nas Archives

20 Years Later, The Value Of Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation Is Not Lost (Audio)

On her 1998 song "Lost Ones," Lauryn Hill waxes cautionary: "You might win some but you just lost one," she spits. It's felicitous phrasing for the venerated MC, whose five-time Grammy Award-winning debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill turns 20 this week. Drawing its title from the 1930s Carter G. Woodson book... Read more

August 23, 2018 Do Remember

A Video Shows Mobb Deep’s Lethal Sampling For “Murda Muzik,” On Its 19th Birthday

Mobb Deep's fourth album, Murda Muzik, remains their best-selling album to date. It began the duo's transition from New York street poets into a pair capable of making records that played on the radio, video shows, and the clubs at once. Havoc didn't forfeit his gift for sampling in the... Read more

August 17, 2018 Throwback, Video

Uncle Ralph McDaniels Details 35 Years Of Making The Original Rap Video Show (Video)

"Uncle" Ralph McDaniels is a pioneer in bringing video to Hip-Hop culture. The New York City native co-created and co-hosted Video Music Box, a show that would help bring some of the top names in Hip-Hop, and their music, to TV screens across the world. Subsequently, McDaniels would use his... Read more

August 13, 2018 Video

Nas Names 5 Of His Favorite Rap Songs In Celebration Of Hip-Hop’s 45th Birthday (Video)

This past Saturday, Hip-Hop celebrated a significant milestone. August 11, 1973, marks the day that DJ Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell) rocked a benchmark party in the rec room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. As a result, many Hip-Hop Heads, scholars, and even tech giants honor that day as the culture's... Read more

August 13, 2018 Video

The Producer Of Ether Attempted To Offer The Beat To JAY-Z Before Nas (Video)

The term "ether" is forever implanted in the Hip-Hop lexicon and beyond. Heads can thank Nas for that one. The song is the title from Nasir's 2001 campaign against JAY-Z, in response to JAY-Z's "The Takeover." Two of the most respected MCs in Hip-Hop became entrenched in one of Rap's... Read more

August 8, 2018 Throwback, Throwback, Video

J. Cole Says He Has The Best Flow Since Biggie On A Devastating New Freestyle (Video)

J. Cole is about to embark on his KOD Tour, hitting 36 cities across North America, and has been strategically building anticipation as the days get closer to the kickoff in Miami (August 9, 2018). Having previously tweeted out "Feed me beats. Everything gettin murdered.," Cole has now dropped a... Read more

August 7, 2018 Video

Nas Has Another Album Coming & RZA And Swizz Beatz Are Involved (Video)

Six weeks ago, Nas released his twelfth solo album, NASIR. Produced by Kanye West, the seven-track effort is part of the five albums recorded in Wyoming over the last year. Rolling with the G.O.O.D. Music team of producers marked a distinct creative moment for the Queens, New York legend. It... Read more

July 27, 2018 News, Video

Nas & Kanye West May Have Taken This Producer’s Beat & Album Cover To Use On NASIR

The buzz surrounding Nas’ full album with Kanye West behind the boards reached a fevered pitch this Spring, so when NASIR finally dropped on June 14th, reactions were quite extreme. Some lavished it with praise, while others were not impressed by the 7-track effort. However, there was another faction of... Read more

July 24, 2018 News

AZ Gets Down To Firm Biz As He Rates The Rhymes Of Nas, Future & More (Video)

AZ is the latest guest on the "Rate The Bars" program. Many Hip-Hop Heads revere the Brooklyn, New Yorker for his lyricism, wordplay, and imagery. The MC said to be at work on his long-anticipated Doe Or Die 2 is a fitting and qualified judge for others' rhymes. As a... Read more

July 9, 2018 Video

Nas Backed A Pharmacy Startup. Now It Is Being Acquired For $1 Billion

Just as Nas returns to music with last month's Kanye West-produced NASIR album, a recent report shows that the musical legend has been doing just fine regardless of his album-making. At 44 years old, Nas is currently gaining recognition for his investments along with his introspective raps. The latest report shows... Read more

July 5, 2018 Lifestyle, News

Swizz Beatz Says He & Nas Made An Album Together In 2016 & A Taste Is Coming

It was in the summer of 2016 that DJ Khaled released "Nas Album Done." That video single, belonging to the Miami, Florida-based DJ/producer's #1 album Major Key signaled something that eventually came to fruition—in June 2018. Last month, Nas released Nasir, a project produced entirely by Kanye West. Debuting at... Read more

July 2, 2018 Fresh

Why Kanye West Is A Genius Regardless Of His Views Outside Of Music

Kanye West's cultural influence is undeniable. Few artists, especially in Hip-Hop have had a reign as long or as far-reaching as the artist who locked himself in a room doing five a beats a day for three summers. Remember when everyone wore those terrible shutter shade sunglasses after Graduation dropped?... Read more

June 30, 2018 Food for Thought

Havoc Releases 2 Mobb Deep Freestyles To Celebrate Prodigy 1 Year After His Passing (Audio)

One year ago today Prodigy unexpectedly passed away Hip-Hop has not been the same. It's all been helpful for those who were truly touched by his spirit and life's work. What's also great to help cope is anytime new music surfaces from the Mobb camp, and that's what happened Wednesday... Read more

June 20, 2018 Audio

The Black Sheep vs. Main Source GOAT Match-Up Is Too Close To Call. Decide Who Advances.

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

June 20, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Nas Finally Releases His Album…For Real This Time (Audio)

It's been six years since Nas fans were presented a full album from one of Hip-Hop's most revered lyricists. In that time, the MC has remained focused on his business ventures, including a media company, record label, TV and film production, Sweet Chick restaurants, and a massively successful equity firm.... Read more

June 15, 2018 Audio

Finding The GOAT Group: Black Sheep vs. Main Source. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

June 8, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Pusha-T Confirms Nas’ Album Is Coming Next Month & Reveals What To Expect (Video)

In less than 11 hours from now, Pusha-T (as he currently stylizes it) will unveil a long-awaited project. He publicly stated the seven-song collection "is for my family...high taste level, luxury, drug raps fans." Details have emerged that an EP titled Daytona will feature Rick Ross and Kanye West, plus... Read more

May 24, 2018 Fresh, News, Video

Slick Rick Revisits His Great Adventures 30 Years Later

This November, Slick Rick will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his debut album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. Its influence is immeasurable and inspired legends like Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, and more. And it's evident. Rick's witty wordplay and effortless flow on the album also made him stand... Read more

May 22, 2018 Fresh, Throwback, Throwback

Nas Sets Up His New Album With 1 Of His Best Verses In Ages (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let AFH fight through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to go back... Read more

May 18, 2018 Audio

Though Nas Has His Back, Dave East Shows He Can Prosper On His Own (Video)

Dave East presented fans with his Paranoia 2 mixtape at the top of the year. It contains 15 tracks and features from T.I., Lloyd Banks, Tory Lanez, and others. Aside from the Harlem native's knack for ear-catching bars is his ability to release a steady stream of videos off of... Read more

May 17, 2018 Video

Kelis Accuses Nas Of Physically & Mentally Abusing Her (Video)

Singer and chef Kelis and ex-husband Nas recently settled a tense and public custody battle. The former Star Trak Records artist conducted one of her first interviews in nearly a decade and made some powerful claims against her former marital partner of five years. Kelis describes her time with Nas... Read more

April 26, 2018 News, Video

Kanye West Says He Produced Nas’ Next Album & Shares The Release Date

Last week, Kanye West used his rediscovered enjoyment for tweeting to announce four albums. The G.O.O.D. Music founder revealed his next release (an apparent EP), a collaboration with Kid Cudi, and new label releases from Pusha T and Teyana Taylor. Tonight (April 22), West provided some more detail on his... Read more

April 22, 2018 News

Nas, Rakim, Pete Rock & More Break Down Why AZ Is 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Best Visualizers (Video)

Twenty years ago this month, AZ released his sophomore album, Pieces Of A Man. The Brooklyn, New York MC, author, and co-founder of The Firm has a decorated career that is still very much in swing. Previously, BET released portions of their #20YrsLtr: Doe or Die documentary featuring AZ, but... Read more

April 17, 2018 Video

Rakim Reveals Nas Called Him For Advice Before He Ethered JAY-Z. Here’s What Ra Said (Video)

Recently, a number of MCs have openly rebelled against those that came before them. Lil Yachty said The Notorious B.I.G. was overrated. Young Dolph openly disrespected Pete Rock. And, too many rappers to count have favorably compared themselves to Tupac. But, it wasn't always that way. There was a time... Read more

April 14, 2018 Video

ANoyd May Rule The World Better Than Nas & Lauryn Did With This Freestyle (Video)

ANoyd might not be a household name yet, but he is one to watch. Closely. The Connecticut-based MC is quickly establishing himself as among the most talented in his generation. Like Kendrick, Cole, Logic and Joey Bada$$, the up and coming artist flexes a more lyrical style than many of... Read more

April 14, 2018 Video

Nas & Black Star Will Share The Stage This Summer

Nas and Black Star are two championed Hip-Hop acts. Whereas Nas has released 11 solo albums, in addition to compilations, and group work with The Firm and Distant Relatives, Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey have just one group LP. In 2018, reports are lingering that both entities have album plans... Read more

April 12, 2018 Fresh

Mickey Factz Teaches Financial Responsibility Through Taxing Bars (Video)

Bronx, New York native Mickey Factz is the latest guest on Funkmaster Flex's freestyle platform. With his barrage of bars, the veteran lyricist kicked knowledge about something often overlooked in Rap: financial responsibility. After warming up his chops and getting his metaphorical ducks in a row, Factz began spitting facts... Read more

April 5, 2018 Video

Tupac Hit Up Many More People Than Biggie In His Original Makaveli Liner Notes

Tupac was not alive for the release of his fifth solo album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. However, he was promoting and working on the LP at the time of his September 13, 1996 death. Fresh off the success of double-album, All Eyez On Me, Tupac wrote and... Read more

April 5, 2018 News, Throwback

Nas Offers A Very Real Message About Success & Career Longevity

Soon approaching 30 years since he made one of Rap's greatest introductions alongside Main Source (and mentor Large Professor) on "Live At The Barbeque," Nas' career is still heating up. Reports earlier this week suggest that the once-prodigious MC from the Queensbridge Houses stands to earn $40 million from an... Read more

March 22, 2018 Fresh

Nas May Earn Over $40 Million From The Sale Of A Company He Funded

Nas is regarded as one of Hip-Hop's shining examples of poetry and advanced rhyme skills. His debut album, Illmatic, was voted by Ambrosia For Heads readers in 2016 as "The Greatest Rap Album Of All Time." That release has been the subject of at least one documentary film. It also... Read more

March 21, 2018 Lifestyle, News

Snoop Dogg Provides New Details About 1996 Meeting Between Tupac & Nas (Video)

On September 4, 1996, the MTV Video Music Awards took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Suge Knight were in Manhattan at a time when tensions were strong between their Death Row Records and several top Rap artists from the Big... Read more

March 19, 2018 Video

Dave East Sets It Off With A Single That Rings The Alarm (Audio)

Dave East has become one of the most prolific artists of the last five years, especially on the level he has reached. After last year's Def Jam debut Paranoia: A True Story, Dave kept the momentum going by linking up with DJ Holiday and dropping his Karma mixtape a few... Read more

February 27, 2018 Audio

Amy Winehouse’s Found Demo Showcases How Much Soul She Had At 17 (Audio)

When Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 27, the music community was shaken to its core after losing one of its boldest vocalists. Early in her short-lived career, the beehive-haired British singer's musical hybrid of R&B, Jazz, retro-Soul and Hip-Hop on her 2003 debut album Frank gained... Read more

February 27, 2018 Audio, Throwback

Do Remember When AZ & Pete Rock Made A Gem That Was Rather Unique (Audio)

Almost exactly a year and a half after his show-stopping appearance on Nas' Illmatic, AZ Tha Visualiza released his debut album, Doe Or Die. In October of 1995, AZ carefully refrained from any further features between his 5-mic debut and his solo set-up. Fans were starving, and the East New... Read more

February 15, 2018 Do Remember

Nas Speaks On The Importance Of Black History In EVERY Month (Video)

Just last week, PBS aired an incredible performance with Nas and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The televised special saw the Queensbridge native rap the entirety of his debut, Illmatic – an LP that has been archived as a part of a project at... Read more

February 8, 2018 Video

Nas Performs With The National Symphony Orchestra & It’s Truly Illmatic (Video)

Over the years, Nas has had many distinctions. He is the namesake of a Harvard fellowship. He was given BET's "I Am Hip Hop Award." His album, Illmatic was chosen to be preserved in Harvard's library. And, just last week, he was given the Spotlight Award from the New York... Read more

February 3, 2018 Video

Nas Receives Spotlight Award From The New York City Mayor’s Office

On his legendary debut album Illmatic, Nas told listeners that "nothing's equivalent to the New York state of mind." The city has played a background in Nasir Jones' lyrics for more than 25 years, and the skyline of his Queensbridge neighborhood and greater New York City has been on some... Read more

January 27, 2018 News

Black Thought & Royce 5’9 Rap About Writing Their Way To Better Lives (Audio)

Hamilton, as a cultural phenomenon, has already done so much for Hip-Hop by way of social awareness, so it’s no surprise that each time its name comes up, there’s always unadulterated talent attached to it. This time it’s by way of Royce 5’9’, Black Thought and Joyner Lucas. Just one... Read more

January 25, 2018 Audio

Nas & Dave East Show How They Wrote Their Way Out In The Video For Their Hamilton Collabo

It's been nearly 3 years since the seminal musical Hamilton took Broadway and the world by storm, and the play's cultural impact continues. While it still plays to sold out shows in New York City, the Hamilton wave will now flow through multiple locales, including Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Washington,... Read more

January 19, 2018 Video

Ambrosia For Heads Presents: G.O.A.T. Producers – The Pete Rock Edition (Playlist)

Ambrosia For Heads' G.O.A.T. Producers series takes in-depth looks at the production discographies of some of Hip-Hop and R&B's greatest of all-time producers. As part of an exclusive partnership with Pandora, each installment explores the hits, the deep cuts, the rarities, the remixes and more. This edition showcases the production catalog... Read more

January 16, 2018 Audio, Video

Nas & The National Symphony Are Taking Illmatic From QB To The Kennedy Center (Video)

Back in 1994, Nas' debut Illmatic peaked at #12 on the charts. The commercial performance was highly respectable for an emerging Rap artist, but Hip-Hop Heads who heard and loved the album knew those 10 songs meant so much more than any chart, music review, or record store display could... Read more

January 12, 2018 News, TV, TV/Film, Video

Jadakiss & Styles P Revamp A Whodini Classic To Show That Loyalty Is Timeless (Audio)

Whodini's biggest hit "Friends" has proven itself to be an ageless Hip-Hop song. The standout single from 1984's Escape album has a message that has endured more than 33 years and a beat (thanks to late keyboardist/producer Larry Smith) that seemingly never went out of fashion either. Rap superstars Tupac... Read more

December 12, 2017 Audio, The Bridge

DJ Premier Says He & Pete Rock May Be Exclusively Producing De La Soul’s Next Album (Video)

DJ Premier has had one of his busiest years in recent memory. The Gang Starr member released and produced albums by MC Eiht and Torii Wolf. He just followed those efforts with a video collaboration with A$AP Ferg, helping relaunch '90s Hip-Hop source Payday Records. Preemo is the latest guest... Read more

December 11, 2017 News, Video

Big K.R.I.T. Flips Nas’ 1996 Message Into A Freestyle For The Ages (Video)

Big K.R.I.T. appeared on Sway In The Morning this week to promote his new double-album 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time. After discussing the Multi Alumni release with Sway, Heather B, and Tracy G, the acclaimed Mississippi artist could not leave without dropping some freestyle flavor. And boy, did he... Read more

December 8, 2017 Video

Nas’ Original Demo For “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” Left No Doubt He Would Prevail (Audio)

It's not uncommon for rappers to commence in their teens or even become famous in those years. Rakim was 19 when Paid In Full was released. LL Cool J was 17 when his debut arrived. Big Boi and André 3000 from OutKast were teens when they started, as was Joey... Read more

November 30, 2017 Do Remember, Throwback

Steve Stoute Explains Why He Took Nas From The Underground To The Mainstream (Video)

Music industry veteran Steve Stoute recently launched UnitedMasters, a company that allows musicians to market directly to their fans across digital platforms. The service promotes artists keeping their master recordings and provides resources for the modern market that once seemed reserved for major label acts. Stoute is the latest guest... Read more

November 20, 2017 Video

Pete Rock Goes Hard In The Paint At Waka Flocka For Disrespecting Hip-Hop’s OGs

At the top of this month, rapper Waka Flocka Flame appeared in a lengthy video interview with the ThisIs50 staff. Among a host of topics, the gold-certified rapper defended his generation and faulted Hip-Hop's older community for not properly informing him and his peers about the industry, and providing necessary information. Around... Read more

November 19, 2017 News, Video

See The Evolution Of Hip-Hop From 1979 To The Present In 30 Minutes (Video)

Over the years, there have been a number of vehicles that show the transformation of Hip-Hop from its inception to the present. The vast majority of these tend to be either hyper-kinetic mashups that showcase 2-3 second snippets of songs, or exhaustive documentaries that unfold over hours, showcasing years of... Read more

November 18, 2017 Video

The Man Who Guided Nas’ Career Has $70 Million To Help Hip-Hop Artists Keep Their Masters

Master recordings are coveted in the music industry. In the 1980s and 1990s, many Hip-Hop artists signed contracts that gave away ownership of master recordings to record labels. With resources, relationships, and infrastructure, they would generate songs that would hopefully turn to hits, and the artist's star would rise. That... Read more

November 15, 2017 News, Video

Irv Gotti Explains Why Nas & Murder Inc.’s Brief Union Was A Huge Mistake (Video)

Irv Gotti is the latest guest on Drink Champs, and the beverages flowed in a big way. The Queens, New Yorker began as a DJ, became one of Hip-Hop's biggest A&Rs (at Def Jam) along with a producer charging $250,000 per beat. However, Gotti is best known for founding Murder... Read more

November 8, 2017 Video