Nas: A Journey from Queensbridge to Hip-Hop Icon
From Queensbridge to hip-hop legend, Nas' journey has been one of iconic albums, legendary battles, and groundbreaking collabs. Discover how he became one of the most influential figures in music.
Early Life and Upbringing in Queensbridge
Nasir Jones was born on September 14, 1973, in Queens, New York, to jazz musician Olu Dara and postal worker Fannie Ann Jones. Raised in the Queensbridge Projects, he developed a love for writing early on but dropped out of school in eighth grade to pursue a career in rap.
Breakthrough with Main Source and Early Collaborations
Nas made waves in 1991 with his debut verse on Main Source’s “Live at the Barbecue,” delivering unforgettable lines like, “When I was twelve, I went to Hell for snuffin’ Jesus.” Rapper MC Serch of 3rd Bass noticed Nas’ rising talent and brought him on board for the track “Halftime” on the Zebrahead soundtrack.
Illmatic: A Classic Debut
In 1994, Nas released his debut album Illmatic after signing with Columbia Records. The album was an instant classic, lauded for its poetic lyricism and wordplay. Illmatic received a rare 5 mic rating from The Source and is considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.
Commercial Success with It Was Written
For his sophomore album, It Was Written (1996), Nas collaborated with production duo The Trackmasters to achieve a more commercial sound. Although some hip-hop purists were disappointed, Nas saw mainstream success with hits like “Street Dreams” and earned his first Grammy nomination for “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That),” featuring Lauryn Hill.
Nas later ventured into acting, starring in the cult classic Belly with DMX before releasing two more albums in 1999, I Am... and Nastradamus.
The Jay-Z Rivalry and Stillmatic
In 2001, Nas’ rivalry with Jay-Z came to a head when Jay dissed Nas on “Takeover” from The Blueprint. Nas responded later that year with Stillmatic, which featured “Ether,” one of hip-hop’s most iconic diss tracks, as well as “One Mic” and “Got Yourself A Gun.” Stillmatic marked Nas’ triumphant comeback.
Evolution and Personal Life
In 2002, Nas released God’s Son, followed by his double album Street’s Disciple in 2004. The latter included “Bridging the Gap,” a collaboration with his father, and “American Way” featuring his future wife, Kelis, whom he married in January 2005.
Reconciliation with Jay-Z and Def Jam Era
Later in 2005, Nas surprised fans by reconciling with Jay-Z during Jay’s I Declare War concert, performing “Dead Presidents” together. This led to Nas signing with Def Jam Records, where Jay-Z was serving as president.
Controversial Releases and Political Statements
Nas’ 2006 album Hip Hop Is Dead sparked debate about the genre's future, and his politically charged 2008 self-titled album (initially named Ngger*) became his fifth number one album.
Personal Challenges and Collaborations
In 2010, Nas and Kelis ended their marriage in a contentious divorce, with Nas ordered to pay $10,000 a month in child support. That same year, he collaborated with Damian “Junior Gong” Marley on Distant Relatives. Nas later reflected on his personal struggles in his Grammy-nominated album Life Is Good (2012).
Nas also invested in the hip-hop publication Mass Appeal and created his own label, releasing projects from Run the Jewels, Pimp C, J Dilla, and DJ Shadow.
Recent Work and Grammy Victory
After a six-year hiatus, Nas returned with Nasir in 2018, produced by Kanye West, followed by The Lost Tapes II in 2019. In 2020, after 14 Grammy nominations, Nas finally secured his first win for his Hit-Boy-produced album King’s Disease.
Ongoing Collaborations with Hit-Boy
Nas and Hit-Boy continued their successful collaboration with King’s Disease II (2021) and King’s Disease III (2022), along with three installments of their Magic series featuring Lil' Wayne, 21 Savage, and 50 Cent
.