At 19 years old, Nas became the most talked about rapper in the game off of the strength of a single verse. From the opening line of Main Sourcer’s posse cut “Live At The Barbecue,” Nas made his verbal mastery seem effortless, tying up complex rhyme schemes and metaphors that were well beyond his age and era. With just one feature verse, the young phenom instantly raised the bar for the entire game and created huge anticipation for his debut album. The buzz was so deafening that legendary producers Q-Tip, DJ Premier and Pete Rock insisted on producing his rookie effort, knowing it would be an instant classic.

Inspired by the lead character in Scarface’s motto, Nas wrote this song to give hope to kids who grew up with nothing. Over an uplifting jazz sample of Ahmed Jamal’s “I Love Music,” Nas drops infinite jewels about taking control of your image and surroundings, including this iconic rhyme that continues to define New York fashion: “Suede timbs on my feets, makes my cipher complete.” Throughout his career, Nas has put his “World Is Yours” theory into practice by claiming ownership of real estate assets, his own intellectual property, and multiple start-up businesses.

Nas is a pure poet no matter the topic, but he is at his best when he’s describing everyday experiences in the streets. Back when he still went by Nasty Nas, the gifted wordsmith only needed one bar to paint a vivid image of the life and death stakes he observed growing up. Rappers today carry on that tradition by reporting on the moments of joy and pain that color our lives with the same unapologetic rawness as Nas did in his 90s heyday.

Long before prison reform was a popular talking point, Nas was advocating for radical changes to the justice system. While listing the many changes he would make in the world if he had full authority, Nas painted a picture of a Utopian society, free of the vicious manifestations of white supremacy, all backed by a flip of Kurtis Blow’s 1980s classic “If I Ruled The World,” which inspired Nas when he was a kid.

On “One Mic,” Nas reflects on the highs and lows that come with reigning supreme in the rap game. With just a microphone and a powerful drum beat, he unloads three unforgettable verses full of introspective lines that set the standard for elite rhymers today like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. This bar in particular hinted at the metaphor behind his ‘Album of the Year’ nominee this year, King’s Disease. Historically, King’s Disease was another term for gout, which was caused when royals overindulged on rich foods and alcohol that were available to them in no short supply. Nas’ project speaks to the jewelry, fame, and fast lane that consumes so many rappers while they’re still learning how to wear their crowns.