Nas

Nas is one of hip-hop’s most famous and decorated artists of all-time selling 25 millions records worldwide and many other impressive credentials that he has to his credit. Nas is the second artist I really started listening to seriously. My older brother turned me on to his skills in April of 1994 when I was only nine years old going on 10. From that moment Nas has been demonstrating to the planet that he is one the best musical artists to ever live a true master of his craft and he’s in anyone who knows hip-hop top five all-time for sure.

When illmatic dropped people from everywhere were rushing to record stores to buy Nas’s album. The single “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” was blazing the radio stations and everybody wanted to know who this lyrical assassin was. Though many of us were too young to overstand the context of his music at the time his flow and delivery was so unique and smooth the hood was drawn to Nas from day one. Songs like “One Love” challenged many of his listeners to have their mind and integrity on point as he told ghetto stories we all could relate to. The song “One Love” was so impactful that a movie called “Belly” directed by Hype Williams made a character out of the 12 year-old drug dealer named “Shorty Wop” from the last verse of the song that was entrenched in the hardknock life of being raised in a housing projects that was a war zone infested with cracks sells and violence. Nas also starred in Belly alongside DMX they created a cult classic with that film. Millions of people still watch the movie ever day. Nas’s music took him to heights not many artists will ever have the privilege to reach boasting a net worth of 70 million dollars at least. Each of his album has one-of-one artistry on every song. Even if you do not agree with the message or you don’t like the beat of one of his songs Nas’s flows are undeniably incredible in the opinion of all true hip-hop scholars. Nas’s second album took lyrical jousting to the next level and is in my top 10 favorite albums of all-time.

The summer of 1996 was incredible. It was a season of very aggressive lyrics at the peak of the golden era of hip-hop. When Nas’s second album dropped it did not disappoint and the first time the world heard “The Message” the hood knew that Nas was nothing to play with. After the beat drops for “It Was Written” Nas said “Fake thug no love you get the slug” I was like woe this dude is sick I was wowed I nodded my head in amazement throughout the entire song. I remember my older cousin rewinding that song after we listened to it the first time over and over again we were memorizing the joint. Then we listened to If I ruled the world, I gave you power, affirmative action, and black girl lost by the time we were done listening to the album I was convinced that Nas was here to stay and I was right. My hood and any hood that I frequented had “It was written” in rotation with 2Pac, Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G.,E-40, and all the legends that were heavily respected at the time. That was the album that made me fall in love with the art form of hip-hop as a whole not just 2Pac and Biggie as it was for most people in my age group.

Over the years Nas has put out at least five classics in my opinion including his last album from 2020 “King’s Disease.” But some of the new school critics will debate otherwise rather they have much proof to stand on as to rather or not the new school can touch Nas. Most people including myself will say certainly not maybe it’s bias but I just don’t agree with the new school. I’m only really wowed by the legends that I grew up on though I like some of the new guys. Also music is not the only thing that Nas has contributed to society and hip-hop culture. Nas become a serial entrepreneur ranging from part-ownership of the digital stock organization “Robinhood” , Genius (digital media outlet) that does journalism on music artists, Mass Appeal media, and owning a restaurant “Sweet Chick” a chicken in waffles spot in his hometown of Queens which is his fifth location. But the most impressive thing to me was when Harvard University the oldest and most prestigious college in the country honored him for illmatic his first album and started a scholarly program at the university to develop young artists called “Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship” by The Hutchins Center for African & African-American Research” a division of Harvard’s creative arts curriculum.

Over the last almost 30 years or so Nas has proven without the shadow of a doubt that he deserves his spot in hip-hop history because much of the quality of music he’s put out will never will be replaced. His hit albums are nailed to hip-hop’s top tier of artistry and that is a fact. He continues to inspire and motivate the community through his music, business endeavors, and his creative arts program at Havard university. I’ve said all this to say youngsters need to slow down and be respectful of the body of work that true legends like Nas have put forth. If new artists aspire to be where Nas currently finds himself in hip-hop’s history they need to take heed. The man is a well of wisdom so learn from him he’s been around and thriving for as long as most of us have been alive.