In 1999, the triad of hardcore gangsta, backpacker, and “Jiggy” subgenres had simultaneously culminated to make rap the highest selling genre of American music. Unlike the early 90s, the rap industry gave fans three basic selections in order to buy into Hip Hop culture: 1) radio-friendly R&B samples and shiny suits, 2) godbody, scientific-minded, ultra-lyrical intellectual of the underground rap circuit 3) thuggin’ with bandanas and Timbaland boots or Chucks on parade.
Nas was undoubtedly one of the top-selling rappers in the game. When the album’s lead single “Nas Is Like” dropped March 3, 1999, fans wondered if he would usurp the then-coveted King of New York throne that had been debatably vacant since Biggie Smalls was killed in 1997 (provided you don’t ask a diehard fan of Jay Z). His most successful release to date with his quadruple platinum-selling sophomore album It Was Written three years prior. But the QB rhyme god stated from the jump that he wasn’t the same nefarious kid who boasted about snuffing Jesus, sticking up nuns with the TEC-9 he kept in his childhood bedroom dresser bureau.
Echoing the sentiment of Prince at the time, Nas was staring at a virtual fork for his artistry in the road of how he should be categorized among fans. The rugged boom-bap and b-boy flare of the DJ Premier-produced single sounded like a breath of fresh air to Hip Hop traditionalists. Nas was unafraid to reveal his truth about which direction he’d take his artistry as word got out about his upcoming third album i am… for an April 1999 release date. Within the first four bars, he admonished fans to not hold their breath anticipating the second coming of his “Nasty Nas” persona that they fell in love upon his emergence on Main Source’s 1991 classic jam “Live At The Barbecue,” MC Serch’s “Back To The Grill,” and his masterpiece debut album Illmatic.
“As far as rap go, it’s only natural, I explain/My plateau, and also, what defines my name/First it was Nasty, but times have changed/Ask me now, I’m the artist, but hardcore, my signs are pain”
NYC Connection: The great DJ Premier has scored a classic beat for many an MC but few can argue that he and Nas have some of the best chemistry ever witnessed in Hip Hop.
Since “Nas Is Like,” and 12 albums deep into his discography, there have been exhausted debates about Nas’s artistic direction. On i am…, it was hard to figure out who Nas was with his wide range of beat selection that wasn’t as sample-heavy as his two preceding albums, giving way to synth keyboards, live instrumentation, and songs about being a casanova named “Dr. Knockboot” or “You Won’t See Me Tonight,” a community activist on “Can I Talk To You,” a street goon on “Favor For A Favor” with Scarface, his sung choruses for “Money Is My Bitch” and the Jay Z revenge fantasy “Undying Love” or the bad attempt rapping in the Chicago bounce style on “Big Things.”
“Nas Is Like” is very similar to “Represent,” the penultimate track on Illmatic. Its wordplay is what makes traditionalists clamor of Nas’s wide range of metaphors and non-sequiturs including illicit drugs, groupie shenanigans, Five Percenter mathematics and science, street thuggery, wealth, and incarceration. Preemo’s thumping bass line, melodic string samples, New York bounce-style “Impeach The President” sampled snares, signature chorus scratches of his collaborative artist’s previous work reflective of the song’s title.
18-Years-Young: In retrospect, Nasir’s third studio effort remains a disjointed affair but still yet another (double) platinum win for the one who was himself Escobar at the time.
This is the version of Nas that fans yearn for as they remain stuck in memory lane. We’ve seen remnants of that venerated Nasty Nas character in his 2004 single “Thief’s Theme,” his 2011 track “Nasty,” and from “Locomotive” on his Life Is Good album the following year. There have been a couple of Premier and Nas collaborations such as “Come Get Me” from the forgettable Nastradamus, and “2nd Childhood” from Stillmatic in 2001, but it’s “Nas Is Like that makes fans want more from the two with the speculated joint album between Nas and Premier. But after 18 years, it’s hard to tell when Nas and Premier will give us what we want to make us finally put the exhausted debates about the Queensbridge legend’s artistry to rest.
The only people still debating about Nas “artistry” are Jay-Z stans, anti-intellectuals and contrarians. And the Nas doesn’t pick good beats argument is tired. Just because you can’t play in club don’t mean it’s wack. I can name dozens of great nas beats.
Co sign! You forget about Fuck Queensbridge with his obsession with Hating on Nas. To which I say before he hates…”Ask Russell Simmons.”
I agree one hundred bruh! All these dudes want is shake your “a$$” beats like fat butt punks. All these dudes want to shake their butts in today’s world. I love Nas because he himself chose to stay in his own lane. Nas is GOAT
G.O.A.T.
It’s difficult to find a great lyricist that has willingly matured with his craft like Nas has done.
“Life is Illmatic, keep static like wool fabric…”
I love that track “Daughters” off Life Is Good.
Very good concept and a great way to acknowledge a change in his age and level of maturity.
Look at my man, Em for example… still bullying women on wax. At age 44. (Listen to Big Sean’s “No Favors” )
“How can you call yourself MC’s you’re not poison… Look at all the children you mislead with the poison…”
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
NAS (nahz)- n.
1. (hip-hop) The Greatest Rapper Of All Time.
2. (music) The man who made Illmatic.
See also:
Rakim, The Notorious B. I.G, 2Pac, Eminem, KRS One, Jay-Z.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
I’m fine with Nas as the son of Q.B,a legendary wordsmith and street poet and I have heard it said many times with song titles qouted,but for me the song that has Nas flowin at his best is One Mic ,man.And anyone who underestimates him should remember One Mic.And I don’t one to compare Nas and Jigga abilities no more coz the streets know that there can only be one Boss of Rap and he be the one we saww on Belly…the king that was there from the begining,heir to the throne of Rakim Allah!
One mic one of my favourite Nas tracks
Nas is like…a broke loser. “Hard knock Life” was the anthem at this time, the clubs, the streets, households across the nation, everyone was playing that. Fuck outta here with this “Nas Is Like” bullshit. Bleek did better anyways with “Memphis Bleek Is”.
Fuck you nad is way better
Doesn’t even warrant an real response
If Nas is broke, we all are broke. He was making Money before us and damn sure after. Nas is the GOAT son! Now go put your lips on Jay Z lips! Freaking lip glosser!!!
they should have combined all the thug shit tracks from Nastradamus and this album, drop all the “for the ladies” / Casanova tracks and rest of the filler material with them wack beats.. put it out as a single release instead of two albums. both album got like 50% good-to-ok tracks and 50% trash. there’s some definite highlights on both albums though. combining them into one would have been a good decision.
from the album “Nastradamus”: Life we chose / Nastradamus / Project Windows / Come get me / Family (feat. Mobb Deep) / God love us / New World – from “I Am..” : N.Y. State Of Mind, Pt. 2 / Hate Me Now (Feat. Puff Daddy) / Small World / Favor for a Favor (feat. Scarface) / Life Is What You Make It (Feat. DMX) / Nas is Like. (these are essential tracks from both releases – there’s still like 20 minutes left for a full CD length i reckon so we can throw in some of the “just ok” tracks there too)
Nas is Like is my favorite Hip Hop song. I got Nas in my Top #3 after Krs and Pac but this song is my favorite Hip Hop song in general.
I just wish the original album didn’t leak and we would have had a different (perhaps stronger) project as it was mentioned in those times. One of the first studio albums ever affected by mp3 technology leaks.
Great article!
So much to consider when analyzing the career and legacy of Nas. Nas’ mainstream success from 96′ to 05′ was pretty mega. From 06′ to present is another story… Yet it’s not a reflection of his artistry, but a prime example of people no longer appreciating the art of real HIP-HOP. Emceeing is not validated by sales and media hype, but rather lyrical magnificence and mind elevation. With that said, my top 10 consists of legends that fit that criteria: 1. Nas, 2. Killah Priest, 3. K-Rino, 4. Cormega, 5. Talib Kweli, 6. Mos Def, 7. AZ, 8. Immortal Technique, 9. Canibus, and 10. Tupac. Honorable Mentions: Common, Big Pun, Vinnie Paz, Big L, Rakim, GZA, KRS One, Saigon, Jadakiss, and Lauryn Hill.
I like a lot of Nas’ 06+ work, he matured and it shows in his music. I get a bit tired of +40 rappers pretending that there in the streets still hustling, slinging dope, shooting guns etc… I never really thought a true Hip Hop head would even question Nas artistry.
You’re so funny. IN THE ALBUM BOOKLET THERE ARE THE LYRICS.
Ask me now I’m the artist but hardcore,
My SIGNS are pain.
Got the lyrics from Genius. Glad you like Nas as much as I do. Thanks for reading the piece.
One of my favorite Nas song’s and Album’s right here. NY STATE OF MIND PT2 was crazy people get so caught up in success sometimes they forget about the rhymes and Nas always delivered on that level a real.Nas fan will tell from Illmatic to Stillmatic all his shit is dope. I got so far back with Nas it’s not even funny, honestly I miss the whole QB as a whole they could’ve been something special