Nas (rappor)

See also: Nas

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones alias Nas (or Nasty Nas , Nastradamus and in the past Nas Escobar ) is a Rap fear (sometimes actor) American born the September 14th 1973 with Long Island, New York, but has grows in the district of Queensbridge in the Queens in which the duet in rap Mobb Deep is also originating with which it recorded several pieces. Resulting from a family of artist, he is the son of the famous jazzman Olu Dara, the big brother of " Jungle" (Jabari Jones), one of the 3 members of the group of rap Bravehearts and the cousin of the rapor Millennium Thug (Nashawn Jones). He is married with the singer of R' Nb Kelis since 2005. Perceived instantaneously like one of the largest voices of the New Yorkean rap, Nas is dissociated by its outspokenness and its perfect control of the flow. It is inspired as much the life by the every day as of what is held in the world. He worked with the great names of the rap, carried out many mixtapes and EP and has 8 albums solo with his credit, including two regarded as great classics of the rap, Stillmatic and especially mythical Illmatic, which much regards as one of all the best of the history of rep.

Biography

Youth and vocation

Born Nasir Jones, this wire of musician, small son of teacher in the the Mississippi singing in a quartet of Jazz in 1952 and back small son of singer folk, wanted very early to follow the traces of his father: music. He played of the trumpet in the street as of the old one 3,4 years but by play its lip started to become deformed and thus his/her father made him stop. He gave up the school early, in 8th year to trail in the streets of sound " block" , Queensbridge, a disadvantaged district of New York, known to be one of the places at the origin of the birth of the Hip Hop (with many rappeurs such as Juice Crew, Marley Marl, MC Shan, Blaq Poet, Mobb Deep, Infamous Mobb, Capone, Tragedy Khadafi, Roxanne Shanté, Bravehearts, Cormega, Big Noyd, Natural inter alia). It is thus naturally that the small one will start to be interested in the hip hop him and his/her friends. But it continues to spend its spare time in the street while studying only in parallel the music, the literature, the African culture, the history of the hip hop, or the Bible. Bathing in the culture hip hop and that of the street since the 9 years age, he devotes himself then during some time to the breakdance under the name of " Kid Wave" before being finally made call " Nas" (initial of its first name but which would like to also say NR igga has gainst S ociety (Négro Against the Company) or NR ot has L S urrender (All Do not give up). It was put then has to grate with its neighbor of the top, DJ and better friendly Ill Will (Willie Graham) with the " group; Devastating Seven".

In 1991, Nas began its career with a verse on the song “Live At the Barbeque” from Main Source. Its rhymes quickly drew the attention within the community of the Hip hop. It was thus approached by MC Serch of the 3rd Bass for which it carried out the piece “Halftime” which will be reproduced on the original soundtrack of the film " Zebrahead". These services will be worth to him the comparison with the legend of the hip New Yorkean hop of the time: Rakim. Nas and Ill Will continued has to work together until the latter was assassinated by ball in bottom of at his place for a settling of score on May 23rd 1992, which touched much Nas (it often has refers to his friend in its texts), but which nevertheless did not make it give up continuing to exert in the medium of rep.

Then, Nas signed on the label of Serch, Columbia , and left its first album Illmatic in 1994. The album considered as one of traditional of Hip Hop off contains titles such “NY State Mind” (produced by DJ First, half of the group Gang Starr), “The World Is Yours” (produced by Pete Rock), " One Love" (in reference to the imprisonment of his/her friend Cormega, song produced by Q-Tip of the group has Tribe Called Quest) and “It Ain' T Hard To Such” (produced by Broad Professor). In spite of the modest sales, Nas entered by the large door on the scene of Hip Hop New Yorkais thanks to its very worked words. This disc drew the attention because Nas refused to fall into the stereotypes from the gangsta rap (misogyny and violence).

The first business successes

Its second album, It Was Written , left during the summer 1996 and is more directed towards the pop one, which makes it possible to the rappor to touch a broader audience. Nevertheless, this new way which it took led of many fans not appreciating his new musical direction to forsake Nas. However, the album met a world success with the tubes “Yew I Ruled The World” (with Lauryn Hill) and “Street Dreams”. The album comprises many guests, among whom Mobb Deep, Jo-Jo Hailey of Jodeci. It posed on a production of Dr. DRE, therefore collaborated with an artist of the west (a first). That marked then the beginnings of The Firm, a group made up of Nas, AZ (only the MC present as a guest on " Illmatic"), Foxy Brown and Cormega (his/her friend of childhood).

After having signed on the label Aftermath Entertainment of the legendary DJ and producing Dr. DRE, The Firm started to work with its first album. With half of the production of the album, Cormega was excluded from the group (will follow from there thereafter many clashes between him and Nas) by Steve Stoute and will be replaced by Nature. The album Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, Natural And Present The Firm: The Album finally left in 1997. But the group will not last: after its estrangement with his/her former better friend Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown will enter in beef with Nas and AZ. The raspy one of Brooklyn then accumulates the muddles, the enemies and the health issues.

The following year, Nas thus forgets The Firm. In 1998, Nas tried its chance with the cinema in the film " Belly " realized by Hype Williams and in which he plays with DMX. It starts to work on a project of double album which it wanted to be halfway between Illmatic and It Was Written which was to be called " I Am… The Autobiography". However, second CD having been pirated on Internet, Nas was constrained to reduce the album to only one CD which it entitled I Am… . The album includes the tubes “Nas Is Like” (produced by DJ First) and “Hastens to Me Now” (with Puff Daddy).

The fourth album of Nas, Nastradamus , left in November 1999. It contains “You Owe in particular” produces Me by Timbaland and with Ginuwine as well as the song “Project Windows” which was initially to be reproduced on second CD of I Am… . Although gaining a business success, the album was highly attacked by the critics who showed Nas to turn to the pop commercial one, with clips " faciles" (big cars and beautiful girls), well far from its crashing to pieces beginnings.

In 2000, It also formed a collective of rappeurs of Queensbridge and launched compilation " QB Finest". A kind of return to the sources to find its first fans. Compilation did not bring back a large business success but improved its reputation. This album left individual “Oochie Wally” with the group his/her brother Bravehearts, and individual “Da Bridge 2001” joining together Capone, Cormega, Marley Marl, MC Shan, Millennium Thug, Mobb Deep, Nature and Tragedy Khadafi.

Competition with Jay-Z

See also: Beef Nas-Jay-Z

2001 will be for Nas, one of the most animated years its career. His/her mother Fannie Ann Jones died of a breast cancer what affected it largely, and was also betrayed by her partner. This year marked the beginning of the competition between two rappeurs East Coast, Jay-Z and Nas. Indeed, on its mythical album The Blueprint , Jay-Z devotes a whole verse of the song “Takeover” to disparage Nas, declaring in particular that its only true album is Illmatic and that it slept with the woman of Nas. The answer of Nas took place in the piece “Ether” which comprises a sample of 2Pac where he says “Fuck Jay-Z”, Nas showing Jay-Z to steal the words of the large rappor deceased in 1997 The Notorious B.I.G, like being a misogynist, a imitator and grating only with an aim of growing rich. The fifth album of Nas, Stillmatic , its second traditional, was inspired largely by this noxious atmosphere but that did not prevent it from being sold well thanks to the titles “Got Ur Self has Gun” and “One Mic”. Nas will be declared victorious clash against Jay by the listeners of the famous radio hip-hop of New York " Hot97". Thereafter, Jay-Z will answer “Ether” with individual “Supa Ugly”; but this individual goes too much far because it comprises threats towards the girl of Nas. Nevertheless in 2005, the two rappeurs put a term at their animosity at the time of a concert preaching the return to the hip hop.

Since 2002

In December 2002, Nas leaves its sixth album God' S Its with pieces produced in particular by Eminem, Alicia Keys, Salam Remi, Chucky Thompson, or The Alchemist. The first individual one, “Made You Look” launched the sales of the album. The second, “I Edge” (samplé starting from the " Für Elise" of Beethoven), is certainly the most known tube of Nas universally. In 2003, after a collaboration with the group KB? N in the song “Play Me”, Nas left its seventh album, double-opus called Street' S Disciple which left the November 30th 2004.

January 8th, 2005, Nas Marie with the singer of R&B Kelis two years after they became engaged. In 2005, the rappor 50 Hundred is attacked inter alia in Nas on its second album The Massacre with the title “Piggy Bank” Two months later, Nas answers with two " diss tracks" with the worked words “My Will (The Honeymoon is Over)” and “Don' T Body Ya Self”. It should be known that it is Nas inter alia which made it possible 50 Hundreds to be essential in the world of the rap by posing many songs with him towards 2002 before its international repute.

Initially set out again in studio for an album which was to comprise only productions of famous DJ First, with which Nas had often worked in the past (“Re-press”, “NY State Of Mind”, “Like Get Me”, “Nas Is Like”, etc…) the rappor changed his projects in the course of road. After a media reconciliation with Jay-Z at the time of a concert live, Nas signed at Def Jam, whose very new president is not other than Jay-Z. The new Album of Nas which normally would have to be called " Nasdaq Dowjones" be entitled " Hip Hop Is Dead " who comprises in particular a duet with his former Jay-Z rival entitled “Black Republican”. This opus left on December 19th, 2006. First individual-éponyme “Hip Hop Is Dead” is in featuring with prolific the Will.I.Am of Black Eyed Peas or he denounces the rappeurs bling-bling (50Cent and G-Links it amongst other things) to disparage rep. He also criticizes the culture Dirty-South and Crunk with artists as Lil' Wayne for example who according to him kill rep. the production of this album is in particular ensured by Scott Storch or Kanye West. This album caused many reactions and dissatisfaction in the world with the hip hop but was very appreciated by the specialized press.

Discography

Albums solo

Left under Columbia:

Left under Ill Will/Columbia:

Left under Columbia/Def Jam:

Albums in collaboration

With The Firm (Nas, Foxy Brown, Natural AZ and ):

  • 1997 : Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, Natural And Present The Firm: The Album

Compilations and EP

  • 2000 : Nas And Ill Will Records Present QB' S Finest

  • 2001: Death Off Escobar
  • 2002: The Best Off Nas
  • 2002: The Lost Slaps
  • 2002: From Illmatic To Stillmatic: The Remixes EP
  • 2007 : The Lost Prophecy
  • 2007 : The Lost Slaps 2

Original soundtracks

Individual

  • "Halftime" (1992)

  • " It Ain' T Hardware To Tell" (1994)
  • " Life' S.A. Bitch" Feat. AZ (1994)
  • " The World Is Yours" (1994)
  • " One Love" (1994)
  • " Yew I Ruled The World (That Imagines) " Feat. Lauryn Hill (1996)
  • " Street Dreams" (1996)
  • " The Message" (1996)
  • " Firm Biz" (The Firm) (1997)
  • " Tap" phon; (The Firm) Feat. Dr. DRE (1997)
  • " Nas Is Like" (1999)
  • " Hasten to Me Now" Feat. Puff Daddy (1999)
  • " KIS; (1999)
  • " You' Re Da Man" (1999)
  • " Did You Ever Think" Feat. R. Kelly (1999)
  • " Nastradamus" (1999)
  • " You Owe Me" Feat. Ginuwine (2000)
  • " I' ve Got To Have It" Feat. Monica & Jermaine Dupri (2000)
  • " Da Bridge 2001" (QB' S Finest) (2000)
  • " Oochie Wallie (Remix) " Feat. Bravehearts (2001)
  • " Got Ur Self has Gun" (2001)
  • " One Mic" (2002)
  • " Ether" (2002)
  • " Rule" Feat. Amerie (2002)
  • " Made You Look" (2002)
  • " I Can" (2002)
  • " Thugz Mansion" Feat. 2Pac & J. Phoneix (2002)
  • " Get Down" (2002)
  • " I' m Gonna Be Alright (Remix) " Feat. Jennifer Lopez (2003)
  • " Thief' S Theme" (2004)
  • " Bridging The Gap" Feat. Olu Dara (2004)
  • " Just has Moment" Feat. Quan (2005)
  • " You Know My Style" (2005)
  • " Virgo" Feat. Ludacris & Doug E. Fresh (2005)
  • " Don' T Body Yourself" (2005)
  • " Both Eyez Open" (2006)
  • " Hip Hop Is Dead" Feat. Will.I.Am (2006)
  • " Black Republican" Feat. Jay-Z (2006)
  • " Can' T Forget You" Butt; Feat. Chrisette Michele (2007)
  • " Hustlers" Feat. The Range (2007)

DVD

  • Nas & Mobb Deep - Queensbridge Motherfuckers (2000)

  • Made You Look: God' S Its Live (2003)
  • (2004)
  • Beyond Beef: Jay-Z & Nas (2006)

Catalog of films

See Too

External bonds

  • Lyrics de Nas

  • Official site of Nas

Simple: Nas

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