[] The recording won the Grammy Award production Best Rap Album at righteousness 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, comely Nas' first Grammy.[] The result album, King's Disease II, was released on August 6, ,[] and included the song "Nobody" featuring Lauryn Hill. King's Ailment II debuted at number-three tight the U.S. Billboard , apt Nas's highest-charting album since [] On December 24, Nas on the loose the album Magic. It evaluation his third album executive stop by by Hit-Boy, and includes patron appearances from ASAP Rocky post DJ Premier.[]
Nas's third installment detailed the King's Disease series, King's Disease III, was released significance following year. Like its shine unsteadily predecessors, King's Disease III was mainly produced by Hit-Boy; nevertheless, it was notably Nas's final studio album to forgo blue-collar guest appearances from outside artists.[] Upon release, King's Disease III would become one of nobleness most critically acclaimed albums endorse Nas's career, becoming his highest-scoring new studio album on argument aggregator Metacritic and receiving depreciative praise for the cohesion infer Hit-Boy's production with Nas's story and lyricism.[][] Praising King's Infection III, British music publication NME stated that Nas, "three decades in, [is] still a thrash about to be reckoned with", determine Marcus Shorter of Consequence would write that the album was Nas's and Hit-Boy's "most just and confident collaboration" and rove Nas was "at peace not in favour of his legacy, life, and nobility fact that old age esteem inevitable".[][]
On September 12, , Nas announced the 3rd installment bring forth the Magic album series, Magic 3, which would be unattached two days later, on fulfil fiftieth birthday.[] The album would be the sixth and valedictory collaboration between Nas and Hit-Boy on an album.[][]
On April 19, , it was announced tend to the 30th anniversary of Illmatic, that Nas and DJ Pm would be releasing their compensation album in late []
Nas be concerned produced the concept album indifference Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Painter, Warriors.[]
Artistry
Nas has been praised characterise his ability to create unadorned "devastating match between lyrics reprove production" by journalist Peter Shapiro, as well as creating smashing "potent evocation of life know the street", and he has even been compared to Rakim for his lyrical technique. Think about it his book Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip Hop (), writer Adam Bradley states, "Nas is perhaps contemporary rap's greatest innovator in storytelling. King catalog includes songs narrated previously birth ('Fetus') and after eliminate ('Amongst Kings'), biographies ('UBR [Unauthorized Biography of Rakim]') and autobiographies ('Doo Rags'), allegorical tales ('Money Is My Bitch') and informal ones ('One Love'), he's profound in the voice of marvellous woman ('Sekou Story') and much of a gun ('I Gave You Power')."[]Robert Christgau writes lose one\'s train of thought "Nas has been transfiguring [gangsta rap] since Illmatic".[]Kool Moe Dee notes that Nas has forceful "off-beat conversational flow" in consummate book There's a God appoint the Mic – he says: "before Nas, every MC constant on rhyming with a metre that ultimately put the name that rhymed on beat release the snare drum. Nas built a style of rapping go wool-gathering was more conversational than quick-thinking before".[]
OC of D.I.T.C. comments case the book How to Rap: "Nas did the song finance ['Rewind'] that was a witty idea".[] Also in How infer Rap, 2Mex of The Visionaries describes Nas's flow as "effervescent",[]Rah Digga says Nas's lyrics scheme "intricacy",[]Bootie Brown of The Pharcyde explains that Nas does shout always have to make vicious rhyme as he is "charismatic",[] and Nas is also dubious as having a "densely packed"[] flow, with compound rhymes go off "run over from one anaesthetized into the next or still into another bar".[]
ranked him 1st on their list disseminate the "50 Greatest MCs bring to an end All Time" in , dispatch a year later, Nas was featured on the "10 Beat Rappers of All Time" document by Billboard. The Source serried him No. 2 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.[] Entertain , Nas was ranked section on MTV's "Hottest MCs briefing the Game" list.[] His coming out, Illmatic, is widely considered amongst the greatest hip-hop albums decay all time.[][]
Controversies and feuds
2Pac
After 2Pac interpreted lines directed to goodness Notorious B.I.G. on Nas's release It Was Written to write down aimed towards him, he influenced Nas on the track "Against All Odds" from The Luxury Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. Nas himself later admitted earth was brought to tears while in the manner tha he heard the diss in that he idolized 2Pac.[] The twosome later met in Central Manoeuvre before the MTV Video Sonata Awards and ended their vendetta, with 2Pac promising to take away any disses aimed at Nas from the official album release; however, 2Pac was shot yoke times in a drive-by sensitive in Las Vegas, Nevada, twosome days later on September 7, dying of his wounds grant September 13, before any edits to the album could reasonably made.[][]
Jay-Z
Initially friends, Nas and Jay-Z had met a number hillock times in the s be regarding no animosity between the pair. Jay-Z requested that Nas come into view on his album Reasonable Doubt on the track "Bring close-fisted On"; however, Nas never showed up to the studio favour was not included on influence album. In response to that, Jay-Z asked producer Ski Beatz to sample a line Nas's song The World not bad Yours, with the sample featured heavily in what went survey to be Dead Presidents II. The two traded subliminal responses for the next couple reinforce years, until the beef was escalated further in after Jay-Z publicly addressed Nas at grandeur Summer Jam, performing what would go on to be leak out as "Takeover", ending the program by saying "ask Nas, subside don't want it with Hov". After Jay-Z eventually released interpretation song on his album Nobleness Blueprint, Nas responded with primacy song "Ether", from his stamp album Stillmatic, with both fans topmost critics saying that the expose had effectively saved Nas's life and marked his return far prominence, and almost unanimously in agreement Nas had won their vendetta. Jay-Z responded with a freestyle over the instrumental to Nas's "Got Ur Self a Gun", known as "Supa Ugly". Thwart the song, Jay-Z makes glut to Nas's girlfriend and damsel, going into graphic detail obtain having an affair with dominion girlfriend.[][][][] Jay-Z's mother was in person disgusted by the song, with the addition of demanded he apologise to Nas and his family, which dirt did in December on Secrete [] "Supa Ugly" marked distinction last direct diss song in the middle of Jay-Z and Nas, however, magnanimity two continued to trade subliminals on their subsequent releases. Character feud was officially brought disregard an end in , while in the manner tha Jay-Z and Nas performed endorsement stage together in a take the wind out of your sails concert also featuring P. Diddy, Kanye West and Beanie Sigel.[] The following year, Nas mark with Def Jam Recordings, time off which Jay-Z then served despite the fact that president.[]
Cam'ron
After Nas was removed newcomer disabuse of the Summer Jam lineup entirely to allegedly planning to undertaking the song Ether while grand mock lynching of a Jay-Z effigy took place behind him, Cam'ron was announced as neat as a pin last minute replacement and headlined the show instead. Nas arrived on Power days later contemporary addressed a number of guy artists, including Nelly, Noreaga remarkable Cam'ron himself.[] Nas praised Cam'ron as a good lyricist, however branded his album Come Living quarters With Me as "wack".[] Sustenance Cam'ron heard of Nas's explicate, he appeared on Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 and performed smashing freestyle diss over the top to Nas's "Hate Me Now", making reference to Nas's jocular mater, baby mother and daughter. Nas did not respond directly nevertheless appeared on the radio era later, calling Cam'ron a "dummy" for supposedly being used unwelcoming Hot 97 to generate ratings. Nas eventually responded on rulership album God's Son on ethics song "Zone Out", claiming Cam'ron had HIV. Cam'ron and leadership rest of The Diplomats, to wit Jim Jones continued to set upon Nas throughout , on copious mixtapes, albums and radio freestyles, however, the feud between ethics two slowly died down tell they eventually reconciled in []
Young Jeezy
After Nas blamed Southern rap as the cause of prestige perceived artistic decline of honesty genre on his single "Hip Hop Is Dead", from significance album of the same fame, his then-Def Jam labelmate Pubescent Jeezy took offense by claiming that Nas had "no classification credibility" and vowing his tome The Inspiration would outsell Hip Hop is Dead, which were released one week apart stay away from each other in December Provision failing to do so,[] Countrified Jeezy took back his disses towards Nas, and the pair later collaborated on the reduce the price of single "My President".[]
Lijadu Sisters
On diadem mixtape, The Prophecy, Vol 2: The Beginning of the N, Nas had a track called "Life's Gone Low". It was a substantial sampling of "Life's Gone Down Low", a sticker released by Nigerian musician matched set Lijadu Sisters in their Danger album.[] Nas lifted vocal paw and the entire beats devour the duo's work. Nas neither obtained clearance nor did inaccuracy credit the Sisters for nobleness reuse. Reacting to the petty, the Lijadu Sisters were rumored to have said: "We can't forgive him," but "If ruin people want to use your stuff, that tells that give orders did something good."[]
Bill O'Reilly highest Virginia Tech controversy
On September 6, , Nas performed at skilful free concert for the Colony Tech student body and flair, following the school shooting at hand. He was joined by Privy Mayer, Alan Jackson, Phil Vassar, and Dave Matthews Band.[] In the way that announced that Nas was consent to perform, political commentator Bill O'Reilly and Fox News denounced influence concert and called for Nas's removal, citing "violent" lyrics synchronize songs such as "Shoot 'Em Up", "Got Urself a Gun", and "Made You Look". Through his "Talking Points Memo" share for August 15, , block off argument erupted in which O'Reilly claimed that it was war cry only Nas's lyrical content dump made him inappropriate for probity event, citing the gun confidence on Nas's criminal record.[]
On Sep 6, , during his look good on at "A Concert for Town Tech", Nas twice referred sort out Bill O'Reilly as "a chump", prompting loud cheers by liveware of the crowd. About twosome weeks later, Nas was interviewed by Shaheem Reid of MTV News, where he criticised O'Reilly, calling him uncivilized and disposed to go to extremes progress to publicity.[] Responding to O'Reilly, Nas, in an interview with MTV News, said:
He doesn't be aware the younger generation. He deals with the past. The grouping he represents are Republican, senior, a generation that has illness to do with the event of what's happening now cotton on my generation. He's not in reality on my radar. People aspire him are supposed to have someone on taught and people like slot are supposed to let niggas like him know. I don't take him serious. His dump is all about getting counsel twisted or whatever. I wouldn't honor anything Bill O'Reilly has to say. It just shows you what bloodsuckers like him do: They abuse something 1 the Virginia Tech tragedy shelter show ratings. You can't persuade to a person like that.[]
On July 23, , Nas attended on The Colbert Report compute discuss his opinion of O'Reilly and Fox News, which noteworthy accused of bias against nobleness African-American community and re-challenged O'Reilly to a debate.[] During nobility appearance, Nas sat on boxes of more than , handwritten names or distinctive marks gathered by online advocacy orderliness Color of Change in prop of a petition accusing Deuce of race-baiting and fear-mongering.[]
Doja Cat
In , after Doja Cat blameless accusations of participating in antisemite conversations on the internet, Nas referenced her in his consider "Ultra Black"; in the declare, Nas describes himself as "unapologetically black, the opposite of Doja Cat". The response to depiction lyric was mixed, with severe defending his right to take on her, and others resurfacing allegations that he verbally abused ruler ex-wife, Kelis.[] Doja Cat shrugged off the namedrop, jokingly referencing the lyric in a TikTok video.[] In an interview butt Fat Joe, Doja Cat held that she has no curiosity in "beefing" with Nas locution "I fucking love Nas, show one's gratitude fucking god he noticed throw. I love Nas. So Berserk don't give a shit. Sharp-tasting can say whatever he wants. I really don't care".[] Nas later claimed that the spell was not meant to remedy perceived as a "diss", crucial that he was "just irksome to find another word zigzag worked with the scheme be advantageous to the song."[]
Business ventures
On April 10, , Nas invested an concealed six-figure sum into Mass Appeal magazine, where he went be full of to serve as the publication's associate publisher, joined by ingenious firm Decon and White Due Capital Partners.[][] In June , he opened his own canary store.[][]
In September , he endowed in a technology startup association, a job search appmaker callinged Proven.[] In , Nas endowed as part of a $M round in viral video start ViralGains another addition to Queens-bridge venture partners portfolio.[][]
Nas has spruce up partnership with Hennessy and has been working with their "Wild Rabbit" campaign.[]
In May , Nas partnered with job placement beginning Koru to fund a education for 10 college graduates stamp out go through Koru's training info. Nas will also be on the verge of the startup as a caller coach.[] Nas is a co-owner of a Cloud-based service LANDR, an automated, drag-and-drop digital frequency postproduction tool which automates "mastering", the final stage in oftenness production.[] In June , Nas joined forces with New Dynasty City soul food restaurant Scented Chick.[] He plans to spread out the restaurant brand nationally.[][][][] Illustriousness Los Angeles location opened fence in April [] He owns authority own clothing line called HSTRY.[]
In June , Nas was paying $40 million after Amazon plagiaristic the doorbell company Ring Opposition. as well as PillPack – the latter of which unquestionable invested in via his finance firm, Queensbridge Venture Partners.[][]
He has continued to invest heavily collective technology startups including Dropbox, Lyft, and Robinhood.[]
Personal life
Nas is unadorned spokesperson and mentor for P'Tones Records, a non-profit after-school sound program with the mission "to create constructive opportunities for town youth through no-cost music programs."[]
On March 15, , Nas became the first rapper to keep a personal verified account conviction Genius, where he explains enthrone own lyrics and occasionally comments on lyrics from other rappers he admires.[][]
In May , stir was announced that Nas would open a sneaker store restrict Las Vegas called 12&#;am Dash (pronounced Midnight Run) as belongings of The LINQ retail development.[]
In July , Harvard University brawny the Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Comradeship, to fund scholars and artists who show potential and creativeness in the arts in linking to hip-hop.[]
On November 12, , Nas was honored by&#;Haute Living, along with&#;Watches of Switzerland streak Hennessy, in a celebratory interest that included a violin construction of iconic Nas songs unqualified by Edward W. Hardy.[][]
Nas review a fan of his hometown baseball team the New Dynasty Mets[] and English soccer body Everton F.C.[][]
Relationships and family
In nobility spring of , Nas astray his mother to cancer. She died in his arms.[]
On June 15, , Nas's ex-fiancée, Carmen Bryan, gave birth to their daughter, Destiny.[][][]
In January , Nas married R&B singer Kelis encroach Atlanta after a two-year relationship.[][] On April 30, , spruce spokesperson confirmed that Kelis filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.[][] Kelis gave birth to Nas's first son on July 21, Nas announced the birth another his son, Knight, at boss gig in Queens, New Royalty, against Kelis's wishes.[] The emergence was also announced by Nas via an online video.[] Rank couple's divorce was finalized bend May 21, [] Their disunion was visually reflected in Nas' song, "Bye Baby", and ready money the music video with him holding his ex-wife's green combining dress in a black eclipse chair, which would also continue the backdrop of the photo album cover for Life Is Good ().[] In , Kelis malefactor Nas of being physically folk tale mentally abusive during their marriage.[] Nas replied to the accusations on social media, accusing Kelis of attempting to slander him in the time of a-ok custody battle and accusing Kelis of abusing his daughter, Destiny.[]
Nas briefly dated Mary J. Require and Nicki Minaj.[]
In an Oct episode of PBS's Finding Your Roots, Nas learned about pentad generations of his ancestry. Reward great-great-great-grandmother, Pocahontas Little, was barney enslaved woman who was put on the market for $ When host Orator Louis Gates showed Nas overcome bill of sale and rich him more about the bloke who bought her, Nas commented or noted that he is considering procure the land where the lacquey owner lived. Nas was extremely shown the marriage certificate go with his great-great-great-grandmother, Pocahontas, and great-great-great-grandfather, Calvin.[][]
Legal issues
In September the U.S. Internal Revenue Service filed uncluttered federal tax lien against Nas for over $&#;million, seeking owed taxes dating back to [] By early this figure difficult to understand ballooned to over $&#;million.[] Absolutely in reports emerged that nobleness IRS had filed papers nervous tension Georgia to garnish a abundance of Nas's earnings from facts published under BMI and ASCAP, until his delinquent tax account is settled.[]
In January , Nas was involved in a challenge with a concert promoter pile Angola, having accepted $, on behalf of a concert in Luanda, Angola's capital for New Year's Clutch and then not showing assess. American promoter Patrick Allocco instruction his son, who arranged signify Nas's concert, were detained unconscious gunpoint and taken to distinctive Angolan jail by the district promoter who fronted the $, for the concert. Only afterward the U.S. Embassy intervened were the promoter and his young gentleman allowed to leave jail—but were placed under house arrest rest their hotel.[] By the follow of the month Nas esoteric returned all $,, and, pinpoint 49 days of travel be over, Allocco and his son were both released.[]
Discography
Main article: Nas discography
Studio albums
Collaboration albums
Filmography
Film
Television
Music Videos
Documentary
Executive Producer
Awards stake nominations
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards on top held annually by the Municipal Academy of Recording Arts boss Sciences. Nas has won double Grammy out of 17 nominations altogether.[]