  Nas, born Nasir Jones on
September 14, 1973, hails from New York. In
the mid-90s, Nas burst onto the rap scene
with music hailed by critics and noted for
its intelligence and direction.
Nas released Illmatic and had moderate hits
with "It Ain't Hard To Tell" and
"The World Is Yours."
 # 80
Singles Artist of the Year
Illmatic was certified gold.
 Nas released It
Was Written.
Nas hit the Top 40 with "If I Ruled The World."
Nas topped the Billboard Top 200
LP chart for 4 weeks and the Top R&B
Albums chart with It
Was Written.
It
Was Written was certified 2x platinum.
Nas hit the Top 40 with "Street Dreams."
The single "Street Dreams" was certified
gold.
Nas was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance ("If I Ruled The World").
Nas could be heard on Timbaland's LP Tim's
Bio: Life Fram Da Basement on the track "To
My."
 # 90
Singles Artist of the Year
 Nas released I
Am...
Nas topped the Billboard Top 200
Albums chart for 2 weeks and the Top R&B
Albums chart for 3 weeks with I
Am...
I
Am... was certified platinum.
Nas hit the Top 40 with "Nas Is Like."
Nas could be heard on Mary J. Blige's LP, Mary.
Nas was nominated for a
MTV Video Music
Award for Best Rap Video ("Hate Me
Now" with Puff
Daddy).
 Nas released Nastradamus.
Nastradamus was certified
platinum.
Nas hit the Top 40 helping out Missy
Elliott with "Hot Boyz" which also
features Eve, and Q-Tip
- from Missy's LP Da
Real World.
Nas was
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album ("I
Am...").
I
Am... was certified 2x platinum.
 Nas released Stillmatic.
Illmatic was certified
platinum.
 # 84
Singles Artist of the Year
Stillmatic was certified
platinum.
Nas hit the Top 40 helping out Jennifer Lopez with "I'm Gonna Be Alright" - from JLo's LP,
J
To Tha L-O! The Remixes.
Nas started touring with Faith
Evans, Usher, and Mr.
Cheeks.
Nas hit the Top 10 with "I'm Gonna Be Alright."
Nas was nominated for 2 MTV Video Music
Awards for Video of the Year and Best Rap Video ("One
Mic").
 Nas released Lost
Tapes.
Nas could be heard on the 8
Mile soundtrack with "You Wanna
Be Me."
Nas could be heard on Irv
Gotti Presents... The Remixes with
"Pledge" (with Ja Rule, Ashanti, and 2Pac).
 Nas released God's
Son.
 # 55
Singles Artist of the Year
Nas topped the Billboard
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for a week with God's
Son.
Nas was
nominated for 2 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or
Group
("The Essence" with AZ)
and Best Music Video, Short
Form
("One Mic").
Nas hit the Top 40 with "I Can."
VH1: 50
Greatest Hip Hop Artists includes Nas at # 19.
 Nas with Pharrell contributed
a track ("Nas' Angels... The
Flyest") to the soundtrack for Charlie's
Angels: Full Throttle.
Nas' video for "I Can" and his
collaboration with 2Pac on "Thugz
Mansion" were both nominated for a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Rap Video.
 Nas could be heard on the Bravehearts'
LP Bravehearted with "Quick To
Back Down."
Nas was arrested for alleged
assault from an fight at a Manhattan
nightclub.
Rolling Stone:
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: # 400:
Illmatic.
 # 134
Singles Artist of the Year
 Nas topped the
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart
with "Thief's Theme."
Nas released a double LP, Street's
Disciple.
# 493 on the Top Pop Artists
of the Past 25 Years chart.
Nas got married to Kelis.
Street's
Disciple was certified gold.
The video for "Bridging The Gap"
was nominated for a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Hip-Hop Video.
Street's
Disciple was certified platinum.
Nas could be heard on The Notorious B.I.G. posthumous creation - Duets:
The Final Chapter.
 Nas could be heard on Diddy's LP Press
Play with "Everything I
Love."
Nas released Hip
Hop Is Dead.
Nas topped the Billboard 200 LP
chart, Top Rap chart, Top Digital Albums
chart, and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
with Hip
Hop Is Dead - selling over 355,000 copies
its first week of release in the US.
Nas could be heard on the Joe LP Ain't
Nothing Like Me with the track
"Get To Know Me."
Hip
Hop Is Dead was certified gold.
Nas could be heard on the Jay-Z LP American
Gangster on the track
"Success."
Nas was
nominated for 2 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or
Group
("Better Than I've Ever Been" with Kanye West and KRS-One)
and Best Rap Album (Hip
Hop Is Dead).
 Entertainment Weekly:
100 Best Albums of the Last 25 Years included Illmatic at # 28.
Nas released (Untitled).
Nas topped the
Billboard 200 LP chart, Top R&B/Hip-Hop
Albums chart, Top Rap Albums chart, and Top
Digital Albums chart with (Untitled). The LP sold over
187,000 copies its first week of release in
the US.
Nas could be heard on The
Game LP LAX on the track
"Letter To The King."
(Untitled) was certified gold.
 Nas could be heard on the Ludacris LP Theater
Of The Mind on the track "I Do It For
Hip Hop."
Nas could be heard on the
soundtrack for Cadillac
Records on the track "Bridging The
Gap."
Nas was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards including Best Rap Solo Performance ("N****** (The
Sale And The Master)") and Best Rap Album ((Untitled)).
Nas could be heard on the Joss Stone LP Colour
Me Free! on the track
"Governmentalist."
 Nas was
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by
a Duo or Group ("Too Many Rappers"
with the Beastie Boys).
Nas with Damian
Marley released Distant
Relatives.
Nas with Damian
Marley topped the Billboard
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Rap Albums
chart, and Reggae Albums chart with Distant
Relatives.
Nas could be heard on the Mary J. Blige LP My
Life II: The Journey Continues, Act 1 on the track
"Feel Inside."
Nas could be heard on the
posthumous Amy Winehouse LP Lioness:
Hidden Treasures on the track
"Like Smoke."
 Nas could be heard on the Chris Brown LP Fortune on the track
"Mirage."
Nas released Life
Is Good.
Nas topped the Billboard 200 LP
chart with Life
Is Good. The LP sold over 149,000
copies its first week of release in the US.
The LP also topped the Billboard
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Rap Albums
chart, and Digital Albums chart.
Nas could be heard on the Nelly Furtado LP The
Spirit Indestructible on the track
"Something."
Nas was nominated for 4 Grammy Awards including Best Rap Performance
("Daughters"), Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("Cherry
Wine" with Amy Winehouse), Best Rap Song
("Daughters"), and Best Rap Album (Life
Is Good).
 April 15: Nas released Illmatic XX. The 20th
anniversary set will include additional
material along with the tracks from his
debut LP.
 |
Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
US: 2x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 12
Rolling Stone
review: 
Tracks: "The
Genesis" - "N.Y. State Of
Mind" - "Life's A Bitch" -
"The World Is Yours" -
"Halftime" - "Memory Lane
(Sittin' In Da Park)" - "One
Love" - "One Time 4 Your
Mind" - "Represent" -
"It Ain't Hard To Tell" |
|
It Was Written
Released: July, 1996
US: 3x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (for 4 weeks)
Rolling Stone
review: 
Tracks: "Album
Intro" - "Message" -
"Street Dreams" - "I
Gave You Power" - "Watch Dem
N*****" - "Take It In
Blood" - "Nas Is Coming" -
"Affirmative Action - AZ" -
"Set Up" - "Black Girl
Lost" - "Suspect" -
"Shootouts" - "Live N****
Rap" - "If I Ruled The
World" |
|
I Am...
Released: April, 1999
US: 2x Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 1 (for 2 weeks)
Rolling Stone
review:
Tracks: "Album
Intro" - "N.Y. State Of Mind,
Pt. 2" - "Hate Me Now" -
"Small World" - "Favor For
A Favor" - "We Will
Survive" - "Ghetto
Prisoners" - "You Won't See Me
Tonight" - "I Want To Talk To
You" - "Dr. Knockboot" -
"Life Is What You Make It"
(featuring DMX) - "Big Things"
- "Nas Is Like" -
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G" - "Money
Is My Bitch" - "Undying
Love" |
|
Nastradamus
Released: November, 1999
US: Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 7
Rolling Stone
review:
Tracks: "The
Prediction" - "Life We
Chose" - "Nastradamus" -
"Some Of Us Have Angels" -
"Project Windows" (featuring
Ronald Isley) - "Come Get Me" -
"Shoot 'Em Up" - "Last
Words" - "Family"
(featuring Mobb Deep) - "God Love
Us" - "Quiet N*****"
(featuring Bravehearts) - "Big
Girl" - "New World" -
"You Owe Me" (featuring
Ginuwine) - "The Outcome" |
|
Stillmatic
Released: December, 2001
US: Platinum
Rolling Stone
review:
Tracks: "Stillmatic
(The Intro)" - "Ether" -
"Got Ur Self A..." -
"Smokin'" - "You're Da
Man" - "Rewind" -
"One Mic" - "2nd
Childhood" - "Destroy &
Rebuild" - "The Flyest" -
"Rule" - "My Country"
- "What Goes Around" -
"Every Ghetto" |
|
Lost Tapes
Released: September, 2002
Rolling Stone
review:
Tracks: "Doo
Rags" - "My Way" - U Gotta
Love It" - "Nothing Lasts
Forever" - "No Idea's
Orginal" (Original Version) -
"Blaze A 50" -
"Everybody's Crazy" -
"Purple" - "Drunk By
Myself" - "Black Zombie" -
"Poppa Was A Playa" -
"Fetus" |
|
God's Son
Released: December, 2002
US: Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 12
Rolling Stone
review: 
Tracks: "Get
Down" - "The Cross" -
"Made You Look" - "Last
Real N**** Alive" - "Zone
Out" (featuring Bravehearts) -
"Hey Nas" (featuring Kelis
& Claudette Ortiz) - "I Can" - "Book
Of Rhymes" - "Mastermind"
- "Thugz Mansion (N.Y.)"
(featuring 2Pac & J. Phoenix) -
"Warrior Song" (featuring
Alicia Keys) - "Revolutionary
Warfare" (featuring Lake) -
"Dance" - "Heaven"
(featuring Jully Black) |
|
Street's Disciple
Released: November, 2004
US: Platinum
Billboard
peak:
# 5
Rolling Stone:  - Entertainment
Weekly: A-
Tracks: "Intro"
- "A Message To The Feds, Sincerely,
We The People" - "Nazareth
Savage" - "American Way" -
"These Are Our Heroes" -
"Disciple" - "Sekou
Story" - "Live Now" -
"Rest Of My Life" - "Just
A Moment" - "Reason" -
"You Know My Style" -
"Suicide Bounce" -
"Streets Disciple" -
"U.B.R." - "Virgo" -
"Remember The Times" -
"The Makings Of A Perfect
Bitch" - "Getting Married"
- "No One Else In The Room" -
"Bridging The Gap" -
"War" - "Me &
You" - "Thief's Theme" |
|
Hip Hop Is Dead
Released: December, 2006
US: Gold
Billboard
peak:
# 1
Rolling Stone:
Tracks: "Money Over
Bulls***" - "You Can't Kill
Me" - "Carry on Tradition"
- "Where Are They Now" -
"Hip Hop Is Dead" - "Who
Killed It?" - "Black
Republican" - "Not Going
Back" - "Still Dreaming" -
"Hold Down the Block" -
"Blunt Ashes" - "Let There
Be Light" - "Play on
Playa" - "Can't Forget About
You" - "Hustlers" -
"Hope" |
|
(Untitled)
Released: July, 2008
US: Gold
Billboard
peak:
# 1
Rolling Stone: - Entertainment
Weekly: B+
Tracks: "Queens Get
The Money" - "You Can't Stop Us
Now" - "Breathe" -
"Make The World Go Round" (with
Chris Brown & The Game) -
"Hero" (with Keri Hilson) -
"America" - "Sly Fox"
- "Testify" -
"N.*.*.*.*.*. (The Slave And The
Master)" - "Louis
Farrakhan" - "Fried
Chicken" (with Busta Rhymes) -
"Project Roach" (with The Last
Poets) - "Ya'll My N*****" -
"We're Not Alone" (with Mykel)
- "Black President" (with
Johnny Polygon) |
|
Distant Relatives & Damian
Marley
Released: May, 2010
Billboard
peak:
# 5
Tracks: "As We
Enter" - "Tribes At War" -
"Strong Will Continue" -
"Leaders" - "Friends"
- "Count Your Blessings" -
"Dispear" - "Lad Of
Promise" - "In His Own
Words" - "Nah Mean" -
"Patience" - "My
Generation" - "Africa Must Wake
Up" |
Amazon.mp3 |
Life Is Good
Released: July 13, 2012
US: Gold
Billboard
peak:
# 1
Tracks: "No
Introduction" -
"Loco-Motive" (featuring Large
Professor) - "A Queen's Story"
- "Accident Murderers"
(featuring Rick Ross) -
"Daughters" - "Reach
Out" (featuring Mary J. Blige) -
"World's An Addiction"
(featuring Anthony Hamilton) -
"Summer On Smash" (featuring
Miguel & Swizz Beatz) - "You
Wouldn't Understand" (featuring
Victoria Monet) - "Back When" -
"The Don" - "Stay" -
"Cherry Wine" (featuring Amy
Winehouse) - "Bye Baby" |
Amazon.mp3 |
Illmatic XX
Released: April 15, 2014
Tracks: "The
Genesis" - "N.Y. State Of
Mind" - "Life's A Bitch" -
"The World Is Yours" -
"Halftime" - "Memory Lane
(Sittin' In Da Park)" - "One
Love" - "One Time 4 Your
Mind" - "Represent" -
"It Ain't Hard To Tell" -
"I'm A Villain" - "The
Stretch Armstrong And Bobbito
Show..." - "Halftime"
(Butcher Remix) - "It Ain't Hard To
Tell" (Remix) - "One Love"
(LG Main Mix) - "Life's A
Bitch" (Arsenal Mix) - "One
Love" (One L Main Mix) - "The
World Is Yours" (Tip Mix) - "It
Ain't Hard To Tell" (The Stink Mix)
- "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (The
Laidback Remix) |
iTunes
Amazon.mp3 |
NASIR
Released: June 15, 2018
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 5
Tracks: "Not For
Radio" (featuring Puff Daddy &
070 Shake) - "Cops Shot The
Kid" (featuring Kanye West) -
"White Label" -
"Bonjour" (featuring Tony
Williams) - "Everything"
(featuring The-Dream & Kanye West) -
"Adam And Eve" (featuring
The-Dream) - "Simple Things" |
iTunes
Amazon.mp3 |
The Lost Tapes 2
Released: June 19, 2019
Tracks: "No Bad
Energy" - "Vernon Family"
- "Jarreau Of Rap (Skatt
Attack)" (featuring Al Jarreau &
Keyon Harrold) - "Lost
Freestyle" - "Tanasia" -
"Royalty" (featuring RaVaughn)
- "Who Are You" (featuring
David Ranier) - "Adult Film"
(featuring Swizz Beatz) - "War
Against Love" - "The Art Of
It" (featuring J. Meyers) -
"Highly Favored" - "Queen
Wolf" - "It Never Ends" -
"You Mean The World To Me" -
"QueensBridge Politics" -
"Beautiful Life" (featuring
RaVaughn) |
iTunes
Amazon.mp3 |
King's Disease
Released: August 21, 2020
Tracks: "King's
Disease" - "Blue Benz" -
"Car #85" (featuring Charlie
Wilson) - "Ultra Black"
(featuring Hit-Boy) - "27
Summers" - "Replace Me"
(featuring Big Sean & Don Toliver) -
"Til The War Is Won" (featuring
Lil Durk) - "All Bad"
(featuring Anderson.Paak) - "The
Definition" (featuring Brucie B) -
"Full Circle" (featuring The
Firm & AZ & Foxy Brown &
Cormega) - "10 Points" -
"The Cure" - "Spice"
(featuring Fivio Foreing & ASAP Ferg) |
iTunes
Amazon.mp3
vinyl |
King's Disease
II
Released: August 6, 2021
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 3
Tracks: "The
Pressure" - "Death Row
East" - "40 Side" -
"EPMD 2" (featuring Eminem
& EPMD) - "Rare" -
"YKTV" (featuring A Boogie Wit
Do Hoodie & YG) - "Store
Run" - "Moments" -
"Nobody" (featuring Lauryn
Hill) - "No Phony" (featuring
Charlie Wilson) - "Brunch On
Sundays" (featuring Blxst) -
"Count Me In" -
"Composure" (featuring Hit-Boy)
- "My Bible" - "Nas Is
Good" |
iTunes
Amazon.mp3 |
Magic
Released: December 24, 2021
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 27
Tracks:
"Speechless" - "Meet Joe
Black" - "Ugly" -
"40-16" - "Hollywood
Gangsta" - "Wu For The
Children" - "Wave Gods"
(with ASAP Rocky & DJ Premier) -
"The Truth" -
"Dedicated" |
 |
King's Disease
III
Released: November 11, 2022
Billboard
Top 200 LPs
peak: # 10
Grammy Nominee: Best Rap Album
Tracks: "Ghetto
Reporter" - "Legit" -
"Thun" - "Michael &
Quincy" - "30" -
"Hood2Hood" - "Recession
Proof" - "Reminisce" -
"Serious Interlude" - "I'm
On Fire" - "WTF SMH" -
"Once A Man, Twice A Child" -
"Get Light" - "First
Time" - "Beef" -
"Don't Shoot" - "Til My
Last Breath" |
 |
Magic 2
Released: July 21, 2023
Tracks: "Intro"
- "Abracadabra" - "Office
Hours" (featuring 50 Cent) -
"Black Magic" -
"Motion" - "Bokeem
Woodbine" - "Earvin Magic
Johnson" - "What This All
Really Means" - "Slow It
Down" - "Pistols On Your Album
Cover" - "One Mic, One
Gun" (with 21 Savage) |
| Note: Song title and
position links lead you to the song's Top
40 chart run (from the ARC Weekly Top
40)
and LP links take you to Amazon.com for that LP (often
including track listings and sound
samples). |
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