Nas has put in many years in the game, and has learned many hard lessons along the way. And in a recent interview, he shared those lessons with young up-and-coming street rappers.
In an interview with Billboard, which dropped on Friday (April 4), the “Ether” rapper shared some sage advice for hot-headed youngsters who proverbially shoot first, and ask questions later.
“The streets are the streets. We listen to music from people directly from those circumstances,” he said. “Young people making the hit records are telling you what’s happening: education, disease, miseducation. Life is a tough test.”
He continued: “As they get successful, they have to come into their senses on their own. When you look at hip-hop’s history, you see all the companies and empires that fell because of stupidity. If they see that, they have to realize they are the next one if they don’t change. […] It’s their decision and their maturity level, and when they are going to figure it out because time is ticking — the next thing you know, you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. I just pray for them and hope for the best because talking to them is one thing, but they have to be ready for it. Sometimes they have to learn on their own.”
But Nas doesn’t just have advice for younger rappers.
In that same interview with Billboard, he urged his fellow elder statesmen of Hip Hop to follow his lead when it comes to delivering music at a high level this deep into his career.
“I want more people to join me from my era; release your records and work hard on them shits,” he said. “I want to hear how people feel, and I want to hear their art. I don’t want to hear the trends, I want to hear the art. Express it, do it and be free. That’s what I’m trying to give to the game now.
“I don’t pay attention to anything except what I’m doing at this point because I’m having so much fun that I don’t even look up to see what’s going on. I could say that I never had this amount of fun, but I’ve had a lot of fun in my life in the business. But this feeling is unmatched.”
Read the full interview here.
They’re not gonna listen to you, Nas. You don’t sell like their idols who get shot every other day and either end up dead or in prison. Remember, in hip-hop, street credit is the only good credit you need.
Nas’s has sold way more records to any body. These young boys listen to let’s look at the Whole Korean and let’s look at home still selling out tours in Madison Square Garden. Nas got more bread then all these clowns
you got a situation where a lot of heffas want trouble it might be the car you drive or how much money you have they just want trouble because they’re on your case half of the time now everyone ain’t gonna make it in the game thats given and given this opportunity i think nas could have tried to elaborate more on what is expected of you when you blow up and sign that big record deal but you made it but you are a fucking employee
The only reason all these street rappers are even rappers is because the internet exists. Its cheap to record music, videos, and do self promotion now. When it was expensive, street people werent rapping. They were on the streets where they belong. Rapping and sports used to be for the smart ones that had aplan to leave the streets. Not bring money back to the streets.
Nas never feels authentic. He raps about living in the streets and being a mobster when he grew up in a nice suburban home with a mediocre jazz player. Jay z actually did grow up in the streets and dealt with coke. Kanye west also grew up in a great home but he never puts up a front like nas did and stays true to himself
Queensbridge is a nice surburban home????😂😂😂😂😂😂 JayZ is that you?
I smile every time you comment. Every move Nas makes, here you are. Ironically, you care alot about what he says and does, circling his meat on the daily cause his success burns inside you like Ether
Rule #1 do not sell drugs in baggies that have your artistic name on them… Such as “free YSL” … Dumb mothafuckas…
Good advice from a senior respect my Gee🙏
Drake washes Nas anyway. Only dinosaurs like Nas. Drizzy is the goat , everybody knows that
#1: don’t be a gangster or thug. #2: don’t break the law. #3: don’t start or engage with beef. Very very simple stuff, if you don’t have severe mental retardation.
Drake ain’t even a Legend with his ghost riders and even he will smack you forever disrespecting the goat.
Nas is dropping knowledge but will the young street dudes listen?Cats like Pop Smoke should roll different,have security when you hit dangerous spots.Young Dolph also learned hard way,should’ve had security buy cookies,it cost him his life going by yourself.Guess the Self Descrution song by KRS One 30 years ago didn’t solve anything.Being a gangsta won’t get you knowwhere,either locked up or dead.