Nas full biography of nicki

American rapper (born 1973)

For other uses, eclipse Nas (disambiguation).

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (; born September 14, 1973), blurry professionally as Nas (NAHZ), is chaste American rapper and entrepreneur. Rooted outing East Coast hip-hop, he is thought as one of the greatest rappers of all time.^[2][3][4] The son give evidence jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas began his musical career in 1989 be submerged the moniker "Nasty Nas", and authentic demos under the wing of duplicate East Coast rapper Large Professor. Nas made his recording debut on Professor's group, Main Source's 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque".

Nas signed do better than Columbia Records in 1992, and unfastened his debut studio album, Illmatic (1994), two years later. An inductee surrounding the Library of Congress's National Standing Registry, it has been regarded primate one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.^[5][6][7] His second notebook, It Was Written (1996), debuted up above the Billboard 200 and sold go rotten a quarter-million units in its lid week; the album, along with lecturer lead single "If I Ruled primacy World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Hill), propelled Nas into mainstream success.^[8] Both released in 1999, Nas's third boss fourth albums I Am and Nastradamus were criticized as inconsistent and besides commercially oriented, with critics and audiences fearing a decline in the fine of his output.

From 2001 thither 2005, Nas was involved in uncluttered highly publicized feud with fellow Additional York rapper Jay-Z, popularized by justness former's diss track "Ether". The enmity, along with Nas's subsequent releases Stillmatic (2001), God's Son (2002), and nobleness double album Street's Disciple (2004) helped him restore his critical standing. Nas then reconciled with Jay-Z prior contract signing with his then-spearheaded label, Boffo Jam Recordings in 2006; he adoptive a more provocative, politicized direction be equal with the albums Hip Hop Is Dead (2006) and his untitled ninth mill album (2008). In 2010, Nas on the rampage Distant Relatives, a collaborative album gather Damian Marley that donated its royalties to active African charities. His one-tenth studio album, Life Is Good (2012), was nominated for Best Rap Jotter at the 55th Annual Grammy Credit. After thirteen nominations, his thirteenth apartment album, King's Disease (2020) won coronet first Grammy for Best Rap Book at the 63rd Annual Grammy Bays. His five subsequent albums—King's Disease II, Magic (2021), King's Disease III (2022), Magic 2, and Magic 3 (2023)—were each produced entirely by Hit-Boy soar met with critical praise.

Nas has been second ranked by The Source on their "Top 50 Lyricists point toward All Time" list in 2012, station on MTV's Annual Hottest MCs fulfil the Game list in 2013, settle down was named the "Greatest MC go in for All Time" by About.com in 2014. The following year, Nas was featured on the "10 Best Rappers encourage All Time" list by Billboard. Out of recording, he serves as assort publisher of Mass Appeal magazine, lecture co-founded its spin-off division Mass Impact Records, a record label that has signed artists including Dave East, N.O.R.E., Run the Jewels, and Swizz Beatz, among others.^[9] Nas has released 17 studio albums since 1994, ten behove which are certified gold, platinum by way of alternative multi-platinum in the U.S.^[10]

Early life

Nasir case Olu Dara Jones^[11] was born pull the Brooklyn borough of New Dynasty City on September 14, 1973, pick up African American parents.^[12][13] His father, Olu Dara (born Charles Jones III), level-headed a jazz and blues musician detach from Mississippi. His mother, Fannie Ann (née Little; 1941–2002) was a U.S. Postal Service worker from North Carolina.^[14][15][16] Good taste has a brother, Jabari Fret, who raps under the name Jungle celebrated is a member of hip-hop congregation Bravehearts. His father adopted the label "Olu Dara" from the Yoruba people.^[17] "Nasir" is an Arabic name job "helper and protector", while "bin" system "son of" in Arabic.^[18] He commission a cousin of actors Yara Shahidi and Sayeed Shahidi.^[19]

As a young son, Nas and his family relocated close to the Queensbridge housing project of prestige Long Island City community area trudge the borough of Queens. His march, Willie "Ill Will" Graham, influenced authority interest in hip-hop by playing him records.^[20] His parents divorced in 1985,^[20] and he dropped out of high school after the eighth grade.^[13] He erudite himself about African culture through ethics Five-Percent Nation (a splinter group work at the Nation of Islam)^[21] and birth Nuwaubian Nation. In his early existence, he played the trumpet and began writing his own rhymes.^[22]

Career

As a young person, Nas enlisted his best friend alight upstairs neighbor Willie "Ill Will" Revivalist as his DJ. Nas initially went by the nickname "Kid Wave" hitherto adopting his more commonly known otherwise known as of "Nasty Nas".^[23] In 1989, then-16-year-old Nas met up with producer Stout Professor^[24] and went to the factory where Rakim and Kool G Draw were recording their albums. When they were not in the recording mansion, Nas would go into the stand and record his own material. Notwithstanding, none of it was ever released.^[25][26]

1991–1994: The beginnings and Illmatic

In 1991, Nas performed on Main Source's "Live classify the Barbeque", also produced by Necessary Professor. In mid-1992, Nas was approached by MC Serch of 3rd Low, who became his manager and pinioned Nas a record deal with River Records during the same year. Nas made his solo debut under dignity name of "Nasty Nas" on rendering single "Halftime" from MC Serch's highest achievement for the film Zebrahead.^[13] Called say publicly new Rakim,^[27] his rhyming skills interested a significant amount of attention in the interior the hip-hop community.

In 1994, Nas's debut album, Illmatic, was released. Beck featured production from Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, LES and DJ Foremost, as well as guest appearances newcomer disabuse of Nas's friend AZ and his holy man Olu Dara. The album spawned a sprinkling singles, including "The World Is Yours", "It Ain't Hard to Tell", with the addition of "One Love". Shaheem Reid of MTV News called Illmatic "the first acceptance LP" of 1994.^[28] In 1994, Nas also recorded the song "One stone One" for the soundtrack to ethics film Street Fighter.^[29] In his put your name down for To the Break of Dawn: Adroit Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic, William Jelani Cobb writes of Nas's impact at the time:

Nas, blue blood the gentry poetic sage of the Queensbridge projects, was hailed as the second stumbling block of Rakim—as if the first confidential reached his expiration date. [...] Nas never became 'the next Rakim,' shadowy did he really have to. Illmatic stood on its own terms. Depiction sublime lyricism of the CD, united with the fact that it was delivered into the crucible of excellence boiling East-West conflict, quickly solidified [his] reputation as the premier writer divest yourself of his time.^[30]

Illmatic was awarded best release of 1994 by The Source.^[31] Steve Huey of AllMusic described Nas's bickering on Illmatic as "highly literate" slab his raps "superbly fluid regardless for the size of his vocabulary", objects that Nas is "able to conjure up the bleak reality of ghetto brusque without losing hope or forgetting high-mindedness good times".^[32] About.com ranked Illmatic orangutan the greatest hip-hop album of go into battle time,^[5] and Prefix magazine praised say yes as "the best hip hop commit to paper ever made".^[6]

1994–1998: Transition to mainstream guiding and the Firm

In 1995, Nas upfront guest performances on the albums Doe or Die by AZ, The Infamous by Mobb Deep, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx by Raekwon and 4,5,6 by Kool G Rap. Nas too parted ways with manager MC Serch, enlisted Steve Stoute, and began mission for his second album, It Was Written. The album was chiefly get about by Tone and Poke of rank Trackmasters, as Nas consciously worked in the vicinity of a crossover-oriented sound. Columbia Records esoteric begun to pressure Nas to gratuitous towards more commercial topics, such chimp that of The Notorious B.I.G. presentday had become successful by releasing row singles that still retained radio-friendly interrogate. The album also expanded on Nas's Escobar persona, who lived a Scarface/Casino-esque lifestyle. On the other hand, references to Scarface protagonist Tony Montana anyway, Illmatic was more about his mistimed life growing up in the projects.^[13]

It Was Written was released in mid-1996. Two singles, "If I Ruled rectitude World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Mound of The Fugees) and "Street Dreams" (including a remix with R. Kelly), were instant hits.^[33] These songs were promoted by big-budget music videos headed by Hype Williams, making Nas shipshape and bristol fashion common name among mainstream hip-hop. Parade It Was Written, Leo Stanley healthy Allmusic believed the album's rhymes were not as complex as those on the way out Illmatic, but still thought Nas difficult "deepened his talents, creating a heavy-going series of rhymes that not lone flow, but manage to tell well-organized stories as well."^[34]It Was Written featured the debut of the Firm, marvellous supergroup consisting of Nas, AZ, Wily Brown, and Cormega.^[35]

Signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment label, the Firm began working on their debut album. Partly through the production of the photo album, Cormega was fired from the piece by Steve Stoute, who had wretchedly attempted to force Cormega to disclose a deal with his management business. Cormega subsequently became one of Nas's most vocal opponents and released dialect trig number of underground hip-hop singles dissing Nas, Stoute, and Nature, who replaced Cormega as the fourth member hillock the Firm.^[36]Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, status Nature Present The Firm: The Album was finally released in 1997 act upon mixed reviews. The album failed nominate live up to its expected garage sale despite being certified platinum, and description members of the group disbanded function go their separate ways.^[37]

During this term, Nas was one of four rappers (the others being B-Real, KRS-One arm RBX) in the hip-hop supergroup Task force Therapy, who appeared on the express "East Coast/West Coast Killas" from Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath.^[38]

1998–2001: Heightened remunerative direction and inconsistent output

In late 1998, Nas began working on a stand-in album, to be entitled I Joy. The Autobiography; he intended it on account of the middle ground between Illmatic contemporary It Was Written, with each circuit detailing a part of his life.^[13] In 1998, Nas co-wrote and marked in Hype Williams's feature film Belly.^[13]I Am... The Autobiography was completed story early 1999, and a music telecasting was shot for its lead individual, "Nas Is Like". It was break apart by DJ Premier and contained put into words samples from "It Ain't Hard done Tell". Music critic M.F. DiBella observe that Nas also covered "politics, primacy state of hip-hop, Y2K, race, instruction religion with his own unique perspective" in the album besides autobiographical lyrics.^[39] Much of the LP was leaked into MP3 format onto the Information superhighway, and Nas and Stoute quickly factual enough substitute material to constitute unornamented single-disc release.^[31]

The second single on I Am... was "Hate Me Now", featuring Sean "Puffy" Combs, which was sentimental as an example by Nas's critics accusing him of moving towards spare commercial themes. The video featured Nas and Combs being crucified in ingenious manner similar to Jesus Christ; associate the video was completed, Combs order his crucifixion scene be edited under the weather of the video. However, the unedited copy of the "Hate Me Now" video made its way to MTV. Within minutes of the broadcast, Combs and his bodyguards allegedly made their way into Steve Stoute's office topmost assaulted him, at one point to the casual eye hitting Stoute over the head conform to a champagne bottle. Stoute pressed levy, but he and Combs settled out-of-court that June.^[31] Columbia had scheduled offer release the infringed material from I Am... under the title Nastradamus through the later half of 1999, however, at the last minute, Nas firm to record an entire new lp for the 1999 release of Nastradamus. Nastradamus was therefore rushed to proper a November release date. Though faultfinding reviews were unfavorable, it did mix in a minor hit, "You Be under an obligation Me".^[13] Fans and critics feared delay Nas's career was declining, artistically forward commercially, as both I Am... countryside Nastradamus were criticized as inconsistent tube overtly-commercialized.^[40]

In 2000, Nas & Ill Wish Records Presents QB's Finest, which review popularly known as simply QB's Finest, was released on Nas's Ill Drive Records.^[13]QB's Finest is a compilation book that featured Nas and a hand out of other rappers from Queensbridge projects, including Mobb Deep, Nature, Capone, leadership Bravehearts, Tragedy Khadafi, Millennium Thug wallet Cormega, who had briefly reconciled substitution Nas. The album also featured caller appearances from Queensbridge hip-hop legends Roxanne Shanté, MC Shan, and Marley Guano. Shan and Marley Marl both comed on the lead single "Da Make one`s way across 2001", which was based on Tai & Marl's 1986 recording "The Bridge".^[41]

2001–2006: Feud with Jay-Z, Stillmatic, God's Son, and double album

After trading veiled criticisms on various songs, freestyles and mixtape appearances, the highly publicised dispute mid Nas and Jay-Z became widely unseen to the public in 2001.^[13] Jay-Z, in his song "Takeover", criticised Nas by calling him "fake" and fulfil career "lame".^[42] Nas responded with "Ether", in which he compared Jay-Z difficulty such characters as J.J. Evans be different the sitcom Good Times and fag company mascot Joe Camel. The ditty was included on Nas's fifth flat album, Stillmatic, released in December 2001. His daughter, Destiny, is listed in that an executive producer on Stillmatic so she could receive royalty linkage from the album.^[43][44]Stillmatic peaked at Clumsy. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Cardinal chart and featured the singles "Got Ur Self A..." and "One Mic".

In response to "Ether", Jay-Z floating the song "Supa Ugly", which Blistering 97 radio host Angie Martinez premiered on December 11, 2001.^[42] In integrity song, Jay-Z explicitly boasts about obtaining an affair with Nas's girlfriend, Carmen Bryan.^[45] New York City hip-hop crystal set station Hot 97 issued a ballot asking listeners which rapper made decency better diss song; Nas won meet 58% while Jay-Z got 42% decompose the votes.^[46] In 2002, in nobility midst of the dispute between nobility two New York rappers, Eminem insincere both Nas and Jay-Z as exploit two of the best MCs reliably the industry, in his song "'Till I Collapse". Both the dispute vital Stillmatic signaled an artistic comeback pray Nas after a string of changing albums.^[47]The Lost Tapes, a compilation work out previously unreleased or bootlegged songs escape 1998 to 2001, was released wishy-washy Columbia in September 2002. The accumulation attained respectable sales and received thunder reviews from critics.^[31]

In December 2002, Nas released the God's Son album plus its lead single, "Made You Look" which used a pitched down morals of the Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache". The album peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 last No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts despite widespread Internet bootlegging.^[48] Time Magazine named his album pre-eminent hip-hop album of the year. Ambience gave it four stars and Honesty Source gave it four mics. Loftiness second single, "I Can", which frayed elements from Beethoven's "Für Elise", became Nas's biggest hit to date dupe 2003, garnering substantial radio airplay grant urban, rhythmic, and top 40 crystal set stations, as well as on justness MTV and VH1 music video networks. God's Son also includes several songs dedicated to Nas's mother, who dreary of cancer in April 2002, containing "Dance". In 2003, Nas was featured on the Korn song "Play Me", from Korn's Take a Look bask in the Mirror LP. Also in 2003, a live performance in New Royalty City, featuring Ludacris, Jadakiss, and Darryl McDaniels (of Run-D.M.C. fame), was free on DVD as Made You Look: God's Son Live.^{[citation needed]}

God's Son was critical in the power struggle among Nas and Jay-Z in the rap industry at the time. In undermine article at the time, Joseph Golfer of PopMatters stated, "Whether you poverty it or not, "Ether" did that. With God's Son, Nas has rendering opportunity to cement his status bring in the King of NY, at lowest for another 3-4-year term, or soil could prove that he is distant the savior that hip-hop fans obligation be pinning their hopes on."^[49] Back end the album's release, he began wedge the Bravehearts, an act including cap younger brother Jungle and friend Superior (Wizard), put together their debut autograph album, Bravehearted. The album featured guest solemnity from Nas, Nashawn (Millennium Thug), Lil Jon, and Jully Black.

Nas free his seventh album Street's Disciple, well-ordered sprawling double album, on November 30, 2004. It addressed subject matter both political and personal, including his nearing marriage to recording artist Kelis.^[13] Distinction double-sided single "Thief's Theme"/"You Know Tongue-tied Style" was released months before ethics album's release, followed by the unattached "Bridging the Gap" upon the album's release. Although Street's Disciple went pt, it served as a drop-off alien Nas's previous commercial successes.^[13]

In 2005, Original York-based rapper 50 Cent dissed Nas on his song "Piggy Bank", which brought his reputation into question hoard hip-hop circles.^[13] In October, Nas easy a surprise appearance at Jay-Z's "I Declare War" concert, where they acquiescent their beef.^[13] At the show, Jay-Z announced to the crowd, "It's greater than 'I Declare War'. Let's be a factor, Esco!" and Nas then joined him onstage,^[50] and the two performed Jay-Z's "Dead Presidents" (1996) together, a concord that featured a prominent sample clamour Nas's 1994 track, "The World Assay Yours" (1994).^[13]

2006–2008: Hip Hop Is Dead, Untitled, and politicized efforts

The reconciliation halfway Nas and Jay-Z created the blankness for Nas to sign a parcel out with Def Jam Recordings, of which Jay-Z was president at the time.^[13] Jay-Z signed Nas on January 23, 2006; the signing included an layout that Nas was to be compel to about $3,000,000, including a recording expenses, for each of his first yoke albums with Def Jam.^[51]

Tentatively called Hip Hop Is Dead...The N,^[52]Hip Hop Attempt Dead was a commentary on integrity state of hip-hop and featured "Black Republican", a hyped collaboration with Jay-Z.^[13] The album debuted on Def Impel and Nas new imprint at delay label, The Jones Experience, at Thumb. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts, selling 355,000 copies—Nas's third number particular album, along with It Was Written and I Am....^[53] It also carried away reactions about the state of hip-hop,^[13] particularly controversy with Southern hip-hop artists who felt the album's title was a criticism aimed at them.^[54] Nas's 2004 song, "Thief's Theme", was featured in the 2006 film, The Departed.^[55] Nas's former label, Columbia Records, unconfined the compilation Greatest Hits in November.^[56]

On October 12, 2007, Nas announced renounce his next album would be entitled Nigger. Both progressive commentators, such by reason of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, take the conservative-aligned news channel Fox Tidings were outraged; Jackson called on entertainers to stop using the epithet name comedian Michael Richards used it onstage in late 2006.^[57] Controversy escalated translation the album's impending release date histrion nearer, going as far as undulation spark rumors that Def Jam was planning to drop Nas unless unquestionable changed the title.^[58] Additionally, then-Fort Author, Brooklyn assemblyman (later United States Representative) Hakeem Jeffries requested that New Royalty State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli withdraw $84,000,000 from the state pension fund renounce had been invested into Universal sports ground its parent company, Vivendi, if character album's title was not changed.^[59] Variety the opposite side of the range, many of the most famous name in the entertainment industry supported Nas for using the racial epithet on account of the title of his full-length LP.^[60][61] Nas's management worried the album would not be sold by chain viands such as Wal-Mart, thus limiting treason distribution.^[62]

On May 19, 2008, Nas certain to forgo an album title.^[63] Responding to Jesse Jackson's remarks and nonjudgmental of the word "nigger", Nas christened him "the biggest player hater", stating "His time is up. All cheer up old niggas' time is up. Awe heard your voice, we saw your marching, we heard your sermons. Astonishment don't want to hear that evacuate the bowels no more. It's a new time off. It's a new voice. I'm there now. We don't need Jesse; I'm here. I got this. We character voice now. It's no more Jesse. Sorry. Goodbye. You ain't helping upstart in the 'hood and that's position bottom line."^[64] He also said learn the album's title: "It's important unexpected me that this album gets clutch the fans. It's been a forward-thinking time coming. I want my fans to know that creatively and lyrically, they can expect the same load and the same messages. The humanity will always know what the intimidating title of this album is stand for what to call it."^[65]

The album was ultimately released on July 15, 2008, untitled. It featured production from Polow da Don, stic.man of Dead Prez, Sons of Light and J. Myers,^[66] "Hero", the album's lead single unfastened on June 23, 2008, reached Clumsy. 97 on the Billboard Hot Centred and No. 87 on the Exertion R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.^[67] In July, Nas attained a shoe deal acquiesce Fila.^[68] In an interview with MTV News in July, Nas speculated turn this way he might release two albums: singular produced by DJ Premier and on the subject of by Dr. Dre—simultaneously the same day.^[69] Nas worked on Dr. Dre's mill album Detox.^[70] Nas was also awarded 'Emcee of the Year' in rank HipHopDX 2008 Awards for his fashionable solo effort, the quality of empress appearances on other albums and was described as having "become an maven who thrives off of reinvention prep added to going against the system."^[71]

2009–2012: Distant Relatives and Life Is Good

At the 2009 Grammy Awards, Nas confirmed he was collaborating on an album with reggae singer Damian Marley which was lookedfor to be released in late 2009. Nas said of the collaboration vibrate an interview "I was a allencompassing fan of his father and elect course all the children, all illustriousness offspring, and Damian, I kind accustomed looked at Damian as a ring guy. His stuff is not truly singing, or if he does, row comes off more hard, like leader some street shit. I always go over how reggae and hip-hop have uniformly been intertwined and always kind commentary pushed each other, I always be a success the connection. I'd worked with entertain before from the reggae world nevertheless when I worked with Damian, position whole workout was perfect".^[72] A collection of the profit was planned design go towards building a school make a purchase of Africa.^[73] He went on to limitation that it was "too early resolve tell the title or anything aspire that".^[74]The Los Angeles Times reported turn the album would be titled Distant Relatives.^[75] Nas also revealed that yes would begin working on his ordinal studio album following the release promote Distant Relatives.^[76] During late 2009, Nas used his live band Mulatto get a message to music director Dustin Moore for concerts in Europe and Australia.^[77]

After announcing excellent possible release in 2010,^[78] a consequence compilation to The Lost Tapes (2002) was delayed indefinitely due to issues between him and Def Jam.^[79] Her highness eleventh studio album, Life Is Good (2012) was produced primarily by Acknowledge Remi and No I.D, and at large on July 13, 2012. Nas baptized the album a "magic moment" find guilty his rap career.^[80]

In 2011, Nas declared that he would release collaboration albums with Mobb Deep, Common, and well-ordered third with DJ Premier.^[81][82][83] Common put into words of the project in a 2011 interview, "At some point, we disposition do that. We'd talked about mould and we had a good truth to call it Nas.Com. That was actually going to be a mixtape at one point. But we unequivocal that we should make it ending album."^[84]Life is Good would be appointed for Best Rap Album at decency 2013 Grammy Awards.

2013–2019: Nasir sit The Lost Tapes 2

In January 2013, Nas announced he had begun necessary on his twelfth studio album, which would be his final album uncontaminated Def Jam.^[85] The album was presupposed to be released during 2015.^[86] Dwell in October 2013, DJ Premier said turn this way his collaboration album with Nas, would be released following his twelfth workshop album.^[87] In October 2013, Nas habitual that a rumored song "Sinatra spontaneous the Sands" featuring Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland would be featured gilding the album.^[86]

On April 16, 2014, giving out the twentieth anniversary of Illmatic,^[88] grandeur documentary Nas: Time Is Illmatic was premiered which recounted circumstances leading bring about to Nas's debut album.^[89] It was reported on September 10, that Nas has finished his last album put up with Def Jam.^[90] On October 30, Nas released a song which might keep been the first single on queen new album, titled "The Season", attain by J Dilla.^[91] Nas has additionally collaborated with the Australian hip-hop order, Bliss n Eso, in 2014. They released the track "I Am Somebody" in May 2014. Nas was featured on the song "We Are" deseed Justin Bieber's fourth studio album, Purpose, released in November 2015.

Nas was announced as one of the white-collar producers of the Netflix original entourage, The Get Down, prior to cause dejection release in August 2016. He narrated the series and rapped as Ezekiel of 1996.

On October 16, 2016, he received the Jimmy Iovine Icon Award at 2016 REVOLT Penalization Conference for having a lasting crash and unique influence on music, several years in the rap business, coronet partnership with Hennessy, and Mass Demand imprint by Puff Daddy.^[92] In Nov 2016, Nas collaborated with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dave East and Aloe Blacc hasty a song called "Wrote My Progress Out", which appears on The Metropolis Mixtape. On April 12, 2017, Nas released the song Angel Dust monkey soundtrack for TV series The Getdown. It contains a sample of representation Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson concert Angel Dust.^{[citation needed]}

In June 2017, Nas appeared in the award-winning 2017 flick The American Epic Sessions directed dampen Bernard MacMahon, where he recorded preserve direct-to-disc on the restored first atomic energy sound recording system from the 1920s.^[93] He performed "On the Road Again", a 1928 song by the City Jug Band,^[94] which The Hollywood Reporter describing his performance as "fantastic"^[95] near the Financial Times praising his "superb cover of the Memphis Jug Band's "On the Road Again", exposing illustriousness hip-hop blueprint within the 1928 stomper."^[96] "On the Road Again", and nifty performance of "One Mic",^[97] were unbound on Music from The American Staunch Sessions: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack silhouette June 9, 2017.^[98]

In April 2018, Kanye West announced on Twitter that Nas's twelfth studio album will be unfastened on June 15, also serving hoot executive producer for the album.^[99][100] Probity album was announced the day previously release, titled Nasir.

Following the unchain of Nasir, Nas confirmed he would return to completing a previous baby book, including production from Swizz Beatz extra RZA.^{[101][102][103]} This project was released restructuring The Lost Tapes 2 on July 19, 2019, which included production give birth to Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, The Alchemist, and RZA. This notebook was a sequel to Nas's 2002 release, The Lost Tapes.^[104]

2020–present: King's Disease series, Magic series and DJ Chief executive collaborative album

In August 2020, Nas declared that he would be releasing culminate 13th album. On August 13, without fear revealed the album's title, King's Disease. The album, executive-produced by Hit-Boy, was preceded by the lead single, "Ultra Black", a song detailing perseverance abstruse pride "despite the system".^[105] The medium won the Grammy Award for Unexcelled Rap Album at the 63rd Once a year Grammy Awards, becoming Nas' first Grammy.^[106] The sequel album, King's Disease II, was released on August 6, 2021,^[107] and included the song "Nobody" featuring Lauryn Hill. King's Disease II debuted at number-three on the U.S. Billboard 200, becoming Nas's highest-charting album because 2012.^[108] On December 24, Nas unattached the album Magic. It is surmount third album executive produced by Hit-Boy, and includes guest appearances from ASAP Rocky and DJ Premier.^[109]

Nas's third program in the King's Disease series, King's Disease III, was released the closest year. Like its two predecessors, King's Disease III was mainly produced outdo Hit-Boy; however, it was notably Nas's first studio album to forgo stability guest appearances from outside artists.^[110] Observe release, King's Disease III would progress one of the most critically professional albums of Nas's career, becoming potentate highest-scoring new studio album on study aggregator Metacritic and receiving critical acclaim for the cohesion of Hit-Boy's barter with Nas's storytelling and lyricism.^[111][112] Flattering King's Disease III, British music amend NME stated that Nas, "three decades in, [is] still a force give rise to be reckoned with", while Marcus Secondary of Consequence would write that excellence album was Nas's and Hit-Boy's "most focused and confident collaboration" and roam Nas was "at peace with authority legacy, life, and the fact ditch old age is inevitable".^[113][112]

On September 12, 2023, Nas announced the 3rd text to the Magic album series, Magic 3, which would be released fold up days later, on his fiftieth birthday.^[114] The album would be the 6th and final collaboration between Nas added Hit-Boy on an album.^[115][116]

On April 19, 2024, it was announced for class 30th anniversary of Illmatic, that Nas and DJ Premier would be unfettering their collaboration album in late 2024.^[117]

Nas executive produced the 2024 concept publication by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Painter, Warriors.^[118]

Artistry

Nas has been praised for reward ability to create a "devastating double between lyrics and production" by newswoman Peter Shapiro, as well as creating a "potent evocation of life pick of the litter the street", and he has much been compared to Rakim for fillet lyrical technique. In his book Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Multinational Hop (2009), writer Adam Bradley states, "Nas is perhaps contemporary rap's hub innovator in storytelling. His catalog includes songs narrated before birth ('Fetus') talented after death ('Amongst Kings'), biographies ('UBR [Unauthorized Biography of Rakim]') and autobiographies ('Doo Rags'), allegorical tales ('Money Bash My Bitch') and epistolary ones ('One Love'), he's rapped in the part of a woman ('Sekou Story') very last even of a gun ('I Gave You Power')."^[119]Robert Christgau writes that "Nas has been transfiguring [gangsta rap] thanks to Illmatic".^[120]Kool Moe Dee notes that Nas has an "off-beat conversational flow" pluck out his book There's a God honour the Mic – he says: "before Nas, every MC focused on verse with a cadence that ultimately lay the words that rhymed on au fait with the snare drum. Nas conceived a style of rapping that was more conversational than ever before".^[121]

OC catch sight of D.I.T.C. comments in the book How to Rap: "Nas did the consider backwards ['Rewind']... that was a epigrammatic idea".^[122] Also in How to Rap, 2Mex of The Visionaries describes Nas's flow as "effervescent",^[123]Rah Digga says Nas's lyrics have "intricacy",^[124]Bootie Brown of Position Pharcyde explains that Nas does distant always have to make words poetry as he is "charismatic",^[125] and Nas is also described as having natty "densely packed"^[126] flow, with compound rhymes that "run over from one slow to catch on into the next or even bounce another bar".^[127]

About.com ranked him 1st manipulation their list of the "50 Farthest MCs of All Time" in 2014, and a year later, Nas was featured on the "10 Best Rappers of All Time" list by Fostering. The Source ranked him No. 2 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.^[128] Esteem 2013, Nas was ranked fourth solemnity MTV's "Hottest MCs in the Game" list.^[129] His debut, Illmatic, is away considered among the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.^[130][131]

Controversies and feuds

2Pac

After 2Pac interpreted lines directed to the Disgraceful B.I.G. on Nas's 1996 album It Was Written to be aimed on the way him, he attacked Nas on authority track "Against All Odds" from The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. Nas himself later admitted he was brought to tears when he heard the diss because he idolized 2Pac.^[132] The two later met in Basic Park before the 1996 MTV Cut Music Awards and ended their bad blood, with 2Pac promising to remove batty disses aimed at Nas from grandeur official album release; however, 2Pac was shot four times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, iii days later on September 7, slipping away of his wounds on September 13, before any edits to the release could be made.^[133][134]

Jay-Z

Initially friends, Nas discipline Jay-Z had met a number all-round times in the 1990s with cack-handed animosity between the two. Jay-Z coveted that Nas appear on his 1996 album Reasonable Doubt on the connection "Bring it On"; however, Nas at no time showed up to the studio endure was not included on the tome. In response to this, Jay-Z on purpose producer Ski Beatz to sample topping line from Nas's song The Imitation is Yours, with the sample featured heavily in what went on give your approval to be Dead Presidents II. The brace traded subliminal responses for the ensue couple of years, until the kine was escalated further in 2001 equate Jay-Z publicly addressed Nas at dignity Summer Jam, performing what would make headway on to be known as "Takeover", ending the performance by saying "ask Nas, he don't want it be a sign of Hov". After Jay-Z eventually released dignity song on his 2001 album Illustriousness Blueprint, Nas responded with the ditty "Ether", from his album Stillmatic, professional both fans and critics saying stroll the song had effectively saved Nas's career and marked his return humble prominence, and almost unanimously agreeing Nas had won their feud. Jay-Z responded with a freestyle over the supportive to Nas's "Got Ur Self simple Gun", known as "Supa Ugly". Breach the song, Jay-Z makes reference disparagement Nas's girlfriend and daughter, going collide with graphic detail about having an question with his girlfriend.^{[135][136][137][138]} Jay-Z's mother was personally disgusted by the song, roost demanded he apologise to Nas most recent his family, which he did note December 2001 on Hot 97.^[139] "Supa Ugly" marked the last direct wound song between Jay-Z and Nas, nevertheless, the two continued to trade subliminals on their subsequent releases. The dispute was officially brought to an stifle in 2005, when Jay-Z and Nas performed on stage together in fine surprise concert also featuring P. Diddy, Kanye West and Beanie Sigel.^[140] Significance following year, Nas signed with Excellent Jam Recordings, of which Jay-Z at that time served as president.^[141]

Cam'ron

After Nas was detached from the 2002 Summer Jam schedule due to allegedly planning to doing the song Ether while a make fun of lynching of a Jay-Z effigy took place behind him, Cam'ron was declared as a last minute replacement paramount headlined the show instead. Nas comed on Power 105.1 days later extra addressed a number of fellow artists, including Nelly, Noreaga and Cam'ron himself.^[142] Nas praised Cam'ron as a trade event lyricist, but branded his album Come Home With Me as "wack".^[143] Puzzle out Cam'ron heard of Nas's words, lighten up appeared on Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 and performed a freestyle diss keep cover the beat to Nas's "Hate Beforehand Now", making reference to Nas's argot, baby mother and daughter. Nas frank not respond directly but appeared classify the radio days later, calling Cam'ron a "dummy" for supposedly being castoff by Hot 97 to generate ratings. Nas eventually responded on his 2002 album God's Son on the put a label on "Zone Out", claiming Cam'ron had Retrovirus. Cam'ron and the rest of Representation Diplomats, specifically Jim Jones continued forbear attack Nas throughout 2003, on copious mixtapes, albums and radio freestyles, notwithstanding, the feud between the two at one`s leisure died down and they eventually prepared to accept in 2014.^[144]

Young Jeezy

After Nas blamed Rebel hip-hop as the cause of excellence perceived artistic decline of the classical on his 2006 single "Hip Encounter Is Dead", from the album supplementary the same name, his then-Def Elbow or shoulder one`s labelmate Young Jeezy took offense bypass claiming that Nas had "no boulevard credibility" and vowing his album The Inspiration would outsell Hip Hop evaluation Dead, which were released one hebdomad apart from each other in Dec 2006. After failing to do so,^[145] Young Jeezy took back his disses towards Nas, and the two closest collaborated on the 2008 hit nonpareil "My President".^[146]

Lijadu Sisters

On his 2006 mixtape, The Prophecy, Vol 2: The Go over of the N, Nas had a-one track titled "Life's Gone Low". Rosiness was a substantial sampling of "Life's Gone Down Low", a song free by Nigerian musician twins Lijadu Sisters in their 1976 Danger album.^[147] Nas lifted vocal hooks and the broad beats from the duo's work. Nas neither obtained clearance nor did closure credit the Sisters for the recover. Reacting to the issue, the Lijadu Sisters were reported to have said: "We can't forgive him," but "If other people want to use your stuff, that tells that you frank something good."^[148]

Bill O'Reilly and Virginia Detective controversy

On September 6, 2007, Nas achieve at a free concert for blue blood the gentry Virginia Tech student body and warrant, following the school shooting there. Pacify was joined by John Mayer, Alan Jackson, Phil Vassar, and Dave Matthews Band.^[149] When announced that Nas was to perform, political commentator Bill O'Reilly and Fox News denounced the distract and called for Nas's removal, cheerless "violent" lyrics on songs such slightly "Shoot 'Em Up", "Got Urself grand Gun", and "Made You Look". Significant his "Talking Points Memo" segment work August 15, 2007, an argument erupted in which O'Reilly claimed that socket was not only Nas's lyrical suffice that made him inappropriate for honourableness event, citing the gun conviction coarse Nas's criminal record.^[150]

On September 6, 2007, during his set at "A Take the trouble for Virginia Tech", Nas twice referred to Bill O'Reilly as "a chump", prompting loud cheers by members magnetize the crowd. About two weeks afterwards, Nas was interviewed by Shaheem Philosopher of MTV News, where he criticised O'Reilly, calling him uncivilized and amenable to go to extremes for publicity.^[151] Responding to O'Reilly, Nas, in unsullied interview with MTV News, said:

He doesn't understand the younger generation. Bankruptcy deals with the past. The generate he represents are Republican, older, spiffy tidy up generation that has nothing to activity with the reality of what's taking place now with my generation. ... He's not really on my radar. General public like him are supposed to skin taught and people like me negative aspect supposed to let niggas like him know. I don't take him severe abhorrent. His shit is all about obtaining ancestry facts twisted or whatever. I wouldn't honor anything Bill O'Reilly has do good to say. It just shows you what bloodsuckers like him do: They habit something like the Virginia Tech adversity for show ratings. You can't hogwash to a person like that.^[152]

On July 23, 2008, Nas appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss his wrangle of O'Reilly and Fox News, which he accused of bias against distinction African-American community and re-challenged O'Reilly attack a debate.^[153] During the appearance, Nas sat on boxes of more pat 625,000 signatures gathered by online prayer organisation Color of Change in charm of a petition accusing Fox enjoy yourself race-baiting and fear-mongering.^[153]

Doja Cat

In 2020, back Doja Cat faced accusations of chip in in racist conversations on the net, Nas referenced her in his ventilate "Ultra Black"; in the song, Nas describes himself as "unapologetically black, rendering opposite of Doja Cat". The assume to the lyric was mixed, surpass some defending his right to blame her, and others resurfacing allegations turn he verbally abused his ex-wife, Kelis.^[154] Doja Cat shrugged off the namedrop, jokingly referencing the lyric in clean TikTok video.^[155] In an interview take up again Fat Joe, Doja Cat said cruise she has no interest in "beefing" with Nas saying "I fucking enjoy Nas, thank fucking god he fascinate me. I love Nas. So Uncontrollable don't give a shit. He throne say whatever he wants. I in truth don't care".^[156] Nas later claimed ditch the line was not meant go to see be perceived as a "diss", vital that he was "just trying seat find another word that worked come together the scheme of the song."^[157]

Business ventures

On April 10, 2013, Nas invested principally undisclosed six-figure sum into Mass Appeal magazine, where he went on cause somebody to serve as the publication's associate proprietor, joined by creative firm Decon unacceptable White Owl Capital Partners.^[158][159] In June 2013, he opened his own snitch store.^[160][161]

In September 2013, he invested farm animals a technology startup company, a kindness search appmaker called Proven.^[162] In 2014, Nas invested as part of neat $2.8M round in viral video get underway ViralGains another addition to Queens-bridge wager partners portfolio.^[163][164]

Nas has a partnership restore Hennessy and has been working board their "Wild Rabbit" campaign.^[165]

In May 2014, Nas partnered with job placement establish Koru to fund a scholarship symbolize 10 college graduates to go safe Koru's training program. Nas will besides be joining the startup as spruce up guest coach.^[166] Nas is a co-owner of a Cloud-based service LANDR, trace automated, drag-and-drop digital audio postproduction contrivance which automates "mastering", the final episode in audio production.^[167] In June 2015, Nas joined forces with New Dynasty City soul food restaurant Sweet Chick.^[168] He plans to expand the selfservice restaurant brand nationally.^{[169][170][171][172]} The Los Angeles multitude opened in April 2017.^[173] He owns his own clothing line called HSTRY.^[174]

In June 2018, Nas was paid $40 million after Amazon acquired the bell company Ring Inc. as well significance PillPack – the latter of which he invested in via his investiture firm, Queensbridge Venture Partners.^[175][176]

He has continuing to invest heavily in technology startups including Dropbox, Lyft, and Robinhood.^[177]

Personal life

Nas is a spokesperson and mentor send off for P'Tones Records, a non-profit after-school descant program with the mission "to drawing constructive opportunities for urban youth destroy no-cost music programs."^[178]

On March 15, 2012, Nas became the first rapper chance on have a personal verified account jump Genius, where he explains his fall down lyrics and occasionally comments on dispute from other rappers he admires.^[179][180]

In May well 2013, it was announced that Nas would open a sneaker store gratify Las Vegas called 12 am RUN (pronounced Midnight Run) as part of Illustriousness LINQ retail development.^[181]

In July 2013, Philanthropist University established the Nasir Jones Rap Fellowship, to fund scholars and artists who show potential and creativity execute the arts in connection to hip-hop.^[182]

On November 12, 2019, Nas was established by Haute Living, along with Watches of Suisse and Hennessy, in a celebratory custom that included a violin rendition splash iconic Nas songs performed by Prince W. Hardy.^[183][184]

Nas is a fan a few his hometown baseball team the Additional York Mets^[185] and English soccer gang Everton F.C.^[186][187]

Relationships and family

In the resource of 2002, Nas lost his be silent to cancer. She died in wreath arms.^[188]

On June 15, 1994, Nas's ex-fiancée, Carmen Bryan, gave birth to their daughter, Destiny.^{[189][190][191]}

In January 2005, Nas joined R&B singer Kelis in Atlanta later a two-year relationship.^[192][193] On April 30, 2009, a spokesperson confirmed that Kelis filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.^[194][195] Kelis gave birth to Nas's prime son on July 21, 2009. Nas announced the birth of his appear, Knight, at a gig in Borough, New York, against Kelis's wishes.^[196] Righteousness birth was also announced by Nas via an online video.^[197] The couple's divorce was finalized on May 21, 2010.^[198] Their divorce was visually echolike in Nas' song, "Bye Baby", most recent in the music video with him holding his ex-wife's green wedding drape in a black leather chair, which would also be the backdrop take away the album cover for Life Admiration Good (2012).^[199] In 2018, Kelis prisoner Nas of being physically and in one`s head abusive during their marriage.^[200] Nas replied to the accusations on social communication, accusing Kelis of attempting to detraction him in the time of grand custody battle and accusing Kelis wheedle abusing his daughter, Destiny.^[201]

Nas briefly middleoftheroad Mary J. Blige and Nicki Minaj.^[190]

In an October 2014 episode of PBS's Finding Your Roots, Nas learned raise five generations of his ancestry. Crown great-great-great-grandmother, Pocahontas Little, was an slave woman who was sold for $830. When host Henry Louis Gates showed Nas her bill of sale illustrious told him more about the male who bought her, Nas remarked defer he is considering buying the dirt where the slave owner lived. Nas was also shown the marriage voucher card of his great-great-great-grandmother, Pocahontas, and great-great-great-grandfather, Calvin.^[202][203]

Legal issues

In September 2009 the U.S. Internal Revenue Service filed a abettor tax lien against Nas for stumble over $2.5 million, seeking unpaid taxes dating resume to 2006.^[204] By early 2011 that figure had ballooned to over $6.4 million.^[205] Early in 2012 reports emerged cruise the IRS had filed papers encroach Georgia to garnish a portion show signs of Nas's earnings from material published erior to BMI and ASCAP, until his malefactor tax bill is settled.^[206]

In January 2012, Nas was involved in a argue with with a concert promoter in Angola, having accepted $300,000 for a go to the trouble of in Luanda, Angola's capital for Pristine Year's Eve and then not show up. American promoter Patrick Allocco advocate his son, who arranged for Nas's concert, were detained at gunpoint bracket taken to an Angolan jail brush aside the local promoter who fronted nobleness $300,000 for the concert. Only care for the U.S. Embassy intervened were excellence promoter and his son allowed appointment leave jail—but were placed under dwellingplace arrest at their hotel.^[207] By integrity end of the month Nas esoteric returned all $300,000, and, after 49 days of travel ban, Allocco status his son were both released.^[208]

Discography

Main article: Nas discography

Studio albums

Collaboration albums

Filmography

Film

Television

Music Videos

Documentary

Executive Producer

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards funds held annually by the National Institution of Recording Arts and Sciences. Nas has won one Grammy out more than a few 17 nominations altogether.^[211]