Nas
Born: 1973
Location: Queensbridge, New York, USA
Genre: Hip Hop
Years Active: 1991 -
Real Name: Nasir Jones
Meaning of the Name:
A.K.A.: Nasty Nas, Nas Escobar, Nastradamus
Way of Working: Raps over a producers beats
Associated: AZ
Essential Releases
Illmatic (1994)
Widely accepted as one of hip hop's greatest achievements.
Stillmatic (2001)
An album that bridles with righteous anger.
The Lost Tapes (2002)
Archival release of hidden gems.
When Nas first appeared on 'Live at the Barbeque' by Main Source in 1991, his verse struck hip-hop like a lightning strike from heaven. It was clear he was an icon waiting to happen, with his impeccable flow and incendiary lyrics, such as "Kidnapped the President's wife without a plan", showcasing his immense potential at only 17.
Some of the best producers in the genre, such as Preemo, Pete Rock, Large Professor, and Q-Tip clamoured to make beats for his debut album, Illmatic (1994). Upon hearing it, the rapper Common was compelled to re-record his nearly finished LP Resurrection:
"I went back in the lab. I saw the level that we needed to function at." (Common)
As well as its impressive technical attributes, the detail-rich Illmatic is beloved by hardcore fans because it reverses the standard image of New York as a prosperous city full of opportunity. The album accurately represents the hard reality of life on dangerous, crime-ridden streets, re-branding the 'Big Apple' as the 'Rotten Apple'.As such, it's a portrait of a time and place, featuring an album cover depicting a childhood Nas against a backdrop of Queensbridge. As if to say that he's a product of the same streets and, by virtue of his rap career, a voice for people raised in the same environment, the forgotten poor surrounded by wealth, the original inhabitants under threat of gentrification.
Illmatic would prove a hard act to follow. Subsequent albums didn't have the same cultural cachet as his debut and fickle music fans started to forget about the once mighty Nas. The rappers response was to portray himself as a Christ-like figure, someone who was worshipped and then betrayed. In the video for 'Hate Me Now', for instance, he is even crucified. Knowing he was a true icon, Nas used religious imagery to prove it.
In 2001, Stillmatic was released during the Jay-Z vs Nas feud. Nas used a clear tactic to position himself as the superior lyrical force and the true King of New York, even if swathes of the congregation disagreed. Knowing that Jay refers to himself as 'Jehovah', a Hebrew name for God, to show himself as an all-powerful figure in hip hop, Nas would be Jesus, the son of the Christian God, unrecognised by the tribes of Judah, 'all the hatred against me, fuck all of them. Jesus died at age 33,' (from 'One Mic').
As such, Stillmatic becomes the resurrection of Nas. It's him rolling away the boulder and being reborn as a street prophet, returning from the ashes of former glory with evocative lyricism and a point to prove. The similarities between the albums goes beyond their titles. Track 7 on Illmatic is the fraternal 'One Love', while track 7 on Stillmatic is the scolding 'One Mic'. While different in perspective, both entries convey their core themes with striking clarity.
On his next record, the appropriately titled God's Son, Nas would not only position himself as a Christ-like figure but as Christ himself. Continuing the theme, the album cover for Street's Disciple is a hip hop version of the Last Supper, where every character is played by Nas.
However, using imagery to compare himself to a truly iconic figure such as Jesus is not the action of a raging egomaniac, but rather a fulfilment of the promise first glimpsed on 'Live at the Barbeque'. With gritty realism, complex rhyme schemes, social commentary, and evocative lyricism, Nas redefined East Coast Hip Hop during its mid-'90s renaissance. When sufficiently motivated, he is a true icon of the genre.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
90
Mental Impact
90
Originality
90
Artistry
95
Authenticity
90
Live
70
Production
80
Musicianship
80
Rapping
95
Songwriting
95
Danceability
60
Fun
55
Consistency
45
Range
65
Cool
70
Charisma
65
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards >>>
- Grammy Award WINNER! x1
- Grammy Award Nominee x16
Certifications >>>
- Illmatic: Platinum in the US & the UK; Gold in Canada
- It Was Written: Platinum in the US & Canada; Gold in the UK & France
- I Am: Platinum in the US; Gold in the UK & Canada
- Nastradamus: Platinum in the US; Gold in Canada; Silver in the UK
- Stillmatic: Platinum in the US; Gold in the UK & Canada
- God's Son: Platinum in the US; Gold in the UK & Canada
- Street's Disciple: Platinum in the US; Silver in the UK
- Hip Hop Is Dead: Gold in the US; Silver in the UK
- Untitled: Gold in the US
- Life Is Good: Gold in the US
Charts >>>
- Illmatic: Number 12 in the US
- It Was Written: Number 1 in the US
- I Am: Number 1 in the US; Number 2 in Canada
- Nastradamus: Number 7 in the US
- Stillmatic: Number 5 in the US
- Street's Disciple: Number 5 in the US
- Hip Hop Is Dead: Number 1 in the US
- Untitled: Number 1 in the US; Number 5 in Canada
- Life Is Good: Number 1 in the US
- Nasir: Number 5 in the US
- King's Disease: Number 5 in the US
- King's Disease II: Number 3 in the US
Critics >>>
- About.com: Illmatic - Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time: 1st
- Apple Music: Illmatic - Best Albums of All Time: 39th
- Billboard: Illmatic - Best Rap Albums of All Time: 1st
- Complex: Life Is Good - Best Albums of 2012: 12th
- Hip Hop Connection: Illmatic - 100 Best Albums: 3rd
- MTV: Illmatic - Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time (2005): 2nd
- Pitchfork: Illmatic - Best Albums of the '90s: 33rd
- The Source: Illmatic - 5 Mics
- The Source: Life Is Good - Best Albums of 2012: 1st
