Nas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nas
Nas at Jiffy Lube Live in 2022
Born	Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (1973-09-14) September 14, 1973 (age 51) Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Other names	Classic God's Son Nas Escobar Nasty Nas Scarlett
Occupation	Rapper songwriter record producer actor
Years active	1989–present
Works	Discography filmography production
Spouse(s)	Kelis ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2010)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	Olu Dara (father)
Relatives	Jungle (brother) Yara Shahidi (cousin) Sayeed Shahidi (cousin) Tracy Morgan (cousin)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	Queens, New York City, U.S.
Genres	East Coast hip-hop boom bap jazz rap conscious rap
Labels	Mass Appeal Def Jam Ill Will Ruffhouse Sony Urban Columbia The Orchard
Signature

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (born September 14, 1973), known professionally as Nas, is an American rapper and businessman. He is known for his unique style of East Coast hip-hop. Many people consider him one of the greatest rappers of all time.

Nas is the son of jazz musician Olu Dara. He started his music journey in 1989, using the name "Nasty Nas". He made demo recordings with the help of rapper Large Professor. Nas first appeared on a record in 1991, on the song "Live at the Barbeque" by Professor's group, Main Source.

In 1992, Nas signed with Columbia Records. Two years later, he released his first album, Illmatic (1994). This album is so important that it was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry. It is often called one of the best hip-hop albums ever. His second album, It Was Written (1996), became number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold over 250,000 copies in its first week. This album, along with its hit song "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Hill), made Nas famous.

Later, from 2001 to 2005, Nas had a well-known competition with fellow New York rapper Jay-Z. This friendly rivalry, along with Nas's albums Stillmatic (2001), God's Son (2002), and Street's Disciple (2004), helped him regain his strong reputation. Nas and Jay-Z later became friends. Nas then signed with Def Jam Recordings in 2006.

His tenth album, Life Is Good (2012), was nominated for a Grammy Award. After being nominated 13 times, his album King's Disease (2020) finally won his first Grammy for Best Rap Album. His next five albums—King's Disease II, Magic (2021), King's Disease III (2022), Magic 2, and Magic 3 (2023)—were all produced by Hit-Boy and received great reviews.

The Source magazine ranked Nas second on their "Top 50 Lyricists of All Time" list in 2012. In 2013, MTV placed him fourth on their "Annual Hottest MCs in the Game" list. About.com named him the "Greatest MC of All Time" in 2014. The next year, Billboard included Nas on their "10 Best Rappers of All Time" list. Besides music, Nas is an associate publisher for Mass Appeal magazine. He also helped start Mass Appeal Records, a record label that has signed artists like Dave East and Run the Jewels. Nas has released seventeen studio albums since 1994. Ten of these albums have sold enough copies to be certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum in the U.S.

Early Life and Beginnings

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on September 14, 1973. His parents were African American. His father, Olu Dara, was a jazz and blues musician from Mississippi. His mother, Fannie Ann, worked for the U.S. Postal Service. Nas has a brother named Jabari Fret, who is a rapper known as Jungle. Jungle is part of the hip hop group Bravehearts. His father chose the name "Olu Dara" from the Yoruba people. "Nasir" is an Arabic name meaning "helper and protector". "Bin" means "son of" in Arabic. Nas is also a cousin to actors Yara Shahidi and Sayeed Shahidi.

When Nas was young, his family moved to the Queensbridge Houses in Queens. His neighbor, Willy "Ill Will" Graham, helped him get interested in hip hop by playing records for him. His parents divorced in 1985. Nas left school after the eighth grade. He learned about African culture on his own. In his early years, he played the trumpet and started writing his own rap songs.

Music Career Begins

As a teenager, Nas chose his best friend, Willie "Ill Will" Graham, to be his DJ. Nas first used the name "Kid Wave" before becoming known as "Nasty Nas". In 1989, when he was 16, Nas met producer Large Professor. He went to the studio where famous rappers Rakim and Kool G Rap were recording. When they weren't using the studio, Nas would go in and record his own music. However, none of these early recordings were released.

First Recordings and Illmatic

In 1991, Nas performed on Main Source's song "Live at the Barbeque", which was also produced by Large Professor. In mid-1992, MC Serch of 3rd Bass approached Nas. Serch became his manager and helped Nas get a record deal with Columbia Records that same year. Nas made his first solo appearance as "Nasty Nas" on the song "Halftime". This song was from MC Serch's soundtrack for the movie Zebrahead. People in the hip hop world noticed his rapping skills right away.

In 1994, Nas released his first album, Illmatic. It featured production from famous producers like Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, LES, and DJ Premier. The album also included guest appearances from Nas's friend AZ and his father Olu Dara. Illmatic had several popular songs, including "The World Is Yours", "It Ain't Hard to Tell", and "One Love". Shaheem Reid of MTV News called Illmatic the "first classic LP" of 1994.

The Source magazine named Illmatic the best album of 1994. Steve Huey from AllMusic said Nas's lyrics on Illmatic were "highly literate". He added that Nas's raps were "superbly fluid" and could "evoke the bleak reality of ghetto life without losing hope". About.com ranked Illmatic as the greatest hip hop album of all time. Prefix magazine called it "the best hip hop record ever made".

Mainstream Success and The Firm

In 1995, Nas appeared as a guest on albums by other artists like AZ, Mobb Deep, Raekwon, and Kool G Rap. Nas also stopped working with his manager MC Serch and started working with Steve Stoute. He began preparing for his second album, It Was Written. This album was mainly produced by Tone and Poke of the Trackmasters. Nas wanted a more popular sound for this album. Columbia Records also encouraged Nas to create music that would appeal to more people.

It Was Written was released in mid-1996. Two songs, "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" (with Lauryn Hill) and "Street Dreams", became instant hits. These songs had big-budget music videos directed by Hype Williams. This made Nas a well-known name in mainstream hip-hop. Leo Stanley of Allmusic thought the album's rhymes were still strong. He believed Nas had "deepened his talents, creating a complex series of rhymes that not only flow, but manage to tell coherent stories as well." It Was Written also introduced The Firm, a group made up of Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega.

The Firm signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment label and started working on their first album. Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature Present The Firm: The Album was released in 1997. The album sold well and was certified platinum. After this, the group members went their separate ways.

New Directions and Collaborations

Nas in 1998

In late 1998, Nas started working on a double album called I Am... The Autobiography. He wanted it to be a mix of his earlier albums. Each song was meant to tell a part of his life story. In 1998, Nas also helped write and starred in Hype Williams's movie Belly. I Am... The Autobiography was finished in early 1999. A music video was made for its first song, "Nas Is Like". This song was produced by DJ Premier.

The second song from I Am... was "Hate Me Now", featuring Sean "Puffy" Combs. The video for "Hate Me Now" showed Nas and Combs being crucified. This caused some issues, but they were later resolved.

In 2000, Nas released Nas & Ill Will Records Presents QB's Finest, also known as QB's Finest. This was a collection of songs featuring Nas and other rappers from the Queensbridge area. It included groups like Mobb Deep and the Bravehearts. The album also featured legendary Queensbridge hip-hop artists Roxanne Shanté and Marley Marl.

Later Music and Awards

Nas performing in Ottawa, 2007

Nas and Jay-Z became friends, which led to Nas signing a deal with Def Jam Recordings in 2006. Jay-Z was the president of Def Jam at the time. Nas's album Hip Hop Is Dead was released on Def Jam. It reached number one on the Billboard 200 charts, selling 355,000 copies. This was Nas's third album to reach number one. His former label, Columbia Records, released a collection of his hits called Greatest Hits in November 2006.

In May 2008, Nas decided to release his ninth album without a title. He explained that he wanted the focus to be on the music and the message. The album was released on July 15, 2008, simply as Untitled. It featured production from artists like Polow da Don and stic.man of Dead Prez. The lead song, "Hero", reached No. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100. In July, Nas also got a shoe deal with Fila. He was named 'Emcee of the Year' at the HipHopDX 2008 Awards.

Collaborations and Grammy Nominations

Nas and Damian Marley performing in Wellington, 2011

At the 2009 Grammy Awards, Nas confirmed he was working on an album with reggae singer Damian Marley. He said he was a big fan of Marley's father, Bob Marley. Nas liked how reggae and hip-hop have always been connected. A part of the money earned from this album was planned to go towards building a school in Africa. The album was titled Distant Relatives.

Nas also announced that he would start working on his tenth studio album after Distant Relatives. His eleventh studio album, Life Is Good (2012), was mainly produced by Salaam Remi and No I.D. It was released on July 13, 2012. Nas called the album a "magic moment" in his rap career. Life is Good was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

In January 2013, Nas said he had started working on his twelfth studio album. This would be his last album for Def Jam. In October 2013, Nas confirmed a rumored song called "Sinatra in the Sands" would be on the album. It was said to feature Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland.

On April 16, 2014, to celebrate 20 years of Illmatic, a documentary called Nas: Time Is Illmatic was released. It told the story of how Nas made his first album. In October 2013, Nas released a song called "The Season", produced by J Dilla. Nas also worked with the Australian hip-hop group, Bliss n Eso, in 2014. They released the song "I Am Somebody". Nas was featured on the song "We Are" from Justin Bieber's album, Purpose, in November 2015.

Nas performing at the 2015 Sugar Mountain festival in Melbourne

Nas was an executive producer for the Netflix series, The Get Down, which came out in August 2016. He narrated the series and rapped as the adult character Ezekiel.

In October 2016, Nas received the Jimmy Iovine Icon Award at the REVOLT Music Conference. This award recognized his lasting impact on music, his many years in rap, and his business ventures. In November 2016, Nas worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dave East, and Aloe Blacc on a song called "Wrote My Way Out". This song appeared on The Hamilton Mixtape. In April 2017, Nas released the song Angel Dust for The Getdown TV series soundtrack.

In June 2017, Nas appeared in the documentary The American Epic Sessions. He recorded live using a special old recording system from the 1920s. He performed "On the Road Again", a 1928 song by the Memphis Jug Band. His performance was highly praised.

In April 2018, Kanye West announced that Nas's twelfth album, Nasir, would be released on June 15. Kanye West also produced the album. After Nasir, Nas released The Lost Tapes 2 on July 19, 2019. This album included production from Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, and RZA. It was a follow-up to his 2002 album, The Lost Tapes.

Recent Albums and Grammy Win

In August 2020, Nas announced his 13th album, King's Disease. This album, produced by Hit-Boy, included the song "Ultra Black". King's Disease won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. This was Nas's first Grammy Award! The next album, King's Disease II, was released in August 2021. It included the song "Nobody" featuring Lauryn Hill. King's Disease II reached number three on the U.S. Billboard 200. In December 2021, Nas released the album Magic. It was his third album produced by Hit-Boy.

Nas's third album in the King's Disease series, King's Disease III, came out the next year. Like the others, Hit-Boy produced it. This album was special because it didn't have any guest artists. King's Disease III received excellent reviews. Critics praised how well Hit-Boy's production matched Nas's storytelling and lyrics. NME magazine said Nas, "three decades in, [is] still a force to be reckoned with".

On September 12, 2023, Nas announced Magic 3, the third album in the Magic series. It was released two days later, on his fiftieth birthday. This album was the sixth and final collaboration between Nas and Hit-Boy. In April 2024, it was announced that Nas and DJ Premier would release a collaboration album in late 2024, for the 30th anniversary of Illmatic.

Nas also helped produce the 2024 album Warriors by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis.

Artistry and Influence

Nas is known for his amazing ability to combine his lyrics with the music. Journalist Peter Shapiro said Nas creates a "devastating match between lyrics and production". He also creates a "potent evocation of life on the street". Some people have compared his lyrical style to Rakim. Robert Christgau noted that Nas has been changing gangsta rap since Illmatic.

Kool Moe Dee wrote in his book There's a God on the Mic that Nas has an "off-beat conversational flow". He said that before Nas, rappers focused on rhyming with a beat. But Nas created a style that sounded more like talking. OC of D.I.T.C. mentioned in the book How to Rap that Nas's song "Rewind" was brilliant because it told a story backwards. Other rappers have described Nas's flow as "effervescent" and his lyrics as "intricate".

About.com ranked Nas first on their list of the "50 Greatest MCs of All Time" in 2014. A year later, Billboard included Nas on their "10 Best Rappers of All Time" list. The Source ranked him second on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. In 2013, MTV ranked Nas fourth on their "Hottest MCs in the Game" list. His first album, Illmatic, is widely considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever.

Business Ventures

On April 10, 2013, Nas invested a large amount of money into Mass Appeal magazine. He became the publication's associate publisher. In June 2013, he opened his own sneaker store.

In September 2013, he invested in a technology startup company called Proven, which makes a job search app. In 2014, Nas invested in ViralGains, a company that creates viral videos.

Nas has a partnership with Hennessy and has worked with their "Wild Rabbit" campaign.

In May 2014, Nas partnered with Koru, a job placement startup. He helped fund a scholarship for 10 college graduates to join Koru's training program. Nas also joined the startup as a guest coach. Nas is a co-owner of LANDR, a cloud-based service that helps with digital audio production. In June 2015, Nas joined forces with Sweet Chick, a soul food restaurant in New York City. He plans to expand the restaurant across the country. The Los Angeles location opened in April 2017. He also has his own clothing line called HSTRY.

In June 2018, Nas earned $40 million after Amazon bought the doorbell company Ring Inc.. He also invested in PillPack, a pharmacy company, through his investment firm, Queensbridge Venture Partners.

He has continued to invest in many technology startups, including Dropbox, Lyft, and Robinhood.

Personal Life

Nas is a spokesperson and mentor for P'Tones Records. This is a non-profit music program that helps young people after school.

On March 15, 2012, Nas became the first rapper to have a verified account on Genius. On this website, he explains his own lyrics and sometimes comments on other rappers' lyrics.

In May 2013, it was announced that Nas would open a sneaker store in Las Vegas called 12 am RUN.

In July 2013, Harvard University created the Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship. This fellowship supports scholars and artists who show talent and creativity in the arts related to hip-hop.

On November 12, 2019, Nas was honored by Haute Living magazine. The event included a violin performance of his famous songs.

Nas is a fan of his hometown baseball team, the New York Mets, and the English soccer team Everton F.C..

Family

In the spring of 2002, Nas's mother passed away from cancer. She died in his arms.

On June 15, 1994, Nas's former fiancée, Carmen Bryan, gave birth to their daughter, Destiny.

In January 2005, Nas married R&B singer Kelis in Atlanta. They had been together for two years. On April 30, 2009, Kelis filed for divorce. Kelis gave birth to Nas's first son on July 21, 2009. Nas announced his son's birth at a concert in Queens, New York. The couple's divorce was finalized on May 21, 2010. Their divorce was shown in Nas's song, "Bye Baby".

In October 2014, on a PBS show called Finding Your Roots, Nas learned about his family history. He found out that his great-great-great-grandmother, Pocahontas Little, was an enslaved woman. Nas was also shown the marriage certificate of his great-great-great-grandmother, Pocahontas, and great-great-great-grandfather, Calvin.

Discography

Studio albums

Collaboration albums

• The Album with The Firm (1997)
• Distant Relatives with Damian Marley (2010)
• Untitled album with DJ Premier (TBA)

Filmography

Film

Television

Music Videos

Documentary

Executive Producer

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are held every year by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Nas has won one Grammy out of 17 nominations.

News and Documentary Emmy Awards

Sports Emmy Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

BET Hip Hop Awards

See also

In Spanish: Nas (rapero) para niños