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

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)

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
Evidence Reveals His Next Album Title & Tracklist. The New Video Is Bananas.

Evidence Reveals His Next Album Title & Tracklist. The New Video Is Bananas.

This April, Dilated Peoples and Stepbrothers member Evidence released "Throw It All Away." The video single (which has been a staple on the Ambrosia For Heads playlist since) featured some of the most heartfelt rapping to date from the Venice, California Grammy Award-winner. The second single, "Jim Dean" keeps the... Read more
November 17, 2017 Video
The Man Who Guided Nas’ Career Has $70 Million To Help Hip-Hop Artists Keep Their Masters

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 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
How Nas & De La Soul Battled For The Future Of Hip-Hop & Splintered It Forever (Video)

How Nas & De La Soul Battled For The Future Of Hip-Hop & Splintered It Forever (Video)

Last month, producer 9th Wonder remembered July 2, 1996's impact on the Hip-Hop community. During one of the biggest commercial booms of Rap albums, Nas released It Was Written the same Tuesday that De La Soul dropped Stakes Is High. Those two releases, coming from artists running in the same... Read more
November 4, 2017 Exclusive, TBD, Video
DJ Premier Credits Nas With Helping Choose 2 Very Illmatic Samples (Video)

DJ Premier Credits Nas With Helping Choose 2 Very Illmatic Samples (Video)

Production is more than just making beats and shopping them to artists. By 1994, DJ Premier had produced three Gang Starr albums, in addition to important records for KRS-One, Heavy D & The Boyz, and Lord Finesse. Nas and his team would seek out the Works Of Mart for three... Read more
October 18, 2017 Video
Nas Was Only 16 When He Wrote Illmatic. He Reminisces On The Music That Made Him (Video)

Nas Was Only 16 When He Wrote Illmatic. He Reminisces On The Music That Made Him (Video)

Since his days of being "too scared to grab the mics in the park" and "breakin' into candy factories," Nas' youth is legendary. Since Illmatic, the son of Jazz trumpeter Olu Dara and Anne Jones chronicled his adolescence in rhyme. The Hip-Hop culture listened, and apparently related to an MC... Read more
September 28, 2017 Fresh
Nas Lends His Words To A Remix For A$AP Rocky Affiliate Joe Fox (Audio)

Nas Lends His Words To A Remix For A$AP Rocky Affiliate Joe Fox (Audio)

Nas has dropped guest verses for folks he believes in, across genre. British singer Joe Fox was a powerful force on A$AP Rocky's At.Long.Last.A$AP album in 2015. He appeared on five songs, several of which were video singles. The singer's delivery sounds like something out of the late '60s, coming... Read more
September 26, 2017 Audio
Nas & Ghostface Killah’s Collabos Set The Stage For A Strong A3C (Audio)

Nas & Ghostface Killah’s Collabos Set The Stage For A Strong A3C (Audio)

Two of New York's finest MCs, Nas and Ghostface Killah, have a great history of bringing out the best in each other when they're on the same track. Both possess intricate storytelling ability, effortless wordplay, and immense street credibility. They've only rhymed together but a few occasions. However, the synergy... Read more
September 19, 2017 News
Chris Rivers Wants To Bring Hip-Hop Back To The Days Of Nas, Pac & Biggie (Video)

Chris Rivers Wants To Bring Hip-Hop Back To The Days Of Nas, Pac & Biggie (Video)

When Chris Rivers named his latest project Delorean, he had time traveling on his mind. New video single "Old Thing Back" is an extension of that idea. The Bronx, New Yorker spits about bringing back a brand of Hip-Hop as he remembers it from his love affair. He pays homage... Read more
September 15, 2017 Ready Or Not, Video
Nas Details What Made Biggie One Of The Greatest To Ever Touch The Mic (Video)

Nas Details What Made Biggie One Of The Greatest To Ever Touch The Mic (Video)

Nas and The Notorious B.I.G. were both friends and rivals. With a complicated history—one of legend, the two artists tragically never were able to share a song—despite plans for a "Gimme The Loot (Remix)" in 1994-1995. Looking at the life and work of his man, Nas gives it up for... Read more
September 6, 2017 TV, TV/Film, Video
DJ Premier & His Band Rock Funky Beats From Nas To Gang Starr To KRS (Video)

DJ Premier & His Band Rock Funky Beats From Nas To Gang Starr To KRS (Video)

As Hip-Hop celebrates its 44th birthday this month, NPR "Tiny Desk" concert honors the DJ in a way that Heads can appreciate. DJ Premier is the first mix-master on the popular video series, but he did arrive alone. This summer, DJ Premier & The Badder Band toured the United States... Read more
August 21, 2017 Video
Large Professor Helped Take Nas Over The Top. Now He Tries It With Fashawn (Audio)

Large Professor Helped Take Nas Over The Top. Now He Tries It With Fashawn (Audio)

In the early 1990s, Large Professor was a master mentor to fellow young MCs. While the Main Source front-man was pivoting to his solo career, he mentored Nas, Akinyele, and Organized Konfusion, among others. Starting with "Live At The Barbeque" in 1991, it was clear by Illmatic that Nas had... Read more
August 9, 2017 Audio
A New Biggie Documentary Features Unreleased Footage And Nas & JAY-Z Rapping His Lyrics (Video)

A New Biggie Documentary Features Unreleased Footage And Nas & JAY-Z Rapping His Lyrics (Video)

In less than one month, the Biggie: The Life of Notorious B.I.G. documentary will air on television. This is the first doc authorized by the rapper's estate, and contains never before released audio of Biggie talking. It will feature Biggie's wife Faith Evans, his mother Voletta Wallace, his right-hand man... Read more
August 7, 2017 TV, TV/Film, Video
Saukrates Is A Pioneering MC Who Has Worked With Nas & Redman. His Story Runs Deep (Video)

Saukrates Is A Pioneering MC Who Has Worked With Nas & Redman. His Story Runs Deep (Video)

Saukrates has a decorated career that includes a position within Redman's Gilla House roster, production for Nas, and his cemented status as a Canadian Hip-Hop legend. He raps, he produces, he sings, and Amani Wailoo also plays multiple instruments. Those who have heard it, tend to agree that 1999's Underground... Read more
July 25, 2017 Exclusive, Now You See Me
Dr. Dre & Nas Blow The Roof Off On Their Lost Collabo (Audio)

Dr. Dre & Nas Blow The Roof Off On Their Lost Collabo (Audio)

February of 2009 was an interesting time for Aftermath Entertainment. After taking 2008 off entirely (as far as albums), Eminem launched "Crack A Bottle." Released on Groundhog Day (February 2), the song put Dr. Dre, Eminem, and 50 Cent front and center. The self-proclaimed "3 Headed Monster" was back to... Read more
July 19, 2017 Audio
Nas Performs “Hate Me Now” With A Brass Band & It’s All Love (Video)

Nas Performs “Hate Me Now” With A Brass Band & It’s All Love (Video)

Rakim, Prodigy, Queen Latifah, Talib Kweli, and Joey Bada$$ are just a few of the big names in Rap music who have shared the stage with the Soul Rebels, an award-winning brass band enjoying the biggest success of its 20+ year career thanks to worldwide tours and appearances on some... Read more
July 5, 2017 Throwback
A Theory Explains Why Nas Sounds Off Beat On His New DJ Khaled Collabo

A Theory Explains Why Nas Sounds Off Beat On His New DJ Khaled Collabo

As fans continue to await news of a follow-up to Nas' 2012 LP Life Is Good, DJ Khaled has been one of the leading voices in suggesting that such a return is imminent. A fire was stoked when he released "Nas Album Done" in 2016, and the flames continue to fan... Read more
June 27, 2017 Fresh
Nas Says His Place In Hip-Hop Is Secured & The Album Is Too (Video)

Nas Says His Place In Hip-Hop Is Secured & The Album Is Too (Video)

Hours after his 2017 BET Awards performance, DJ Khaled releases the latest video from his Grateful album. The veteran DJ-turned-superstar has made a lot of noise in the last 12 months through Nas collaborations. On "It's Secured," the pair keep the chemistry bubbling, alongside some chorus work from Travi$ Scott.... Read more
June 26, 2017 Video
The Grammys Are Making Changes To Do Better By Rap. Now Maybe Snoop & Nas Can Win.

The Grammys Are Making Changes To Do Better By Rap. Now Maybe Snoop & Nas Can Win.

Since the Grammy Awards began to include Rap music as a category in 1989, the eventual winners often have been suspect, at best. While many might consider DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince a fitting choice for the first ever award--facing off against LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa, Kool Moe... Read more
June 14, 2017 News
Nas & Jack White Take One Mic And Add A Bass, Piano & Drums (Video)

Nas & Jack White Take One Mic And Add A Bass, Piano & Drums (Video)

Over the course of Nas' storied career, he has made few songs more urgent and emotional than "One Mic." The single, released from 2001's Stillmatic, samples Phil Collins' cinematic "In The Air Tonight," and maintains the same drama and tension of that record. In each verse, Nas starts out with... Read more
June 13, 2017 Video
Nas, Ghostface Killah & Just Blaze To Headline 2017 A3C Festival

Nas, Ghostface Killah & Just Blaze To Headline 2017 A3C Festival

2017 marks 13 years of A3C. The Hip-Hop festival and conference in Atlanta, Georgia has announced its headliners and confirmed performers for this year (taking place October 4-8). With an album done (and possibly released ahead of his A3C concert), Nas is the headliner. After more than 25 years on... Read more
May 31, 2017 Fresh
Nas Says “Action Speaks Louder Than Words” In These Troubled Times (Open Letter)

Nas Says “Action Speaks Louder Than Words” In These Troubled Times (Open Letter)

Nas has never been an MC to wear his politics on his sleeve. However, that doesn't mean that he has not been deeply conscious of the happenings in the world around him. Rather than joining protests and talking on news shows, the Queensbridge MC has let his music do the... Read more
May 30, 2017 Lifestyle
Nas & Lauryn Hill Plan To Rule The World Together On Tour

Nas & Lauryn Hill Plan To Rule The World Together On Tour

On September 7, Nas and Lauryn Hill will kick off a 17-date joint tour that will bring the "If I Ruled the World" collaborators across the United States and into Canada. Though Ms. Hill has been touring (sometimes in notorious fashion) on and off for nearly two decades off the... Read more
May 30, 2017 News
Kool G Rap Reveals Def Jam Passed On Nas Because He Sounded Too Much Like Him (Video)

Kool G Rap Reveals Def Jam Passed On Nas Because He Sounded Too Much Like Him (Video)

There are few, if any, record labels that have a more storied tradition than Def Jam Recordings. The company started by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons would be the musical home of countless Hip-Hop legends over time, including LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Redman, Method Man, Jay Z,... Read more
May 29, 2017 Video
Kool G Rap Details How He Helped Launch Nas’ Career & Releases New Cormega Collabo (Video)

Kool G Rap Details How He Helped Launch Nas’ Career & Releases New Cormega Collabo (Video)

In 1995, Kool G Rap released the highest-charting single of his career, "Fast Life." The song merged two Queens legends, as G Rap collaborated with the white-hot Nas, fresh on the heels of his Illmatic debut. While the world may not have known it at the time, the collaboration was... Read more
May 18, 2017 Video
Nas Makes Us Look At The Real Reasons Young Black Men Are Dying Too Young (Audio)

Nas Makes Us Look At The Real Reasons Young Black Men Are Dying Too Young (Audio)

Since his days as a teenager, Nasir Jones has been gifted in telling the stories surrounding his experiences and the lives of others. On "One Love," he put the correspondence between friends—one free and one incarcerated into song. On "U.B.R.," Nas narrated, in verse, the journey and success of Rakim—one... Read more
May 11, 2017 Audio
Nas Teams With Jack White To Make Some Ill Street Blues (Video)

Nas Teams With Jack White To Make Some Ill Street Blues (Video)

For any student of Rap music, its origins in other forms of African-American musical traditions is well known. Many scholars argue that the roots of the rapping tradition can be found in the call-and-response elements in Black church music and the dozens. Certainly, the arrival of a distinct Blues sound in the... Read more
May 11, 2017 Video
Your Old Droog Explains Why He Did Not Stop Rumors That He Was Nas (Video)

Your Old Droog Explains Why He Did Not Stop Rumors That He Was Nas (Video)

For those who've been following Brooklyn, New York's Your Old Droog since the infancy of his career, the now-infamous Nas rumors are as much a part of his early brand as is his tremendous talent as an MC. With a flow, cadence, and an ear for beats that made comparing... Read more
May 9, 2017 Video
A New Mixtape Mashes Madlib & Nas. Meet ‘Nasimoto’ (Audio)

A New Mixtape Mashes Madlib & Nas. Meet ‘Nasimoto’ (Audio)

Outside of Nas' verse on the Madlib-produced "The Sickness" for J Dilla's posthumous album, The Diary, Heads don't have much collaborative material between the legendary MC and illustrious producer to choose from. Each has contributed greatly to Hip-Hop's enduring legacy, and while Nas may have more commercial success in the traditional... Read more
May 4, 2017 Audio
My Poetry’s Deep: Nas Schools Harvard On His Lyrics (Video)

My Poetry’s Deep: Nas Schools Harvard On His Lyrics (Video)

In 2013, Nas achieved yet another one of Hip-Hop's proudest accomplishments, when it was announced that Harvard University was establishing the Nasir Jones Fellowship in his honor. The mission of the fellowship was “to seek projects from scholars and artists that build on the rich and complex Hip-Hop tradition.” Over... Read more
May 4, 2017 Video
Prodigy Reveals Nas’ Illmatic Was A Blueprint For Mobb Deep’s The Infamous (Video)

Prodigy Reveals Nas’ Illmatic Was A Blueprint For Mobb Deep’s The Infamous (Video)

In April of 1995, Mobb Deep released The Infamous, a legacy-ensuring sophomore LP that kept the rugged, unadulterated reputation of Queensbridge alive and well. Featuring Ghostface Killah, Q-Tip, Raekwon, Nas, and others, Prodigy and Havoc's second album would arrive the same year as equally enduring albums from Smif-n-Wessun (Dah Shinin), Big L... Read more
May 2, 2017 Video
The Woman At The Center Of The JAY-Z & Nas Beef Speaks Up & Tells Truths (Video)

The Woman At The Center Of The JAY-Z & Nas Beef Speaks Up & Tells Truths (Video)

Carmen Bryan is not a household name. However, she was strongly referenced in one of the most famous feuds in music history. In 2001, Jay Z launched "The Takeover" as part of his Blueprint campaign. The opening song to the acclaimed album put a reportedly longstanding tension with Nas out... Read more
May 1, 2017 Video
Freeway Recalls Meeting Nas After Dissing Him Amid The Roc Beef (Video)

Freeway Recalls Meeting Nas After Dissing Him Amid The Roc Beef (Video)

Last month, Freeway officially signed with Roc Nation. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC had long been wearing the caps, and appeared close to Jay Z and the label and management firm through appearances and concerts. In the 2000s, Freeway and State Property were hit-making fixtures at Roc-A-Fella Records shortly before the... Read more
April 29, 2017 Video
Nas Is Plotting His Return. His New Song Shows It’s Systematic (Audio)

Nas Is Plotting His Return. His New Song Shows It’s Systematic (Audio)

It's been nearly 9 months since Nas teased us with 3 potent words: "Nas Album Done." The internet was set aflame, when he uttered that phrase on DJ Khaled's song of the same title. Since then, the album has yet to arrive, but Nas' activity has certainly picked up. He... Read more
April 20, 2017 Audio
Nas Dusts Off A Gil Scott-Heron Sample For A Nasty Look At Addiction (Audio)

Nas Dusts Off A Gil Scott-Heron Sample For A Nasty Look At Addiction (Audio)

Nas is an executive producer (and rhyme-writer) on the series, The Get Down. Set in the 1970s Bronx, the show looks at the earliest days of Hip-Hop music and culture, and the circumstances around its creation. While DJ'ing, MC'ing, breakin', and graffiti are colorful forms of expression, crime, drugs, and... Read more
April 11, 2017 Audio, The Bridge
Nas Still Carries Rhymes In His Pockets. Greatness Is Never Done (Video)

Nas Still Carries Rhymes In His Pockets. Greatness Is Never Done (Video)

In 2002, Nas released the Alchemist-produced song "Book Of Rhymes." Within, the Queens, New York MC rapped bits and pieces from stored composition books of verses. Whether or not that moment was staged or real, it appears that Nasir Jones still literally carries his rhymes with him. More than 25... Read more
March 27, 2017 Video
10 Years Ago, Rakim, Nas, Kanye West & KRS-One Made A Classic (Video)

10 Years Ago, Rakim, Nas, Kanye West & KRS-One Made A Classic (Video)

This week, a new video with D.M.C. revealed how telling his verse on "My Adidas" truly was. The Hollis, Queens superstar MC pointed back to the lyrics claiming he took the beat of the street and put it on TV. In doing just as Darryl McDaniels said, the world followed,... Read more
March 23, 2017 Do Remember
Nas Powers Up With His First Verse Of The Year (Audio)

Nas Powers Up With His First Verse Of The Year (Audio)

Last month, during a DJ battle between Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz, the Ruff Ryders producer brought out the big guns. Swizzy played a never-before heard song by Nas, Jay Z, Jadakiss, and DMX. On one hand, the record called back to the late '90s and early 2000s, when Ruff... Read more
March 18, 2017 Audio
Pete Rock & DJ Premier Compare Stories On Producing Jay Z, Nas & Biggie (Video)

Pete Rock & DJ Premier Compare Stories On Producing Jay Z, Nas & Biggie (Video)

DJ Premier and Pete Rock are reportedly working on a joint album. The two producers have shared credits, each producing classic singles for Nas' Illmatic. They've also positioned tracks alongside one another on LPs by Heavy D & The Boyz, Rakim, and Non-Phixion, among others. Even when they compete, the... Read more
March 16, 2017 Video
Swizz Beatz Premieres A New Song Featuring Nas, Jay Z, DMX & Jadakiss And It’s Unreal (Video)

Swizz Beatz Premieres A New Song Featuring Nas, Jay Z, DMX & Jadakiss And It’s Unreal (Video)

Note: To hear the track, skip to 2:27:15 in the long video, or play the short clip just below. Although they have both reached G.O.A.T. status among Hip-Hop producers, with catalogs of hits rivaled by few, at their cores, Just Blaze and Swizz Beatz are still DJs too. With nothing... Read more
February 25, 2017 Video
Nas, Ice Cube, Jadakiss, T.I. & Bun B Teamed Up For A Hip-Hop Grand Finale (Audio)

Nas, Ice Cube, Jadakiss, T.I. & Bun B Teamed Up For A Hip-Hop Grand Finale (Audio)

In 2004, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz released their fifth and final album, Crunk Juice, which featured a host of Rap's elite. Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Pharrell, Ludacris, and Suga Free all made appearances, as did 8Ball & MJG, Gangsta Boo, Jazze Pha, Lil Scrappy, Usher, R. Kelly,... Read more
February 16, 2017 Do Remember
Nas To Executive Produce “Street Dreams” Biographical Television Series

Nas To Executive Produce “Street Dreams” Biographical Television Series

Approaching 21 years after he made his second album, It Was Written with top single "Street Dreams," these titles remain powerful statements in the life and career of Nas. After production and writing involvement in recent Netflix series The Get Down as well as film The Land (and its corresponding... Read more
February 1, 2017 News, TV, TV/Film
Dave East’s “It Was Written” Details The Journey That Led Him To Nas (Video)

Dave East’s “It Was Written” Details The Journey That Led Him To Nas (Video)

One of the true jewels of Dave East's patient career is "It Was Written." The opening track to 2016's Top 40 Kairi Chanel album showed that Dave did not need to write a story to make convincing raps. The Harlem, New Yorker looks within and traces his journey from hustling,... Read more
January 30, 2017 Video
Nas’ “Illmatic” Is 1 of 4 Hip-Hop Albums Being Preserved in Harvard’s Library

Nas’ “Illmatic” Is 1 of 4 Hip-Hop Albums Being Preserved in Harvard’s Library

Five years ago, producer 9th Wonder was named a Harvard fellow, a position which has endowed him with the responsibility of preserving Hip-Hop music and culture within the Ivy League university's cherished library. At the onset of his tenure, 9th began working on an initiative for the Dubois Institute at... Read more
January 26, 2017 Fresh
Q-Tip Recalls Playing The “One Love” Beat For Nas The First Time They Met

Q-Tip Recalls Playing The “One Love” Beat For Nas The First Time They Met

Q-Tip, Jarobi White, Busta Rhymes, and Consequence appear on this week's episode of Drink Champs. N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN interview A Tribe Called Quest members and affiliates about a litany of subjects. Q-Tip, who speaks at length about producing "Bonita Applebum," as well as A.T.C.Q's 2016 material, spoke about his... Read more
January 13, 2017 Throwback
Nas Names His Top 5 MCs Of This Generation & Lists His 3 Favorite Songs (Video)

Nas Names His Top 5 MCs Of This Generation & Lists His 3 Favorite Songs (Video)

Last month, Nas was a guest on Revolt TV's Music Talks series, where musical icons sit down for an extended conversation about their careers, influences, life perspectives and more. Hosted by Andre Harrell, founder of Uptown Records (Heavy D, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Guy) and EVP of Revolt, the two... Read more
December 26, 2016 Video
Nas Says We Need Racial “Healing” & Looks To Muhammad Ali For Guidance (Video)

Nas Says We Need Racial “Healing” & Looks To Muhammad Ali For Guidance (Video)

Earlier this year, the world lost an icon in Muhammad Ali. The legendary boxer and civil-rights activist made history inside and outside of the ring, by boldly standing up against the U.S. government when conscripted into the military in protest of the Vietnam War, and adopting the Islamic faith and... Read more
December 22, 2016 Lifestyle
10 Years Later, Nas Says He “Missed The Mark” When He Declared Hip-Hop Is Dead (Video)

10 Years Later, Nas Says He “Missed The Mark” When He Declared Hip-Hop Is Dead (Video)

A decade ago this week (December 19, 2006), Nas released his eighth solo album, Hip Hop Is Dead. The MC's first outing with Def Jam Records (with foe-turned-friend Jay Z at the helm) debuted at #1. Nasir released a title track, denouncing the culture he loved as a 15-year professional... Read more
December 21, 2016 Video
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