Born Nasir Jones, son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas dropped out of school in the eighth grade, trading classrooms for the streets of the rough Queensbridge projects, long fabled as the former stomping ground of Marley Marl and his Juice Crew as immortalized in "The Bridge.Īt the same time, though, he delved into street culture and flirted with danger, such experiences similarly characterizing his rhymes. Such growth made every album release an event and prolonged his increasingly storied career to epic proportions. Throughout all the ups the acclaim, popularity, and success and downs the expectations, adversaries, and over-reachingNas continually matured as an artist, evolving from a young street disciple to a vain all-knowing sage to a humbled godly teacher. Nas likewise collaborated with some of the industry's leading video directors, including Hype Williams and Chris Robinson, presenting singles like "Hate Me Now," "One Mic," and "I Can" with dramatic flair. Such headline-worthy drama informed Nas' provocative rhymes, which he delivered with both a masterful flow and a wise perspective over beats by a range of producers: legends like DJ Premier, Large Professor, and Pete Rock hitmakers like Trackmasters, Timbaland, and will. Whether proclaiming himself "Nasty Nas" or "Nas Escobar" or "Nastradamus" or "God's Son," the self-appointed King of New York battled numerous adversaries for his position atop the epicenter of East Coast rap, none more challenging than Jay-Z, who vied with Nas for the vacated throne left in the wake of the Notorious B.
Beginning with his classic debut, IllmaticNas stood tall for years as one of New York City's leading rap voices, outspokenly expressing a righteous, self-empowered swagger that endeared him to critics and hip-hop purists.
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