Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones ( ; born September 14, 1973), known mononymously as Nas ( ), is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and record producer. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas began his musical career in 1989 under the moniker "Nasty Nas", and recorded demos under the wing of fellow East Coast rapper Large Professor. Nas made his recording debut on Professor's group, Main Source's 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque".
AI overview
Nas is an American rapper and entrepreneur born in 1973 who is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, known for his contributions to East Coast hip-hop since his debut in the early 1990s. He matters because of his significant influence on hip-hop music and culture, establishing himself as a major figure in the genre through his artistic work and business ventures.
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Person · Open Library
- Born
- 1973-09-14
- Works
- 28
Top works
- Homme Caract�risation Ontologique - le Complexe CRN
- Contes des Mille et un Mythes - Volume II
- Moise Ou Mouwca ?
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- Société Sans Politicien, Sans Parti Politique - Concours National Aux Fonctions de L'Appareil étatique (Cnfae)
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Film & TV
Acting · Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (September 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Nas, is an American rapper and businessman. Rooted in East Coast hip hop, he is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Jones's musical career began in 1989 as he adopted the moniker of "Nasty Nas" and recorded demos for Large Professor. He was a…
Known for
- Victory — Nas2025
- Billy Joel: And So It Goes — Self2025
- Sean Combs: The Reckoning — Self (archive footage)2025
- Wu-Tang Clan & Nas: NY State of Mind Tour at Climate Pledge Arena — Self2024
- TMZ Presents | The Downfall of Diddy 2: The Indictment — Self (archive footage)2024
Article
44 sectionsContents
- Early life
- Career
- 1989–1994: Early career and ''Illmatic''
- 1994–1998: Transition to mainstream direction and the Firm
- 1998–2001: Heightened commercial direction and inconsistent output
- 2001–2006: Feud with Jay-Z, ''Stillmatic'', ''God's Son'', and double album
- 2006–2008: ''Hip Hop Is Dead'', Untitled, and politicized efforts
- 2009–2012: ''Distant Relatives'' and ''Life Is Good''
- 2013–2019: ''Nasir'' and ''The Lost Tapes 2''
- 2020–present: Collaborations with Hit-Boy and DJ Premier
- Artistry
- Controversies and feuds
- 2Pac
- Jay-Z
- Cam'ron
- Young Jeezy
- Lijadu Sisters
- Bill O'Reilly and Virginia Tech controversy
- Doja Cat
- Business ventures
- Personal life
- Relationships and family
- Legal issues
- Discography
- Filmography
- Film
- Television
- Music videos
- Documentary
- Executive producer
- Awards and nominations
- Berlin Music Video Awards
- Grammy Awards
- News and Documentary Emmy Awards
- Sports Emmy Awards
- MTV Europe Music Awards
- MTV Video Music Awards
- BET Awards
- BET Hip Hop Awards
- Soul Train Music Awards
- Teen Choice Awards
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones ( ; born September 14, 1973), known mononymously as Nas ( ), is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and record producer. Rooted in East Coast hip-hop, he is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas began his musical career in 1989 under the moniker "Nasty Nas", and recorded demos under the wing of fellow East Coast rapper Large Professor. Nas made his recording debut on Professor's group, Main Source's 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque".
Nas signed with Columbia Records in 1992, and released his debut studio album, Illmatic on April 19, 1994. An inductee of the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry, it has been regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. His second album, It Was Written (1996), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and sold over a quarter-million units in its first week; the album, along with its lead single "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Hill), propelled Nas into mainstream success. Both released in 1999, Nas's third and fourth albums I Am and Nastradamus were criticized as inconsistent and too commercially oriented, with critics and audiences fearing a decline in the quality of his output.
Gallery (21)
Connections
Categories
1973 births20th-century American musicians21st-century American businesspeople21st-century American male rappers21st-century American rappersAfrican-American fashion designersAfrican-American investorsAfrican-American male rappersAfrican-American songwritersAmerican chief executives in retailingAmerican fashion designersAmerican investors