Features - Written by The Source on Friday, September 5, 2008 14:42 - 21 Comments
Nas: One of One

What do you do in Hip-Hop when you’ve already done it all? For Nas the answer is simple: Follow your heart, speak your mind and stand your ground. And with the amount of controversy surrounding the release of the fiery “Untitled,” it’s time to look back and see how he’s learned the art of war.
Words: M.C.
Image: Spike Lee
The uber-trendy Spotted Pig bar and restaurant in New York City has a design that’s well suited to Hip-Hop. Much like the ringtone set, the first floor is where anyone is welcome. It’s a space designed around speedy service for fast food and a quick exit. The second floor is a different story. Much like artists who are a few albums deep, this space is reserved for those with the right mix of timing, patience and connections. Those who get to this level are catered to because, quite frankly, they make the establishment look good, especially to those stuck on ground level.
But through a door labeled “Staff Only” and up a back stairway is the third floor. Most don’t know this room even exists. That’s because for most it doesn’t. Private refrigerators, personal waiters, special desserts and a total of only five tables all equal the next level of exclusivity. The only clue to the arrival of today’s special guest is the black Rolls-Royce Phantom gleaming in the summer sun out front. It’s the kind of guest that you don’t advertise fully until they’ve left the building. But make no mistake, these people aren’t just catered to, they are coveted.
“If I get beats that knock I don’t have fun. The album would be done in two days,” speaks the animated voice of tonight’s third floor guest. In the dimly lit room we find Nas. Rocking fresh Air Force Ones, plaid shorts and a white tee, he’s holding court with his party of five. “Like Jadakiss said, ‘The beats make y’all / I make the beats,’” he quotes, tapping the ashes from his cigar. “I like doing that shit.” Nas is literally thinking on a higher level.
With a glass of Patron in hand, the son of Queensbridge sits in this restaurant similar to his position in Hip-Hop. He’s long been a level above what the average “star” would consider successful. Nas’ career is the story of a Hip-Hop prodigy who has grown from a pure B-boy into a pure artist, concerned only with the art he’s creating. In a time where rappers seem to do everything but rap, Nas is one of the few Hip-Hop artists that only needs one mic. In spite of this—or maybe because of it—Nasir Jones exists at the highest level of his genre.
Up your catalog, dawg, because his is worth too much. It consists of 10 albums, including the stellar It Was Written, the five-mic rebirth Stillmatic and one of the best albums of all-time, in any genre, Illmatic. This collection, along with his controversial latest works mean Nas—which will sit atop the Billboard Pop Charts just a few weeks from now—Nas is now chasing his own legend. But it’s a race he’s been ready for since even before “The Genesis.”
Nas discusses race, who “Hip-Hop Is Dead” was dedicated to, and why he doesn’t have a clothing line in the September issue of The Source, on newsstands now.
21 Comments
Don P
Trey Angeleno
Nas is probably the greatest rapper alive (NO LIL WAYNE). His last album proves his genius. And good thing The Source gave it 4.5 mics cause I would have been pissed if you gave it anything less. Nas is what Hip Hop should be not the rest of this brainless bullshit we hear everyday on the radio.
David Anthony "TONY" Hartfield
Through the lights cameras and action glamour glitter and gold hip hop unrolled the scroll that allowed the music industry to be so bold / now all It needs is timeless pieces that will never grow old / like me in phantom / wearin’ nothin’ but versace gold / but it’s all a dream I if can’t get the world to scream hip hop dun dun it all from / prophecising the world trade / to up and coming rappers / that made it from the slums wit bums / just by turnin’ cookies to crumbs! hip hop is whatever you want it to be, just mean what you say and say what you mean kid , cuz Ayo! I dun seen it!
cecil yankah
it’s obvious he’s the G.O.A.T, he still remains who he was inspite of the new trend of ,do i call it, hip hop? NAS for life.
Nasty Nas is the is the illest & the most consistent rapper of all times. He must just come and do a show for all his South African fans or should I say for the peeps that acknowledge his music, coz fans sound more of a groupie name to me.
arthurfan Mallele
In my current neighbourhood,Nasty Nasty is the favourite artist…but you can’t compare to the hood i was raised that is Tudor,Mombasa,Kenya where he is idolised to the bone.I think he has kept it real all along against candy ass mcs with sing along flows who do it for the money.I just wish he cud pay a visit for a stellar performance in these sides.
Yung GODson
Nas is the Man Period. How many MCs think about us the listeners like he does? He is setting an example in this lost world of hip hop. Nas is the hip hop Barack Obama. N.I.G.G.E.R we the slaves and the masters.
ogee b
the nerve of them to sat escobar racist, nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga hatred! one of the most powerful albums of all time. if not the most powerful. I love the message and the commentary and the knowledge that mr jones speaks throughout the album. 4.5 mics may seem fair but I count as the third nas classic. As a hip-hop fan at heart I,d just love to say thank you and never dumb it down nas… nairobi all day
Vendetta
Nas is arguably the greatest emcee to have ever walked this earth, and one of the most influential modern day poets of this generation. His music speaks for itself, over the last 25 years in urban music history, who’s name holds more weight than that of Mr. Nasir Jones? Personally, he is one of my top 3 favorite emcees of all-time right up there with the legendary Rakim and the one who left us way too early, Christopher Lee Rios aka Big Pun. Nas is without a doubt one of the greatest “minds” that urban culture will ever have the opportunity to witness, and however sad it is to say or admit it, the majority of the masses who know him and his body of work will never truly appreciate his greatness until he’s gone and the only left behind is a historical legacy that is continually being etched in stone with every trip Nas makes to the booth. If I had to describe Nas the “artist” in one word, it would simply be GENIUS, now if we can only get the youth to take heed. LISTEN AND LEARN! CLASS IS IN SESSION….
cheboludo
Rumor has it that THE ROCKSTARS are producing some of the baddest artists in the game today. I had to checkit for myself. The verdict? The kids are LEGIT! I listened to their remix of Rihanna’s “Disturbia” and Kanye’ “Love Lockdown” and was BLOWN AWAY!!!! Music lovers, y’all gotta check these producers out!!!
Haze
NAs is a great artist, he’s a lil bit out of it thou. wonder how he made nastradamus, i mean wat was he tnkin
Sabelo
NAS is like …u knw cause you play it in ur systems every nite! G.O.A.T……I like seeing young black males making money but when we talk about the art of HIP HOP….. this is by far the truest most consistent and knowledgeble MCEE …You can never go wrong wiht ESCO. If you love hip hop his joints are the Bible!!
Tebogo..
The world doesnt need a group of people making a lot of noise talking baot shoes clothes and cars it needs a leaders to take us to the future and nas has painted that picture very clear interms of creating a united movement..we alll looking for a hero..i guese he is the One Godson chosen to take the podiun to take hip hop music to the next level..!
DudeisJose
Nas is the G.O.A.T. to bad he doesn’t get the recognition these other weak ass, sell out rappers do, like wayne. I haven’t heard a Nas song on the radio down here in Miami since like 2002.
KillahCali916
nas……..
now thats a tru N I G G A
WILLIAM
you cant hate nas,his music hits us in the ways of pac and big,and he keeps on shining,what many old fans of the illmatic,,,,,the streets disciple era ,,,dont understand is the move to def jam,i mean nas got his own sound ,style and fanbase that he doesnt need a legenary label to get things done,,, jungle,wiz and all his qb niggasdont needdefjam,but we want to hear them and we know them from nas ,what am sayin is ,people who know nas know there is somethin fishy with this jiggaman deal,we want to see nas do things independent as he always did,by the way whats all this with the free masons and lodges all across the nation shit,pac the donkilluminati said get this money and move on ,,,,,,
eze chika
nas is the truest rapper alive. his the best. Up here in nigeria his not that recognized i don’t know why. even though his one of the best rappers alive. if not the best. those close to this title. jayz,nas. the rest ain’t near this title. his the best emcee alive right now and the mc king of newyork. fuck 50
Ghost
Nas is the best, I met him in an elevator once and he was laid back, down to earth. He is definitely one of the best rappers ever.. to bad can’t say the same for all his albums
YEAH MAN.
SELLING MY SOUL WAS NOT MY PRIORITY.
I GUESS NAS HAD TO DO IT.
SO I HAD TO LET MY SON BE FREE
SO PEACE OUT LITTLE NAS,THE WORLD IS YOURS.
TRUE HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S.-FUKKK GAY-Z.HE IS STIILLL A BITCH IF YOU ASK ME.
peace
Minta81
Nas Is the man of the rap game no doubt about that
his state of mind is catching everybody who listen to his music properly.
Street Ace
Nas is arguably the greatest rapper of all time and is with out doubt the most creative MC to ever live. From illmatic the best album ever recorded also dubbed “The Bible of Hip Hop”, to a classic
It Was Written, then the great Stillmatic, which he delivers arguably the greatest diss track in rap history entitled “Ether”.
Not forgetting classic albums like God’s Son and Streets Disciple. Nas is the only rapper with the guts to say Hip hop is Dead and also the only man to have the guts of calling an album NIGGER, he represents his people at every point. Tracks like “I Can” where he inspires ghetto kids to get education, to his creativity of personifying a gun on
“I gave you power” which then inspired even Tupac to emulate with “my girlfriend”. The same Nas personifies a prison cell on “Last Words”. He also tells detailed stories like “undying love”. Nas is the only rapper ever to tell a story going backward, which he does on “Rewind”. Clearly the most talented MC ever, proving that toping the sales is nothing, it is what the world remembers you for that counts, and Nas’ legacy is that of a legend who has done it all in this competitive game.
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Nas is a legend point blank. People say Biggie, Jay-Z, Pac, all great artists, but who has his credentials. !0 albums, nine plat, and only one that anyone even dares to call mediocre which was Nastradamus. Its obvious that Nas is the G.O.A.T.